Four papers comment on the work of the National Special Education and Mental Health Coalition, a group attempting to identify and remediate problems of behaviorally disordered/emotionally disturbed children/youth. Specifically discussed are: service-related issues, the Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders' role, and the Council for…

Literature reports of individual and group child-focused interventions designed to help students cope effectively with divorce-related transitions and to reduce potential maladjustment are described. Indirect interventions with parents, teachers, and the school organization are also discussed, and a comprehensive model of divorce-related school…

Results of a study concerning 21 children undergoing pediatric-based assessment indicate that the majority of recommendations evolving from the combined, interdisciplinary assessment are implemented and approved by parents and school personnel. Study results support pediatric-based assessments for school problems and demonstrate the advantages of…

Students can develop self-directed behavior when behavior management strategies are structured to provide opportunities to learn responsible behavior, make choices, and develop internal control. Student behavior is viewed as a response to psychological needs for love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun. Components of a reality therapy session…

This article proposes that changes in pediatric therapy in the 1990s have made the dichotomy between educational and medical therapy moot. Contemporary models of motor development and motor learning, combined with an emphasis on functional outcomes and family-centered services, are seen to pertain equally to children receiving occupational and…

The essays in this collection are grounded in theoretical underpinnings which range from Freud to Montessori. The focus encompasses educational and psychiatric concerns. Essays are organized in 4 parts. Part 1, "Theory of Art Therapy," includes: (1) "Art Therapy: Problems of Definition" (Elinor Ulman); (2) "Therapy is Not Enough: The Contribution…

These five serial issues focus on the outcomes of developmental education. Featured are the following articles: (1) "Developmental Instruction: What Really Makes a Difference?" by Hunter R. Boylan, which reviews several research-based models or theories of learning, including the Carroll model, the Bloom model, and the Bruner model, and discusses…

This pamphlet reviews the historical process involved in initially recognizing Rett Syndrome as a specific disorder in girls. Its etiology is unknown, but studies have considered factors as hyperammonemia, a two-step mutation, a fragile X chromosome, metabolic disorder, environmental causation, dopamine deficiency, and an inactive X chromosome.…

This is a report of the therapeutic unit developed under the auspices of Head Start for the education of atypical low income children who cannot be contained in regular Head Start classrooms. The primary objective for this first year descriptive phase was to determine if the teaching staff could work productively with six pupils who presented a…

The use of microcomputer-assisted therapy as part of the total rehabilitation plan for brain-injured individuals with cognitive-communicative impairments is addressed. Design of effective computer-assisted remediation requires a careful decision-making process. Specific types of software are suggested for dealing with deficits in organization,…

A case study is presented of a 19-year-old deaf and legally blind boy who transcends his handicapping condition in using felt-tipped markers and tempera paints to produce graphic landscapes of urban life. Discussed are his choice of subjects, manner of working, the impact of art therapy, and therapeutic issues. (JDD)

Describes a study of the perceptions of developmental educators and counselors regarding current level of knowledge and procedures for working with students with learning disabilities in community colleges. Reports differences in training, with 31% of the educators and only 6% of the counselors having taken special education courses. Discusses…

During the 1979-1980 school year, 16 severely emotionally disturbed secondary school students participated in the Youth in Psychoeducational Services (YIPS) program. The program provided intensive academic and behavioral treatment, family counseling, and staff development activities. YIPS was evaluated using a model that required the comparison of…

Intended to encompass individuals in need of special treatment, teachers, and areas of knowledge relevant to either or both groups, the text discusses the following subjects: the nature of reading; the nature of learning difficulties; the development of reading instruction in the United States; the development of instruction for children with…

Art therapy and group discussion aimed at self-exploration and interpersonal learning formed the core of a group treatment model for 13 mentally retarded, emotionally impaired adolescents. Students were divided into two groups according to levels of functioning. Group structure and issues processed by group members are described in detail. (JW)