Multimethod study examined the 50 U.S. states' preparation and licensure practices regarding students with low-incidence sensory disabilities (LISD). The researchers used document review and structured interviews with state education agency representatives. It was found that institutions of higher education (IHEs) in 38 states offer at least one…

This case study describes a collaborative decision-making process for developing effective academic accommodations for a music major with a disability, whose prior accommodations suggested by the Disability Support Services (DSS) failed to address her needs. Cross-departmental collaboration between the DSS and the School of Music, as well as…

In an age of Internet education, what does it mean for a tenure/tenure-track faculty to have a web page? How many professors have web pages? If they have a page, what does it look like? Do they really need a web page at all? Many universities have faculty web pages. What do those collective pages look like? In what way do they represent the…

This paper reports on efforts of several states in the southern United States (Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia) to respond to the mandate for training early childhood special education professionals. The paper describes how teacher certification standards are being met in these states and examines the role of the state…

This article describes steps taken by the faculty in the Department of Special Education at the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire to develop, implement, and make programmatic decisions based on the results of performance-based assessments. It illustrates these steps with the example of the educational goal of having students understand the…

This study of special education faculty needs at institutions of higher education for the periods 1984-88 and 1989-94 found that many positions were filled by individuals already in higher education or previously employed in state or local education agencies. Results suggest that a substantial number of future applicants may also come from these…

This paper addresses concerns about effects of current changes in higher education on development of leadership personnel (professors and researchers) in special education. It suggests that current changes are a consequence of external expectations and a failure of faculty to protect the cultural values of academia. The prominent role of…

This digest summarizes the role of the dean or department chair in dealing with legal issues in higher education. It considers the types of legal issues which might arise for these administrators (such as contract and tort matters for staff and students), the erosion of the legislative and judicial deference given to academic decision making, and…

This report examines the role of the college dean or department head in relation to legal issues in higher education. The first section offers principles of the law, the courts, and counsel. It addresses types of legal issues, internal and external sources of the law, deference to academic and behavioral decisions, the distinction between public…

The paper synthesizes findings from four national studies (conducted 1982-1985) in personnel training in special education. The studies included two national surveys of manpower needs and programmatic implications, a study of a national sample of higher education departments of special education, and a survey of undergraduate and graduate students…

This handbook describes the effects of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and of Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 on employment practices in educational institutions. After an introduction to affirmative action, the Rhode Island Board of Regents' regulations dealing with equal employment opportunities are explained. An overview…

This monograph presents the plan of the Intra-Agency Council of the New York State Department of Education to increase physical and programmatic accessibility of all Department programs and services. First, the mission and goals of the Council as well as its activities are briefly reviewed. Next, the process for developing the department plan is…

The Partnerships Project involves a university, a state department of education, and a university-affiliated program in Illinois working together to implement new personnel standards for early intervention with young children having special needs. Emphasis is on technical assistance functions utilizing extensive peer review. (Author/DB)

Information on identifying handicapped children was collected and analyzed, in order to evaluate Illinois-required case study components and assessment procedures. A literature review chapter discusses assessment of health, academic status, and individual strengths/weaknesses, and provides summaries of best practices. In regard to method, a survey…

Federal legislation requires that all handicapped children be afforded an appropriate and individualized physical education program. The state education agency of Montana, however, has not assumed this responsibility, and unqualified special education classroom teachers and regular physical education teachers are reluctantly charged by local…