This study examines preservice teachers' perspectives on family involvement in special education and effective teaching methods for delivering family-involvement content. Eighty-three preservice teachers provided data on pre- and postadministrations of a questionnaire. The effectiveness of two methods, a video and a guest speaker, in delivering…

Parent/professional partnerships have been credited with improving outcomes for children and enhancing satisfaction for both parents and professionals. Family involvement in preservice programs is minimal and often limited to parent panels or parent involvement in a class activity such as an interview. Preservice students who have had multiple…

The article addresses three questions: What are the competencies needed for parent involvement in special education? What are the components of a training program? Who will do the training? Answers to the questions are discussed, particularly in relation to P.L. 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Children Act). (SBH)

More than five million IEP conferences are conducted each year. Despite the number of meetings, many IEPs are not educationally useful or legally correct. A common concern for principals and special education directors hiring new special education teachers is their lack of information concerning IEP development and experience establishing parent…

Areas of concern critical to meeting needs of the multicultural exceptional child are: familiarity with child's language, familiarity with culture, university training programs, community training activities, parental involvement, multicultural educational materials, more research, and a national coordinating center to avoid duplication of efforts…

The University of Vermont offers an introductory undergraduate course in developmental disabilities based on the support model of services. Parents and individuals with developmental disabilities play a major role in planning and team teaching the course. The course emphasizes a family-centered philosophy, respect for individuals with…

Presents an overview of areas related to preparing educators for diversity that have particular significance or unique implications for special education. Issues addressed include special-education eligibility determination, instructional methodology, parental involvement, culturally diverse special educators, and educational equity. (CR)

Three bilingual-bicultural competencies that can be easily mastered by monolingual English-speaking special educators are presented: ideological, sociological, and historical awareness; parental and community inclusion; and bilingual-bicultural curriculum for a special education classroom. (DLS)