The physiological and psychological effects of bowel and/or bladder dysfunction can negatively impact students, especially over time. Understanding the educational challenges and needs of these children is necessary to provide services and supports required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act and Section 504 of the…

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurobiological disorder characterized by various involuntary motor movements and vocal tics. Symptoms of TS emerge between the ages of 3 to 8 years old, are most severe when an individual reaches puberty, and decrease by the time a person is 20 years old. Additionally, persons with TS may have secondary disabilities of…

Successful writers have proficient skills in three areas: handwriting, spelling and composition. Many students with disabilities experience difficulties in the area of spelling, which in turn may lead to difficulty in composing written work. Spelling deficits should be addressed by the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) team to…

This article provides a practitioner-friendly synthesis of existing literature on family involvement in the management of dysphagia for school-age. Research reviewed includes family perspectives on programs, therapists, and characteristics that comprise effective family involvement in school-based dysphagia management programs. Also included are…

HIV/AIDS continues to spread among children, youth, and young adults across all racial, ethnic, and cultural populations, including those with disabilities. This article considers information on HIV/AIDS such as individuals' health-risk behaviors, environmental circumstances, and perceptions that may contribute to HIV-infection; how disability…

Each year, the United States Department of Education collects data on the number of children with disabilities and the number of service providers meeting their needs in the educational system. The purpose of this investigation was to reanalyze the U.S. Department of Education data to determine state and regional ratios of physical therapists and…

The purpose of this study was to present a descriptive, explanatory case study of an adolescent male survivor of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The subject was a 17 year, 6 month old student enrolled in the twelfth grade at a highly selective science and technology governor's high school in the suburbs of a major metropolitan area. This…

On October 25, 2004, President Bush signed into law the reauthorization of the Assistive Technology Act (AT Act). The new law provides a far more optimistic future for assistive technology (AT) and modifies the primary purpose of the previous law. The new AT Act provides "birth to death" legislation and is fundamentally different from other…

Success in learning hinges on communication between instructors and their students. This success becomes even more important when instructors have students with physical or mental challenges in general classrooms. Communication depends on whether the instructor takes time to listen to a student with a disability who also has a speech impairment.…

Due to advances in medical technology more early childhood students who are medically fragile are entering school and being included in general education. The field of special education lacks a broad research base regarding this unique population. This qualitative study examined the perceptions of nine early childhood teachers on the inclusion of…

Discusses the usefulness of team collaboration when working with students with chronic health and/or other disabilities and the manner in which rehabilitation psychologists function in this process. Notes the values and roles of rehabilitation psychology and ways rehabilitation psychologists can enhance the education process for these students.…

A study of 611 occupational therapists investigated the impact of inclusion on public school occupational therapy. The respondents indicated that inclusion did impact service delivery and the skills of students with disabilities. Responses to the questionnaire also indicated active involvement in inclusion planning and collaborative intervention…

Norman Kunc, consultant on educational and disability issues, discusses his early segregated education and perceived devaluation due to his cerebral palsy; the intrusion of therapies into his daily schedule; and the sometimes assaultive nature of physical therapy. Kunc views his disability as a characteristic of his personal diversity and…

This response to Parette et al. concerning the use of degree of involvement (DOI) in determining appropriate related services for individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities proposes a standard for using limited resources judiciously based on the principle of "only as special as necessary." (DB)

Three case studies describe the process of parental grieving for the loss of a child with a disability. Characteristics of mourning unique to such a death are discussed. It is argued that, contrary to suggestions that chronic sorrow may end with the child's death, the emotion continues to emerge at peak times throughout the life of the parent.…