Instructional strategies for special education and vocational teachers integrating special needs students into vocational classes include (1) clinical teaching that tailors learning to individual learning styles; (2) environmental and curricular modification; (3) direct instruction; and (4) individualized instruction. (SK)

Discusses three significant developments in comprehension theory (integration of information, prior knowledge, and prose organization) together with how certain innovative testing strategies can be used to match theory with format. Finds that six of the tests commonly used by special educators assess either a single dimension of reading…

This memorandum from the President of the Council for Exceptional Children urges teachers to be more vocal about successes in improving educational outcomes for children with exceptionalities and comments that special educators must assume leadership positions to shape the future of the profession. (JDD)

This article identifies classroom resources recommended for beginning special education teachers. Resources are grouped into six categories: (1) developing professionalism; (2) basics for effective instruction; (3) academic instruction; (4) cognitive-behavioral instruction; (5) behavioral management; and (6) classroom extras. Resources include…

Discussion of mentoring of beginning special education teachers considers: how mentors can help, matching mentor with new teacher, first-year teachers' comments about their mentors, and alternative sources of mentor support. Topics mentors should discuss with new teachers and useful Web sites for new teachers are discussed. (Contains 12…

This brief article outlines theories for the decrease in braille literacy among children with visual impairments. It stresses the need for braille instruction, the inability of itinerant teachers to adequately instruct many scattered visually impaired students, and resistance to using simplified Grade 1 braille. Special problems raised by…

This commentary discusses the need to review priorities embodied in systems providing services to children with disabilities and their families, and how special educators are trained. It urges educators to look outside of schools to the broader community to plan for full inclusion and the supports necessary to facilitate true participation. (CR)

This article explores the literature that supports the use of family stories to help special educators better understand the sociohistorical reality and ways of thinking of diverse families and communities. Examples from the work of student interns provide evidence for the seven key dispositions necessary for special educators using family…

This introduction discusses how creative programmatic activities can be designed to address the needs of preservice and inservice educators. It describes a practicum that provided preservice students in early childhood special education opportunities to apply consultation skills to teachers working with children with disabilities and an inservice…

Observations on teacher education are offered from the point of view of a parent of a learning disabled child who is also supervisor of student teachers in elementary and special education. Implications of a movement which advocates phasing out traditional 4-year undergraduate teacher education academic programs and substituting graduate programs…

Critical issues in tort liability that confront special educators and teacher trainers include malpractice (failure to learn), misdiagnosis, immunity, impact of a handicap on standard of care, confidentiality, access to emergency medical services, the use of aversive consequences, child abuse and corporal punishment, and school violence.…

The article examines various philosophical and professional orientations of teachers of the visually impaired and appropriate service delivery for severely and profoundly retarded children with visual handicaps. Staff contact only, consultation and direct service, and direct services are three delivery models discussed. Frequency, motivation, and…

Discriminatory assessment of minority students for possible handicap is virtually inevitable when the process ignores the societal context within which the students develop and schools educate. The psychologist or special educator should be an advocate for the student, not a legitimizer of existing role relationships. (DB)

Certification standards for teachers of the hearing impaired for the individual state education agencies are compared and reciprocal arrangements for teacher certificatiion are described and tabulated. The impact of state certification and reciprocity is addressed. Areas of concern that may be covered by teacher training programs are also…

The article compares the roles of remedial reading specialists and learning disability specialists with children with reading problems. To foster a working relationship between the two specialties, such recommendations as inservice programs for all professionals working with disabled readers are offered. (DB)