A recent review of educational provision for children with special educational needs by the House of Commons Education and Skills Committee in 2006 singled out children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) as being in need of special attention and highlighted the frustration felt by parents. One implication is that parents of children with ASD…

One of two ads (either with a model in a wheelchair or a straight chair) was shown to 61 undergraduates. Their attitudes toward and social contact with persons in wheelchairs did not affect their reaction to the model, the clothing being promoted, or the ad. The ad with the wheelchair was evaluated more favorably than the other one. (SK)

The Americans With Disabilities Act (the "ADA"), enacted by Congress in 1990, was greeted with great celebration by persons with disabilities, their families, and advocates. The idea was broadminded and straightforward: Congress intended that the ADA protect those with disabilities (including those who were simply perceived as having a…

Australian research has demonstrated that students with a disability are more likely to remain out of the full-time workforce. These research findings have been the catalyst for a call for a comprehensive career development and transition planning approach for all students with disabilities in schools as well as for employers to rethink the role…

Introduces a series of articles discussing the relationship among psychological knowledge, issues relating to those with disabilities, and public policy, primarily from civil rights perspective. (CMG)

The exclusion of disabled children from ordinary schools, which occurred routinely in England until the late twentieth century, is mirrored in the way disability and difference have been largely ignored in the history of education. The first half of this paper outlines some of the key developments that have taken place in the field of education…

The main purpose of this study was to expand the current research model available on the inclusion of individuals with special needs in music-making. The case study was designed to provide a unique perspective on music-making in the choral environment from the perspective of the special needs individual. The rationale for conducting research stems…

Reports the results of quasi-experimental study of 155 Nigerian and 151 British boys' and girls' understanding of handicaps. Presents information regarding the content of the questionnaire, which posed both direct and indirect questions regarding causality, effects, rehabilitation and interaction of handicapped persons. (JDH)

Explores legislation and the judicial interpretation of laws that affect disabled students in health care professions. Reviews and analyzes the reported case law in which health care students have claimed discrimination against education programs because of their disabilities. Presents implications for nursing education programs. (JOW)

This study investigated the impact of disclosure of invisible disabilities (physical and psychiatric) within the employment interview process. Both the type of disability and the extent of disclosure were manipulated in an analogue experimental design. Employers (N = 60) were exposed to a short interview vignette of a potential candidate and were…

This paper discusses the impact of major reforms in Hong Kong on rehabilitation practice and personnel training. Significant changes in policy and legislative measures concerning disability are explained. Key challenges to professional accreditation and personnel training related to rehabilitation are deliberated with illustrations on how tertiary…

Reviews Task Force's attempts to influence American Psychological Association (APA) policies. Major accomplishments include (1) APA's "Guidelines on Physical and Social Accessibility" and their implementation at the APA annual convention and (2) development, with the American Association of State Psychology Boards, of guidelines for…

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)

Summarizes some of 2001's more interesting and important court cases regarding disability discrimination in higher education, commenting on their effects on case law. (EV)

Uses population data from the Disability Supplement to the 1994 and 1995 National Health Interview Surveys to assess rates of work discrimination among adults with disabilities. Analysis suggests that nearly a 10th of all adults with disabilities who were in the workforce during the 5-year period immediately following passage of the ADA…