This dissertation critically examines mental illness discourses through the intersecting disciplinary lenses of art education and disability studies. Research from multiple disciplines is compared and theorized to uncover the ways in which discourses, or language systems, have oppressively constructed and represented "mental illness." To establish…

This article profiles Judy Heumann, who has spent her life as an advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. She advocates for the full appropriate implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and other related antidiscrimination legislation. Her ultimate goal is for people with disabilities "not to be seen as…

Many preservice secondary teachers feel well prepared by their teacher preparation programs to teach their content area. However, these same preservice teachers overwhelmingly indicated that more instruction in serving students with special needs-modifications, management techniques, paperwork and educational terms-was warranted. They understand…

As a result of the 1992 Disability Discrimination Act in Australia and parental support for inclusion, regular teachers now include students with disabilities in their classes. Inclusion has been more successful in primary than in secondary schools. Secondary schools remain a challenge due to their traditional focus on curriculum, examinations,…

It is more than 10 years since the Special Educational Needs Tribunal was established in 1994 as an independent panel which arbitrates in disputes between parents of children with the label special educational needs and Local Education Authorities (LEAs) in England. In 2002 the Tribunal began hearing claims for disability discrimination and was…

Australian research has demonstrated that students with a disability are more likely to remain out of the full-time workforce. These research findings have been the catalyst for a call for a comprehensive career development and transition planning approach for all students with disabilities in schools as well as for employers to rethink the role…

Nearly one third of the more than six million students with disabilities in U.S. public schools are of traditional high school age. Though research indicates that the majority of high school-age students with disabilities and their parents are satisfied with the services they receive, many still face barriers and challenges to receiving an…

In the 1930s, about 2% of San Francisco's children were diagnosed as intellectually disabled and placed in special education or institutionalized. Most of the children were of Italian descent. Teachers, physicians, psychologists and social workers authorized their placement in San Francisco's special education classes, specified the training that…

Prior to the passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act in 1975 (PL 94-142), the educational experience of disabled children and youth was varied and uncertain. Many children and youth with sensory, physical or cognitive impairments received minimal skill development training in institutions, separate day classes, church basements…

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a civil rights law that applies to all school districts nationwide. Despite its wide coverage, there is a dearth of research on how the law is implemented. This study presents the results of an exploratory investigation of Section 504 practices with 154 special education directors in one…

Examines the institutional construction of soft or mild disability by special education as a process of pre-incarceration in schools. Argues that labels of soft disability suspend the educational and citizenship participation of disadvantaged students. Outlines variation and inquiry as alternative concepts that may reverse the negative school…

Viewing disabled people as historical actors, this essay ponders emerging disability historiography, distilling three key characteristics--the norm, prejudice and human agency--and applies them to specific cases related to the polio phenomenon of the twentieth century, focusing on the closely related experiences of childhood, families and…

The four Supreme Court decisions interpreting the Education for All Handicapped Children Act which have been handed down to date are reviewed: Board of Education v. Rowley (1982), Irving v. Tatro (1984), Smith v. Robinson (1984), and Burlington v. Department of Education (1985). Implications and pending legislation are discussed. (JW)

Discusses the historical development of special education in England and France using Michel Foucault's distinction between traditional and effective history. States attitudes and practices relating to difference are culture specific. Concludes that a variety of means should be used in challenging and interpreting other positions taken when…

This article explores key differences between special education legislation in England and Scotland and their implications for delivering consistent anti-discrimination policies. It is argued that close monitoring of the implementation of Part 4 of the Disability Discrimination Act in English and Scottish schools is necessary. (Contains…