The Education Equality Initiative (EEI) has been established by the Department of Education and Science in an attempt to address educational disadvantage through the strategic allocation of funding to promote equality of access, treatment and outcomes within a lifelong learning framework for individuals and groups. The aim of this initiative is to…

This final report describes the Mastery Project, which developed, implemented, and field tested a comprehensive model to promote the mastery orientation and functional independence of students, ages 11-20, with physical and multiple disabilities. The model includes systematic procedures to: (1) facilitate assessment of students' functional…

The paper describes program initiatives undertaken during the 1984-85 school year by a rural educational cooperative, the Cayuga-Onondaga Board of Cooperative Educational Services (New York State), in an effort to bridge the gap between "current best practices" and local educational program opportunities for 110 school-aged students with…

Current approaches to instruction of students with autism and severe behavioral disorders are reviewed, specifically the behavioral framework and the community adaptation framework. In contrast to such approaches, which overemphasize teacher control over student behavior, a facilitative approach to enhancing students' communicative competence is…

The success of community-based instructional programs for students with moderate/severe handicaps depends on leadership provided by special education administrators. Potential problem areas in which proactive administrative efforts are particularly needed include: providing leadership to staff and parents; staff hiring, allocation, and teaming;…

This guide describes ways in which partners at the state level can move toward more integrated and comprehensive support systems for children and families eligible for services under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It reports on the collective experiences of states participating in the "Opening Doors Project,"…

This guide is intended to provide teachers of student with disabilities with resources, ideas, and procedures in implementing community-based instruction (CBI). The first chapter defines CBI, explains its importance, differentiates CBI from field trips, discusses appropriate CBI participants and stakeholders, and reviews the research on CBI.…

This paper reports on an ongoing 3-year project which has worked with three school sites to identify program and staff needs and then develop a tailored intervention to improve program services for adolescent students with severe emotional disturbances (SED). Necessary characteristics of effective transition programs for this population are…

Rural communities have strengths and weaknesses that affect the development of transitional programs for students with disabilities. These community characteristics were factored into a federally funded, graduate-level training program called Project CREST (Collaboration in Rural Education for Special Teachers), which provided training stipends…

This newsletter issue describes the Community Based Inservice Model (CBIM) of the Teaching Research Infant and Child Center (Oregon). This project provides training to personnel who serve secondary age students with moderate to severe disabilities. The project's has been funded by the Federal Government and is based on the philosophy of teaching…

This paper contrasts two perspectives for evaluating educational programs: (1) a growth curve model of personal development in the sociocultural context; and (2) a narrowing staircase model of educational success. According to the first perspective, development occurs along personal, social, and cognitive dimensions, and arises from the…

Four high school students with mental retardation and multiple sensory impairments were taught to initiate requests for items or assistance, using dual communication boards and gestures. Following training, students were able to initiate requests with 80 to 100% accuracy using the communication systems at vocational sites, demonstrating a skill…

The community-based rehabilitation model has successfully trained community members in rural areas of Asia, Africa, and Latin America to deliver educational and rehabilitation services to disabled individuals and their families. Practices applicable to improving educational and rehabilitation services in the United States involve staff…

This paper seeks to ascertain the usefulness of the theory of social capital as a framework for developing and sustaining the inclusion of people with disabilities and families in community life. We discuss the theoretical elements of social capital and assess its relevance when understanding both the experiences of people with disabilities and…

This handbook for parents is part of a packet intended to aid educators, families, and adult service providers to facilitate the transition from school to adult life in the community for students with both cognitive disabilities and visual or dual sensory impairments. Emphasis is on preparation of students for adult lifestyles through transition…