This paper presents specific strategies to assist collaborative consultation efforts by educators of students with disabilities. First, a definition of collaborative consultation is offered and advantages of this approach identified. Next, essential skills and strategies to gain acceptance and establish credibility in collaborative situations are…

A major problem in mainstreaming and implementation of Public Law 94-142 has been in establishing evaluation criteria to determine appropriate learning environment placement. Providing appropriate education in the least restrictive environment is primarily the classroom teacher's responsibility, requiring decision-making based on these questions:…

The role of the special educator as a liaison between health department clinics and the school in treating the handicapped child is explored. Three reasons for the assignment of special educators to serve on staffs of state health department clinics are given: (1) the population of children which is referred to these clinics is far more likely…

The current practice of including all students with special needs in the general education setting has resulted in new roles for special educators. To determine whether special education professionals are being prepared adequately for these new roles, a study investigated the self-reported competencies of special educators on a set of 35 skills…

Describes the multiple roles and special challenges experienced by rural itinerant teachers delivering special physical education services. Provides a breakdown of time spent in various job functions by two itinerant special physical educators (ISPEs) studied in north central Kansas. Suggests strategies for successful delivery using the ISPE…

This survey investigated caseloads and time associated with assessing, planning, developing, and updating Individualized Education Programs and providing direct and indirect instructional services, for 100 special education resource room teachers and 80 speech pathologists. Special education teachers saw more students during an instructional…

Analysis of a survey of 234 early childhood special education (ECSE) teachers in Virginia found that ECSE staff conducted gastrostomy feedings and/or catheterizations, that nurses provided care for tracheostomies and mechanical ventilation, and that 38% of school systems (mostly urban and suburban) had written policies concerning preschoolers with…

Discusses features of a middle school program for students with emotional or behavioral disorders, noting how these features promote a secure, inviting environment that meets the students' emotional and psychological needs. Topics include the special education teacher's involvement with regular classroom teachers; focus on student behaviors; and…

A course at Southeastern Louisiana University prepares special education teachers to collaborate with rural families having children with disabilities. Precourse, postcourse, and 2-year followup questionnaires found that participants had a new understanding of family dynamics and the impact on the family of a special-needs child and developed…

For students with intellectual disabilities and their families, planning for the transition from school to adult life can be a complicated process. Successful planning is sometimes made more challenging when post-school options and opportunities are not well known or understood. The purpose of this study is to seek out the perspectives of…

This analysis of the changing role of the special educator to that of the inclusion specialist reviews the logic of these changes, presents results of research on the role of the inclusion specialist, analyzes the limitations of these changing roles, and presents an alternative view of professional roles in which teachers share the teaching of a…

The roles and responsibilities of the emerging position of "inclusion specialist" were studied through a review of the literature, analysis of job descriptions and other documents, classroom observations, and interviews with relevant personnel. The literature review briefly examines the historical background of special education reform…

This guide for special education resource room teachers focuses on ways to balance the many conflicting demands of this role. The first chapter focuses on personal development with a "Personal Resourcing Questionnaire", guidelines for identifying goals and working systematically toward them, and suggestions for maintaining personal…

The article explicates the rights and responsibilities of special educators and administrators in the suspension and expulsion of handicapped students from school. In addition to a discussion of Honig versus Doe, the article presents the common law principles that have been developed in federal litigation. (JDD)

Adolescents with learning disabilities are not educated in a vacuum. Successful programming for these students involves many school professionals working together to integrate their programs for the benefit of students with learning disabilities. Collaborative teaming probably can best be described as an attitude rather than a certain way of…