In this commentary, we revisit "NCLB and the Demand for Highly Qualified Teachers: Challenges and Solutions for Rural Schools," an article we published in this journal in 2005. We consider the predictions we made then about the impact of the Highly Qualified Teacher mandate on special education teacher (SET) shortages in rural states and…

The purpose of this commentary is to respond to the article written by Voltz and Collins (2010) that considered the preparation of special education administrators for inclusion in diverse, standards-based contexts by highlighting the Administrator of Special Education Standards that were adopted in 2009 by the Council for Exceptional Children.…

Cultural immersion experiences have been used in multicultural counselor training courses to address racism. Cultural immersion experiences include activities designed to provide concentrated, direct, substantial, and meaningful interactions with multiple elements of a target culture for the purpose of promoting crosscultural competency. In this…

Since 1975, Microsoft has been a worldwide leader in software, services, and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Loren Mikola, the Disability Inclusion Program Manager at Microsoft, ensures that this technology also reaches and includes the special needs population and, through the hiring of individuals with…

Four generic teaching competencies (individual pupil assessment; design, implementation, and evaluation of assessment; programing for secondary students; and functioning as members of interdisciplinary teams and teacher consultants) for teachers dealing with mildly and moderately handicapped students are discussed. Recommendations are made to…

This article summarizes the development process and context for understanding and using the Council for Exceptional Children's (CEC) knowledge and skills standards for the preparation and certification of educational diagnosticians, approved by the CEC Professional Standards and Practice Committee in December 1997. The complete set of standards…

Important issues for the field of rehabilitation are raised concerning disabled persons becoming counselors of other disabled individuals. The need for rehabilitation counselors to critically evaluate this issue is emphasized. (SEW)

Suggests that negative employer attitudes are no longer restricting employment of the disabled. Instead, inadequate job preparation has resulted in a lack of marketable job skills in many disabled job seekers. (Disabled USA, President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, Washington, DC 20210.) (JOW)

This report of the Council for Exceptional Children's Bright Futures initiative identifies barriers to high-quality special education and lays out an agenda for ensuring that every student with an exceptionality has a highly qualified teacher who is able to practice under optimal professional conditions and in suitable settings. The agenda is…

This paper examines how key provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act affect the operations of academic libraries. First, the paper summarizes the provisions of the ADA's five titles that deal with: (1) employment of people with disabilities; (2) accessibility of public buildings; (3) modifications to existing and new construction; (4)…

This article addresses system-level, teacher-level, and child-level concerns to be addressed if efforts to operationalize the Regular Education Initiative are to be given a reasonable scientific test. Diagnosing current teacher competencies and improving upon relevant skills is seen as crucial to the attainment of child-level objectives.…

This response to HE 605 536 stresses that true reform of teacher training requires a radical departure from separate departments of education or separate inservice intiatives for classroom teachers and special education teachers. Programs must be developed with a focus on how to handle diversity for whatever material is to be taught. (DB)

This article defines educational consultation, reviews competencies needed by educational consultants, and specifies competencies essential for educators serving children with special needs from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Competencies include understanding one's own perspective, effectively using interpersonal and…

Explains the lack of connection between the knowledge base that exists to improve the education of children with disabilities, and the practices of districts and professionals. Discusses the lack of teacher preparation and the difficulties that veteran teachers have in finding the time and energy to implement best practices. (CR)

Tom Skrtic, associate professor of Special Education at the University of Kansas, is interviewed. His books include critical analyses of special education from numerous theoretical perspectives in the social sciences and humanities, as well as applications of organizational perspectives to past and current reform efforts in special and general…