The article details major steps in establishing a computerized management information system in a special education organization to carry out such functions as student record monitoring and fiscal control. Steps include (1) the study phase, (2) the gross design phase, (3) the detailed design phase, and (4) the implementation phase.(Author/DB)

Comparison of computerized and noncomputerized individualized education program (IEP) preparation with 45 special education teachers in 12 Massachusetts districts indicated that teachers using computerized IEP systems spent less time writing IEPs, had a more favorable attitude toward the IEP for instructional planning, and lowered costs for IEP…

The review of four recent studies which examined the effects of instructional design variables in computer assisted instruction (drill and practice, tutorial, and simulation) for mildly handicapped secondary students found statistically significant differences for the experimental treatments in three of the studies indicating the importance of…

Computer assisted video instruction (CAVI) was tested as a way to improve four teaching behaviors of a paraprofessional who was responsible for the instruction of a deaf-blind, severely retarded six-year-old student in a rural school. Direct observation revealed that CAVI was effective in modifying three of the target behaviors. (Author/DB)

The article considers advantages and limitations of tactile, auditory, and visual means of microcomputer access for blind students. Discussed are electronic braille, paper braille, the Optacon, synthesized speech, and enlarged print. Improved multimedia access technology is predicted for the future. (Author/DB)

PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) was applied to a federal project developing curriculum materials for the mentally retarded. A 34-step process lattice and PERT chart were useful for long-range planning, supervising the activity, providing accountability, and training new staff members. (Author/DB)

Information collected in Sheffield (England) showed that all preschool-age Down's syndrome children were integrated in mainstream educational settings, while 70 percent of the secondary students (ages 13-16) were placed in special schools. Reasons for the trend are explored, including the structure, organization, and curriculum of primary as…

Teachers at a south London secondary school met regularly in group sessions with staff from a hospital-based children's clinic to find new approaches to working with students with behavior difficulties. The evolving structure, purpose, procedures, and outcomes of this interdisciplinary collaborative effort over a seven-year period are described.…

Recent projects in which students in mainstream classrooms were trained to act as paired reading tutors for children with reading difficulties are described. It is suggested that the benefits of peer-tutored paired reading may exceed those of parent tutoring. Guidelines and suggestions for establishing a peer tutoring project are offered. (JW)

A self-contained class for elementary-age students in England with emotional and behavioral problems is described, including admission and assessment, length of placement, social and educational contact with regular students, and parent-school interactions. Results of a follow-up study of the first 40 children admitted to the program are also…

Results of a one-word handwriting task performed by 111 physically handicapped children (ages 6-12) at the Institute for Motor Disorders (Budapest, Hungary) are discussed in the context of conductive education, orthofunction (the ability to function independently without physical aids), and the organization of instructional programs in Hungary.…

During structured interviews, parents and professionals (educational psychologists, education officers, and headteachers) who work with visually impaired children critiqued the recordkeeping procedures required by the Education (Scotland) Act of 1981. The excessive administrative load was a common complaint, while the degree of professional…

A whole-school approach to meeting special needs is reflected in organizational changes at a girls' comprehensive school in England committed to mixed-ability teaching. The roles of the coordinator for special needs, education psychologist, key teachers in subject departments, and special needs support teachers are described. (JW)

Community based rehabilitation for disabled persons in developing nations is contrasted with institutionally based rehabilitation. A strategy is proposed which combines the two approaches and includes greater economic realism, design of advanced training programs, provision of reliable transportation, and more outreach and follow-up activities by…

Historical and contemporary special education in Japan and the United States are compared. Differences in societal acceptance of the handicapped, integration into regular education, educational finance, parental roles, governmental control, and staff training are highlighted. The authors' personal experiences demonstrating the influence of culture…