User-led disability organizations have emerged as an important force in the non-profit sector. While much is known about the traditional disability organizations that began to proliferate in the 1950s (e.g. National Institute for the Blind), relatively less is known about the user-led organizations that emerged in the 1970s. Using a collective…

In British Columbia, special education learning assistance teachers focus on assessment, instruction, and consultation, although the role lacks definition. School-based preparation allows for opportunities to apply newly acquired skills. (CL)

A study of 103 (of 143) teachers' expectations of occupational therapists working with exceptional children in Ontario public schools found that (1) teachers consider therapists to be important; (2) they think therapists should define their role and responsibility further; and (3) they believe therapists should work with special needs children…

Analysis of questionnaire responses of 51 regular elementary teachers and 50 paraprofessionals in British Columbia classes which included handicapped children found both groups tended to agree on actual, preferred, and not appropriate paraprofessional tasks. Task endorsement was primarily determined by the age, grade level, abilities, and needs of…

Although work continues to play a significant role in the lives of most men and an increasing number of women that role is changing. This study examined the intrinsic value of work. The 53 subjects for this study were drawn from a review of 160 files for clients who were referred to the Occupational Performance Analysis Unit at the University of…

This survey of 508 Alberta (Canada) classroom teachers, administrators, parents, university trainers, and resource room teachers found consistency in the overall responsibilities expected of, perceived by, and performed by resource room teachers. Implications for service delivery, for teachers and parents, and for government and administrators are…

A study explored six Canadian regular class elementary teachers' attitudes toward inclusion of students with disabilities into their classrooms. Participants experienced difficulty in articulating their roles in integration and viewed resource teachers as being responsible for included students. Segregated placement was seen as superior to…

A survey of 73 school districts in British Columbia (Canada) evaluated availability of occupational therapy (OT) services, the most important aspects of OT evaluation, OT treatment and services in general, additional training needed by occupational therapists, demographic information on therapists, and therapists' current roles and functions. (DB)

More than a century of Canadian and international experience and research in open and distance learning indicates that traditional and emerging technologies can be used effectively, alone or in combination, to provide access to services and education for adults and children living in rural and northern communities. However, although there is an…