Culturally and linguistically diverse families present schools with unique challenges related to eligibility and programming for special education. There has been a dearth in the literature for this population, especially from a legal standpoint. Existing literature has offered scarce information to address the legal rights and responsibilities of…

To facilitate the development of cultural sensitivity to the positive representation of persons with exceptionalities, specific guidelines for educational materials developed by the consortium for Appropriate Representation of Exceptional Persons in Educational Materials are presented followed by elaboration of each statement. (SBH)

Assessment equity concerns all educational authorities and practitioners. When educators consider issues of equity, their predominant concern is accommodation of students with special needs, cultural issues, and creating alternative assessment activities that have equivalence to standard activities, so as not to advantage or disadvantage any…

Describes an all-day conciousness raising program designed to teach elementary school students about the disabled. The program described consisted of oral presentations and a theater performance by disabled individuals; it was presented to 270 students at Mary A. Hubbard School in Ramsey, New Jersey. (GC)

This trainer's guide is designed specifically to provide training to individuals with mental retardation or other cognitive disabilities on their rights under titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Written in simple language and supported by drawings that make the material more accessible, the training is meant to give…

This paper responds to Wood and May's survey of special education teachers' attitudes toward euthanasia. It is pointed out that the mere existence of attitudes supporting euthanasia does not constitute a validation of such attitudes. The discussion of euthanasia of individuals with severe disabilities is discussed as representative of a…

Great Britain's teachers with disabilities face discrimination in obtaining and retaining employment. To achieve disability equality and integration, a campaign is needed to change regulations for medical fitness to teach, develop an equality perspective across the whole curriculum, and force the government to allocate money to include disabled…

This article explores key differences between special education legislation in England and Scotland and their implications for delivering consistent anti-discrimination policies. It is argued that close monitoring of the implementation of Part 4 of the Disability Discrimination Act in English and Scottish schools is necessary. (Contains…

Rights for people with mental handicaps include claim rights and moral rights, which are associated with routine discrimination and fundamental discrimination, respectively. In Britain, people with mental handicaps are routinely denied both types of rights. Greater protection would be offered through a "Code of Practice" and consistent…

This article describes two major laws affecting special education--Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. It identifies the agencies charged with enforcement of these laws, and lists printed and organizational resources that address specific questions about these laws and their application in…

The author examines concerns about whether or not, and by what criteria, handicapped students should be included in or excluded from comprehensive competency testing programs, as well as the implications of minimum competency testing for the handicapped. Pertinent legislation from several states is discussed. (Author/SJL)

This training module is intended to increase awareness of workshop participants concerning their individual values and to develop positive attitudes and behaviors toward people with disabilities. The module includes workshop content (with side notes to the trainer in italics), overheads, and many handouts. Preliminary information includes module…

Although community-based treatment strategies have gained in prominence, recipients of those services still suffer from negative labeling and public reactions. To investigate differential effects of labels and/or descriptions of handicaps on attitudes toward disabilities, two studies were conducted. In the first study, 140 college students (65%…

This resource directory begins with a list of U.S. Department of Education Regional Civil Rights Offices, which offer assistance on legal interpretation of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), followed by a list of public and private groups providing general assistance to handicapped persons. The third section lists agencies that focus on…

Discusses several of the principal issues involved in litigation over disability discrimination in colleges and universities, focusing on enforcement in both administrative and judicial arenas. Concludes that discrimination legislation is complex and may unnecessarily exclude qualified disabled individuals from employment, education, and other…