Dr. Sharon Maroney's career has focused on children and youth with significant behavior and emotional challenges. Her career has spanned experiences from sibling, special education teacher, and university professor. She has had the good fortune to study with some the most well-known names in the field. Dr. Maroney shared her reflections with…

Students with disabilities who engage in high rates of challenging behaviors require educators who employ function-based thinking and have a particular sensitivity to the wide range of factors that influence student behavior. In essence, educators working with special needs students need to know what makes their instruction "special"; they must…

Reports on research that shows that people with nerve or limb injuries may one day be able to command wheelchairs, prosthetics, and even paralyzed arms and legs by "thinking them through" the motions. (Author/MM)

Explores two widely held beliefs that conflict with available evidence: (1) handicapped children don't play and (2) play is a good way for handicapped children to pass the time. Concludes by proposing that play can help handicapped children learn. (RH)

Several pilot projects that use videodiscs for educational purposes are described, and other sources that are currently planning or producing instructional videodiscs are discussed. (CHC)

This response to McWilliams (EC 623 401) concerning controversial practices in the treatment of young children with disabilities suggests that social-validity assessments be conducted as well as objective measurements. Strategies are offered for discussing treatment alternatives in terms of objectives, acceptability of procedures, effectiveness…

The use of unconventional interventions in special education is addressed, and teachers are urged to stick with data-based interventions that have empirical evidence supporting their effectiveness. (DB)

This article presents a list of 51 influential persons in special education history, selected from a pool of 162 nominees. Brief notations are included by each name to highlight one or two illustrations among the many significant contributions that these influential persons have made to special education and society. (CR)

An overview is provided of the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education's report. Four recommendations are discussed: focus on results not on process; embrace a model of prevention not a model of failure; consider children with disabilities as general education children first; and target funds for direct services. (Contains 5…

This study examined the involvement of students with disabilities in the New American Schools Development Corporation (NASDC) projects. The report begins with a description of the competition to select demonstration projects that would create teams to design, implement, and disseminate "break-the-mold" schools to bring about educational…

Describes The Electric Poet, a computer program which uses color graphics to free the poet from mundane mechanics and allow new possibilities of form in writing verse. Its applications in working with hearing impaired and learning disabled students and use in studying works of the great poets are discussed. (MBR)

The article examines issues in inservice teacher training in special education in the United Kingdom in light of the implementation of "Grant Related Inservice Training" (Grist). It also looks at recent inservice innovations including the trend toward modular courses to gain qualifications at varying levels. (DB)

This response to McWilliams (EC 623 401) concerning controversial early intervention practices with young children with disabilities recounts the authors' involvement with programs originally considered controversial but now generally accepted. It notes that controversial practices that merit review and study and those that are hopelessly flawed…

A review of existing special education training models is presented along with a rationale for preservice training in the transdisciplinary team process. The transdisciplinary process is described, and recommendations for implementation of a transdisciplinary training program in special education teacher preparation are given. (Author/JDD)

This discussion of the impact of computers on education focuses on microcomputer developments since 1975, the advantages of microcomputers over other computers, some innovative computer based activities in the United States, and the principal inhibitors to effective use of computers in schools. Four references are listed. (CHC)