This handbook provides an introduction for teacher aides recently hired by the Nassau Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) to work with handicapped students. Topics covered include mental, learning, physical and emotional disabilities, the role of the teacher aide, crisis intervention, building students' self-esteem, managing student behavior, showing approval, and accidents and injuries. A section on special problems covers lifting, helping wheelchair-bound students, and feeding physically handicapped students. A brief concluding section called "Best Advice" presents guidelines for effective behavior management and general rules of thumb from veteran teacher aides. (PB)