L'Arche is an international movement to create communities in which disabled persons are included. Through a series of personal interviews, an autobiographical account is presented illustrating some of the salient features of living in a L'Arche community from a handicapped person's perspective. (Author/DB)

A case study approach focused on five local education agencies (LEAs) in England to study the implementation process of the 1981 Education Act. Interviews with professionals focused on such issues as the definition of special educational needs, recognition of child and parental rights, and effectiveness of special education provisions. (JW)

A case study of a local education agency (LEA) in Barnsley, England reveals how one LEA implemented the 1981 Education Act. A description of LEA characteristics is followed by a discussion of assessment procedures (e.g., annual screening and a Teacher Information Package) and a within-child interpretation of special needs. (JW)

Results of classroom research are reported which analyzed the spelling errors of 60 low-achieving students (ages 9-11), as well as lists of words students indicated they wanted to learn. These and other investigations were used to develop a computer-presented precision spelling program, whose features are described in detail. (JW)

Semantic elaboration, a language-based mnemonic strategy, was taught to 15 students (aged five to nine years) with moderate learning difficulties over a six-month period, using pictures as stimuli. Among reported results was an improvement in overall performance on memorization of pairs of pictures. Generalization to items not used during teaching…

The study compared the effects of two forms of intervention on a three-year-old autistic female. Marked improvement in tantrum control, expressive language, and reduced obsessional behaviors were associated with the use of behavior management techniques, whereas developmental stimulation through play and positive adult contact produced no…

The article discusses a hands-on, multisensory science curriculum developed from the adaptation and merging of two curricula for handicapped elementary students (ages 9-13): Science Activities for the Visually Impaired (SAVI) and Science Enrichment for Learners with Physical Handicap (SELPH). The nine modules comprising the SAVI/SELPH materials…

Room management is described as a behavioral strategy developed in Great Britain and designed to increase the percentage of time that handicapped children are engaged in independent, constructive activity. Used with severely multiply handicapped children, least responsive children were unlikely to be engaged unless receiving individual attention.…

An overview of the literature on childhood depression precedes results of a study of 192 regular class students (grades 4-6) in Alberta, Canada, in which diagnostic measures were used to predict aspects of depression. Among findings were that self-esteem and family stability variables significantly predict depression in children. (Author/JW)

The article analyzes the incidence of adolescent pregnancies in Canada from a socio-ecological perspective, describes the cyclical nature of the problem, and discusses potential health promotion and prevention strategies at various stages of the generational cycle, including a model for sexual decision-making. (JW)

Runaway children and youth in Canada is the focus of an analysis and review of the literature which explores the following dimensions of the problem: history, prevalence, legislation, socio-psychological explanations, reasons for leaving home, runaway profile, and types of community services needed. (JW)

Two strategies for managing disruptive elementary students are described: (1) mini courts (which apply simplified judge and jury courtroom procedures in the classroom); (2) good behavior report sessions (a self-report strategy). For adolescents, two additional strategies are described: (1) goal attainment scaling; and (2) mission impossible teams…

An adaptable transdisciplinary decision-making model for service delivery to students with severe handicaps is described. Nine steps include collecting information, reviewing records, classroom skills inventory, initial goal selection, in situ evaluation, clinical evaluation, testing treatment hypotheses, establishing long-term objectives, and the…

Reading comprehension was compared in 20 adult illiterates, 20 low-achieving students in grade two, and 21 low achievers in grade four. Results indicated similar processing difficulties in all three groups. Readers were weak in constructing meaning beyond a clause unit, and did not differentiate processing for narrative versus expository material.…

Educational services for severely handicapped learners in Canada are compared with those in the United States. Differences in legislation, consistency of services, teacher preparation, and issues are considered. The quality of Canadian education for the severely handicapped is seen as generally equivalent to the quality of American services.…