This Special Issues Brief from the Center on Great Teachers and Leaders (GTL Center) offers recommendations for the design and implementation of educator evaluation systems that support the academic and social growth of students with disabilities. Teachers of students with disabilities work closely with specialized instructional support personnel…

The paper presents information pertaining to both equipment and human factors associated with playground safety for the handicapped. Research is reviewed on injuries related to public playground equipment, the equipment/user interface, and accommodation of equipment for all children. Noted among findings are that 72% of all reported injuries were…

Written during the International Religious Year of Persons with Disabilities, 1983, three papers address ways in which places of worship can become accessible for persons with disabilities. Wallace K. Babington presents a question and answer format in "Responding to the Needs of Persons with Handicaps." The article emphasizes the need to include…

This book presents a guide to the concept of universal design, the design of products and environments to be usable to the greatest extent possible by people of all ages and abilities/disabilities. Chapters 1 and 2 present a brief history of universal design and examine the spectrum of human abilities. Chapter 3 addresses the seven principles of…

Discusses the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) and Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) regulations regarding public facilities' crowd control stanchions and queuing systems. The major elements are protruding objects and wheelchair accessibility. Describes how to maintain compliance with the regulations and offers a list of additional…

Discusses how to create or refocus a transition plan for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Steps include documenting needs, documenting solutions, prioritizing needs, and creating a schedule. Also briefly addresses accessibility requirements, the concept of undue burden, finding help, and summarized Title II requirements.…

Intended as a guide for designing and constructing accessible buildings and park facilities for handicapped persons, the manual details design considerations for the following areas: parks and recreation areas, identification signs, parking, trails, picnic areas, furnishings, camp sites, boating, fishing, play and game areas, swimming areas,…

Developed as part of the International Year of Disabled Persons, the guide is intended to help planners, architects, and designers to accommodate the built environment of developing regions for disabled persons. Guidelines focus on public building in urban or village settings and emphasize simple solutions to common problems. Following an…

Offers suggestions to camps for creating low- and high-ropes courses that are accessible to everyone. Describes modifications to low-ropes-course elements, such as the Nitro or Prouty's landing and a tension-traverse element; mechanical advantage systems to provide access to high-ropes-course elements; and special equipment for access or…

The manual is intended to help school districts comply with federal mandates for physical accessibility and least restrictive settings for handicapped elementary school children. A general introduction to the accessibility concept in chapter 1 considers the historical background, the role of the physical environment, and existing federal…

The booklet considers ways of developing new playground areas that are accessible to all children and adapting existing areas to make them suitable for use by handicapped and nonhandicapped children alike. Criteria for selecting equipment includes the interests and needs of the users; the movement needs of children (including movement involving…

Adaptive aids which can help individuals with disabilities to get around more easily are described, including ramps, portable ramps, lifts, doors, and doorways. The use of professional assistance in selecting adaptive aids and use of the ABLEDATA database are noted. Appended is a list of companies which manufacture adaptive equipment. (JDD)

The booklet discusses designing barrier free nature areas to allow accessibility for handicapped persons. Among the aspects covered are site accessibility (including parking, loading and unloading areas, and directional information); walkways (including gradients, ramps, stops and curbs, width, surface material, and mechanical guides); rest areas…

The manual provides suggestions to help local education agencies comply with regulations of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Chapter 1 reviews the general provisions of Section 504 on such topics as program and structural accessibility, transportation, and specific prohibitions. Chapter 2 deals with requirements for employment…

Examines universal school design that is both user-friendly for all students and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This approach provides the basic functional design issues for easy traffic control, as well as orientation and classrooms that are adaptable to future curricular changes. Discusses new standards that impact design…