This article introduces a special issue on accessing the general curriculum for students with significant cognitive disabilities. The authors intent with the series was to highlight four Directed Research (CFDA 84.324D) projects funded by the Office of Special Education Programs in 2002. The directed research priority targeted the need to extend…

Promoting access to the general curriculum for students with disabilities has emerged as a central theme of recent legislative and policy initiatives. Ensuring that students with severe disabilities benefit fully from the myriad learning and social opportunities available through the general curriculum remains an important challenge, particularly…

Peer support interventions are emerging as an effective alternative to traditional paraprofessional models for assisting students with moderate to severe disabilities to access the general curriculum. To contribute to the refinement of peer support interventions, we evaluated the impact of altering the number of participating peers on the social…

The authors examined the effects of an intensive onsite technical assistance (IOTA) model on the inclusive practices of special educators. Three special educators received technical assistance that included performance assessments, workshops on inclusive practices, and intensive onsite follow-up support. Inclusive practices were measured using…

A study investigated the causes, educational continuity, and parental perceptions associated with 19 students with multiple disabilities transitioning from school to hospital. Sixty-one percent of hospitalizations were for emergencies and only 1 in 46 hospitalizations had a transition plan to deliver educational services while students were absent…