This article describes how an educator used a portfolio approach to teach self-advocacy skills to four middle school students with visual impairments. Students wrote about their visual impairment and learning needs, compiled lists of specific words and definitions related to their individual impairments, and wrote letters to their ninth-grade…

This article discusses a court case of an adolescent labeled retarded who was sexually assaulted. It examines implications of being spoken about and of others speaking for the labeled person. It then considers how a disability rights/People First framework could shift public and professional understandings and responses to human abuse. (Contains…

This article describes a process called "Photovoice," originally developed by Carolyn Wang and Mary Ann Burris (1997) in the field of public health, and illustrates how thirteen students with disabilities in three high schools used cameras and text to show and tell how they engage or fail to engage in their education. This article indicates a…

This book provides specific suggestions for ways to make accommodations and modify leisure activities to enable and encourage the participation of individuals with learning disabilities. The following chapters include: (1) "An Introduction"; (2) "Learning Disabilities," which describes types of learning disabilities, guidelines…

Examines shortcomings of the traditional high school special education curriculum and highlights a curriculum designed to assist students with mild disabilities in their transition to adulthood. The curriculum emphasizes problem solving and self-advocacy and includes components on daily living, personal/social, occupational exploration, and…

Designed for students with disabilities, this publication outlines the steps needed for successful transition from high school to college and beyond. The guide urges students to find out about institutional entrance requirements, maintain a high grade point average, take pre-college examinations, take care with college applications, find financial…

Secondary students with mild disabilities often are unprepared to make a successful transition into adulthood. The traditional secondary curriculum for mildly disabled students focuses too much on remedial academics and not enough on the specific skills needed in social interactions, daily living, occupational choice, and employment. In addition,…

This paper synthesizes literature which relates to the successful transition of students with learning disabilities upon leaving high school. The first section defines transition and analyzes the components of transition as outlined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The second section reviews issues related to students with…

This report provides a record of discussion during a workshop entitled "Assisting People with Developmental Disabilities To Speak Effectively for Themselves." Participants included developmentally disabled individuals, leaders from self-advocacy groups, paid staff, and volunteers. The discussion addressed three questions: (1) what works…

The metaphor of a family road trip is used to describe a 10-week seminar program at the Rochester Institute of Technology (New York) for learning disabled high school students and their parents in preparation for student transition to college. The small group format (maximum eight families) allows for both whole group and separate (parents and…

Fifteen fact sheets--two page overviews of issues in special education developed by the ERIC Clearinghouse on Handicapped and Gifted Children in 1981--are presented. The fact sheets address topics in a question and answer format and provide references as well as resources on each subject. The following titles are included, "The Administrator's…

This pilot study examined the career self-efficacy of 75 college students (40 with disabilities and 35 without disabilities) using the Career Decision Making Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (CDMSE-SF) and semi-structured interviews. Career self-efficacy was defined as the belief that an individual can accomplish his/her career goals. Results…

This issue of "Linkages" addresses skills that literacy programs can include in their curriculum to teach self-advocacy to adult learners with learning disabilities. Articles include: "Consumers Empowering Consumers" (Noel Gregg and Cheri Hoy); "Self-Advocacy: Practical Advice to the Adult with LD" (Pat Boyd); "Disclosure: It's a Matter of Choice"…

This handbook is designed to provide Louisiana students with deafness or hearing impairments with information and strategies for successfully attending college. It begins by discussing the drop out rates for college students with disabilities and the rights of students with disabilities under federal laws. The following section addresses…

The National Capacity Building Institute 2001 meetings on transition to postsecondary education for people with disabilities included nationally recognized speakers, discussion groups focusing on current issues, and commentary from consumer/professionals. This document is a record of the proceedings and outcomes. Papers presented include: (1)…