Recent societal and political shifts have underscored the need for higher education programs to examine and reflect on the ways in which they address equity and social justice. As teacher-educators, we feel this call with particular urgency. In this paper, we describe our past and current efforts to engage in self-reflective inquiry and enact ways…

This qualitative study explored the perspectives of parents and teachers in the US with regard to the meaning and implications of disability in the context of schoolling, and of raising a child with a disability. The findings revealed broad conceptual differences in the perspectives of these two groups. Teachers' beliefs were generally consistent…

School administrators, educators, psychologists, social workers, the juvenile courts, institutional reformers, and others shape the manner in which children are labeled, portrayed, and treated. However, the agendas, motivations, political language, and influence of these "helping professionals" in "treating" and…

The paper reviews a collaborative effort in New Jersey to review their special education service delivery system with the intention of looking for alternatives to the labeling of children. Problems with the current labeling system are considered, and difficulties in creating change are pointed out. New Jersey's model for change is described in…

The paper describes the evolution of a special education delivery sytem in a Montgomery, New Jersey township. It is pointed out that the project's first year focused in preparing teaching, administrative, and Child Study Team members for project participation through meetings and newsletters. Noted are two goals which emerged from meeting…

Reports findings of a recent New Jersey study which indicate that significant gaps still remain between White and minority youth in the areas of health care and education. Statistics are cited on White/non-White differences in illness rates, disciplinary treatment, special education labeling, and expenditure per student. (Author/SJL)

The manual contains a survey of literature on the resource room approach to mainstreaming for educable mentally retarded children. Intended to facilitate educational planning in New Jersey, the manual reviews research on such topics as the historical development of special education services; admissions procedures; the impact of judicial decisions…