This booklet is in response to commonly asked questions from parents about preparing for, and entering kindergarten. Some questions parents ask are about district policy. Nebraska has over 200 individual school districts, each having their own board, superintendent, and policies. The Nebraska Department of Education provides guidance and…

Mentoring girls is a challenge. Girls will come to mentors with hard questions and great hope. Mentoring is about building trust over a long period of time. If a mentor cares about the girls and follows through with the promises that he or she makes to them, a mentor will be successful in helping them to improve their lives. This "Guide"…

The CASAS Competencies identify more than 360 essential life skills that youth and adults need to be functionally competent members of their community, their family, and the workforce. Competencies are relevant across the full range of instructional levels, from beginning literacy through high school completion including transition to…

Professionals who work with young adults will get hard-to-find information on how specific social, behavioral, and cognitive characteristics of people with autism affect the transition to adulthood, exploring potential challenges and traits that can be powerful assets. Compelling stories throughout this book illustrate how successful transition…

The work group's discussion presents a rank-ordering of the obstacles to maximum independent living by disabled youth. Considered in terms of research and policy are the need for an expanded knowledge base, community and family issues, the economics of disabilities and the service system, societal attitudes and beliefs, health care and other…

Guidelines are offered parents in helping their disabled children assume increasing responsibility for dental care. Guidelines touch on toothbrushing, dentist visits, nutrition, and medication. (CL)

The article reviews strategies for selecting and prioritizing community survival skills for mentally retarded persons and tactics for performing a behavioral task analysis of the identified skill. The behavioral procedures common to community survival skills training programs are described and representative research is reviewed. (Author/CL)

The purpose of this workbook is to help youth to take the lead in planning for their adult lives. The workbook shares important information, encourages youth to begin thinking about life after high school, and offers ideas they can use to plan routes to reach their goals. This is not a workbook parents, educators or others should hand to young…

The paper presents strategies for conducting research helpful to community instruction for students with autism. Research issues in setting variables (including heterogeneous/homogeneous groupings and instructional environments) are addressed as well as the use of the discrete trial format (including prompts, responses, and consequences). (CL)

Expanded learning opportunities (ELOs), which include afterschool, summer learning, and extended day and extended year programs, can help states reduce dropout rates and increase graduation rates. Effective elementary, middle, and high school ELOs support academic rigor, boost student engagement, and provide students with supportive relationships.…

This guide was designed for elderly individuals in Arkansas and for professionals working with these persons. It provides information about obtaining and using tools for living. The guide shows persons ways to work with agencies and organizations to see that tools needed by individuals are provided. It is intended to be an introduction to the…

The authors describe difficulties encountered by learning disabled (LD) students and summarize ways LD young adults have learned to cope with daily problems. The importance of understanding their problems, seeking out sensitive professionals, developing strategies to cope with classroom demands, and obtaining counseling are stressed. Strategies…

An illustrated guide to aspects of life in the United States is presented in Hmong for recent arrivals. The guidelines address such topics as resettlement agencies, community relations and national customs, the U.S. government, local and long distance transport, mail and telephone communication systems, employment practices, the educational…

A guide to aspects of life in the United States is presented in Haitian Creole with concurrent English translations for recent immigrants. The guidelines address housing, employment, education, medical care, travel and communication, finances, and community services. Under each of these categories, details are provided on such topics as household…

The authors sugggest that where in vivo instruction alone is unfeasible, practitioners should employ both training formats concurrently with moderately and severely handicapped students. Five guidelines for making simulated instruction a more effective adjunct to community instruction are discussed. (Author/CL)