This commentary discusses whether the American Association on Mental Retardation should change its name. The history of the term "mental retardation" is reviewed and it is argued that any new term will take on similar risks. The need to involve self-advocates in any terminology change is stressed. (Contains 5 references.) (CR)

In this response to an article that explores the practice of social inquiry in professional work by drawing from the democratic ethics of John Dewey (Danforth, 2001), tensions, unresolved issues, and seeming paradoxes in Dewey's thinking are discussed. The value of multi-perspective and multi-voiced inquiry is emphasized. (Contains references.)…

This article examines factors affecting the participation and achievement of students with disabilities in teacher education programs. It considers federal legislation affecting their involvement in such programs, their admission, performance of essential teaching functions, accommodation provision and accessibility, basic skills competency…

This study involved a content analysis of the transition goals of 136 students (mean age 17) with mental retardation for those which addressed skills related to self-determination. Results indicated very limited emphasis on such skills. Discussion focuses on the need to provide systematic instruction in elements of self-determination to students…

Words can be powerful tools to engage students with disabilities in self-determined behaviors. When teachers are cognizant of their choice of words and manner of interaction, they can empower students to develop a sense of who they are, what they are capable of doing, and why they behave the way they do. This article explores how everyday…

Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) youth are coming out at younger ages, but schools have not changed as fast as the culture, leaving many youth isolated and at risk of violence and harassment. For GLBT youth of color, these problems are exacerbated by racism and the risk of rejection by their ethnic community. Children of GLBT parents…

This final report describes the activities of Project LEEDS (Leadership Education to Empower Disabled Students), a federally supported project designed to create student/staff teams from colleges and universities to encourage undergraduate/graduate students with disabilities to become leaders, through development of self-identity and identity with…

This paper presents guidelines for creating a collaborative approach for communication among teachers, parents, and students to plan for their transition toward further education or work in adult life and to become informed self-advocates. Guidelines for teachers are presented and include: (1) establishing a system that places the student at the…

Thirty-three college students with learning disabilities responded to a request to identify their learning disability. The responses were then coded and a summary of the professional diagnoses of the learning disabilities was added to the students' self-descriptions. Five authorities in the field of learning disabilities were asked to use a…

This resource guide looks at five areas in which freedom of choice can be increased for people with developmental disabilities: assessing needs, planning for services, evaluating services, understanding the service system, and self-advocacy. Needs are assessed through home interviews, personal updates, neighborhood surveys, evaluation of likes and…

A study examined the impact on parents when a young person with disabilities is involved in self-advocacy. Methodologies used included a literature review, interviews with nine families of young people with disabilities, collection of information about parent support initiatives, and discussion with a self-advocay group. During the course of the…

This book is designed to assist professionals in developing and implementing transition services for students with disabilities. Specifically, this book focuses on the importance of assessment in transition planning and targets the various domains that should be included in any school-to-work transition assessment. The book advocates a…

This report discusses findings from a study that investigated the effectiveness of a student's improved self-knowledge of his or her specific learning disabilities in achieving academic success and improved self-advocacy skills. Forty-four general and special education faculty members and para-educators, and 13 ninth-grade students and their…

This paper reports on a focus group discussion held in June, 1998, in Killington, Vermont, about a 3-year project in Vermont to encourage the self-determination of people with developmental disabilities. The project has involved training of four project teams, each composed of a person with a developmental disability, a family member, and a person…

Presents the findings of a study that examined the personal characteristics contributing to the postsecondary academic success of students with learning disabilities. Results, based on interviews of directors of learning disability support services, reveal that successful students are motivated toward realistic goals, are academically prepared,…