Issues related to technological advances for the severely handicapped are discussed, including obstacles to the use of adaptations and technological devices; strategies for selection, design, and use of technological devices; an approach for incorporating technology into the integrated team planning process; and ethical/philosophical concerns that…

Statistical measures of practical significance report the extent to which variation in the dependent variable can be explained by the independent variable. Reports of special education research sometimes discuss practicality using the estimate of statistical significance. Practical significance, however, may vary greatly among samples even though…

A study involving the construction and administration of Black and White intelligence test forms to 386 Blacks and 386 Whites indicated that Blacks did not perform significantly better on the Black test form, suggesting differences in Black special education placement rates are not affected by underrepresentation in the test development group.…

The McDermott Multidimensional Assessment of Children (M-MAC) is a comprehensive microcomputer system providing both multidimensional classifications of child exceptionality and detailed individualized education programs (IEPs). M-MAC's IEP functions are reviewed in terms of requisite characteristics of remedial education plans. M-MAC's…

Observational learning is theoretically conceptualized as a skill that can be developed along a learning hierarchy from acquisition and fluency development to generalization of imitative behavior. This review characterizes these levels of observational learning and details differential teaching strategies that have been attempted at each level…

The developmental model of communication growth is often the most appropriate framework for determining intervention goals with handicapped children. An integration of published literature describing the developmental progression of sensory, motor, and social abilities is provided as an intervention framework for developing communicative abilities…

A rationale is presented for evaluation of effective educational practices for mildly handicapped students in all mainstreamed classes, followed by discussions of mainstreaming evaluations that have been conducted. Areas of relevant research are also presented. Finally, a model of an effective evaluation system is offered. (Author/KM)

Interviews with 26 regular education teachers regarding their perceptions of modifications made for mainstreamed mildly handicapped students indicated that teachers made more typical modifications (i.e., in format and procedures) than substantial modifications (e.g., of difficulty level) modifications. (Author/KM)

In a study evaluating the effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction simulations, which used special education administration simulations with 98 high- and low-achieving college students, significant differences were not obtained between simulation and the standard objective question module. Students favored the latter module. More time was…

A review of research regarding attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity in children covers studies involving direct observation techniques, drug treatment, drug effects on academic achievement, diet interventions, behavior modification, metacognition, and executive control; and suggests practical implications in these areas for educators and…

Two experiments comparing the effectiveness of direct versus mnemonic instruction in teaching learning-disabled high school students (N=56) and educable mentally retarded junior high school students (N=8) about the hardness of minerals indicated that students taught with the mnemonic pictorial method substantially outperformed direct instruction…

When learning-disabled high school students (N=22) were taught about astronomy by either presenting key concepts with a visual spatial display or by presenting concepts with texts, tests measuring short-term mastery of content favored students taught with the visual display. No differences were found between the groups on transfer or maintenance.…

Analysis of characteristics of classroom placements for special needs elementary school students (N=958) in five urban school districts indicated that approximately two-thirds received some instruction with regular education students. Time spent in regular education varied by the child's primary handicap, the school district, and sometimes…

When urban (N=221) and suburban (N=282) fourth- to sixth-graders judged the level of upset of 22 stressful life events, girls generally judged events to be more upsetting, both cognitively and experientially. Urban children experienced more stressful events than suburban children and judged them, experientially, to be more upsetting. (Author/CB)

Comparison of special educators' (N=65) and elementary and secondary school teachers' (N=44) ratings of behavior problems (in terms of manageability) revealed no significant differences between the groups. Both groups rated social withdrawal, inattention, and work organization behavioral clusters as most difficult to manage. (Author/CB)