What might be learned during a political protest or in the evolution of a social movement? This paper begins with a demonstration of some historical facts about people with disabilities who were demanding their rights, long before Paulo Freire and critical pedagogy. Then, the author offers her personal experience in attending and participating in…

A special issue of the "British Journal of Sociology of Education" has been devoted to an examination of Disability and Inclusive Education. The authors of the papers in this issue have all made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge and understanding in these fields of study. Overall, they have provided a comprehensive, valuable…

This reply addresses concerns raised by Dr. Harmon in "Beyond 'Cain v. Horne.'" In response to the issues she raises, I explain that the appropriate constitutional inquiry is not whether there is some incidental financial benefit to private schools but whether a challenged voucher program was enacted to assist students in obtaining the…

The empowerment of individuals with disabilities has resulted in a corresponding disempowerment of service professionals. These professionals need the freedom to be diligent and effective in their work; they need opportunities to be creative, to try out new ideas, and perhaps to fail, rather than be buried under excessively burdensome restrictions…

Discussion of Paulo Friere's "critical pedagogy" focuses on this educational philosopher's emphasis on identifying and using each learner's life experiences in instruction. Critical pedagogy is applied to the empowerment of students with disabilities in inclusive educational settings. (DB)

This response to a previous article (EC 625 845) on the needs and challenges related to the assessment of self-determination in the field of developmental disability, identifies issues related to the use and abuse of assessing self-determination and suggests an empowerment evaluation approach to these efforts. (Contains four references.)…

The article examines a specific challenge to special education during the 1990's as it stresses the critical importance of teacher empowerment in improved teacher morale and improved instruction for handicapped children. (DB)

Parents have used their empowerment under the 1997 Amendments to become the advocate for the child not only in the classroom, but also in the courtroom. Generally, the courts have been quick to reject nonattorney parents' request to represent their child. Those parents who are licensed members of the bar may be allowed to represent their child,…

This paper identifies and explains principles and practices in empowering parents of children with disabilities to be their advocates. Five models of empowerment are examined: moral, medical, enlightenment, compensatory, and the enabling models of helping. A lack of empirical data on empowerment is reported. (Author/DB)

This article discusses the discrimination faced by minority youth with disabilities. Federal legislation promoting equality of opportunity for all students is reviewed and the lack of true educational equality is lamented. The article emphasizes the need to prepare minority youth with disabilities as they transition into adults. (Contains…

This article argues that the trend toward supported employment and transition services still rests on a dependency model of disability. It proposes a model of education for the empowerment of full citizenship in which persons with disabilities are seen as one of many groups disadvantaged by current social prejudice and exclusion. (DB)

This response to Mahoney et al. (EC 623 392) agrees that there is currently less emphasis on parent education in the early-intervention literature but suggests that the current emphasis on family-centered services can be integrated with parent education while supporting family empowerment. (DB)

This article examines the role of leadership in establishing a school climate where ethical deliberation undergirds educational decision-making. A major focus is on educational leaders who can facilitate planning for more inclusive educational settings for minority group students, however, shared leadership and empowerment of teachers and…

This article discusses seven "megatrends" in rehabilitation services for people with disabilities. They include changes in the demography of disability, the empowerment of people with disabilities, the policy of integration, and the rising cost of health and social services. Also considered are changes in rehabilitation service delivery…

This article considers the needs of families of children with disabilities, the implications for interdisciplinary practice, and the changing pattern of early childhood disability. Family contributions to individuals with disabilities, the importance of early intervention, and the need for professionals to enable and empower families is…