This article presents recommendations to increase family involvement among culturally/linguistically diverse families of children with disabilities. Recommendations include using different communication approaches, providing alternative meeting sites, providing information and training to parents, and understanding family priorities, needs, and…

A middle school team of teachers addressed the needs of six high risk students through a three-phase educational action research project. The three phases (listening to students, listening to the environment, and reflecting on practices) were overlapping and simultaneous processes. Photovoice and open-ended interviews were used to listen to…

This article provides a compilation of integration options for including students with severe disabilities. It discusses collaborative planning for inclusion, and provides a chart illustrating the stages of planning for curriculum adaptations for students with disabilities. A case study of collaborative planning is provided. (Contains references.)…

This case study of a 14-year-old boy with severe disabilities describes the collaboration of a team of educators who sought to include him in eighth-grade general-education classes. His inclusion plan included four steps: planning, selecting classes, accommodating, and collaborating. The accomplishments of the student's inclusion in earth science…

This article discusses strategies for increasing general education teacher participation in Individualized Education Program (IEP) development, in the following areas: team connection issues, time issues, preparation issues, training issues, and IEP relevance issues. A sample IEP meeting agenda is provided, along with results from an IEP…

This article links standards-based goals and objectives to district standards using three cornerstones: the development of one belief system, a common understanding of the district's standards, and the development of a working relationship with general education. A district-wide model project of accountability for students with disabilities is…

This article describes how educational professionals, community members, students and parents in Jessamine County, Kentucky, worked together to help students with moderate and severe disabilities transition after high school graduation. It discusses how elective coursework was successfully combined with functional, community-based, education…

This article describes an action research project that tracked the progress of under achieving fourth-grade students throughout the school year. The project used a collaborative problem solving and planning guide in an inclusive classroom to enhance students' productive work and produce gains in student achievement and student social skills.…

Presented in a question-and-answer format, this article examines family concerns, goals, and expectations related to students' use of assistive technology. A chart shows possible goals, potential positive outcomes, potential negative outcomes, and possible responses of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team. Four case studies illustrate…

This article profiles a third-grader with physical and learning disabilities to exemplify the use of physical and occupational therapy in school and the teamwork required to achieve inclusion and to facilitate a comprehensive educational program. Providing related services in an educational environment is discussed, along with legal requirements.…

This article reports on a team effort by faculty from a public school district and an urban university to create an observation tool to be used to evaluate and mentor preservice and inservice teachers' abilities to address issues of classroom diversity. The observation tool is provided, along with implementation suggestions. (Contains references.)…

The following recommendations are made to assist multidisciplinary teams in developing educational programs for second-language learners: diversify the team and offer training; compare student performance in native and secondary languages; consider factors associated with second-language acquisition; employ alternative assessments; identify life…