Providing comprehensive services to students with significant support needs is a complex and challenging endeavor because of the uniqueness of a wide range of conditions and variables that impact one or more of the functioning capacities of these students. Along with this complexity, it is necessary to fully integrate culturally responsive ideology and pedagogy within the framework of determined effective strategies and supports. This article provides a context for the application of the essential elements of cultural responsiveness and the critical skills for teachers to use in teaching diverse populations of students with significant support needs. Recommendations are made for the inclusion of these elements in teaching practices in terms of the development of a more foundational knowledge base and the implementation of culturally responsive practices within the field of special education. Implications for further research are identified to support the implementation of quality services for students with significant support needs through culturally responsive practices.

Hundreds of lives are now being saved in hospitals across the country with the use of rapid response teams. These teams are composed of clinicians who bring critical care expertise to the patient bedside. The purpose of these teams is to assess and stabilize the patient, assist with communication among the interdisciplinary care providers, educate and support the staff caring for the patient, and assist with transfer of the patient if necessary. Research has shown that, with successful implementation of a rapid response team, the percent of codes and mortality rates decrease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing a rapid response team at 1 medical center. The results from the study demonstrated a decrease in the percent of codes outside the critical care units. However, it did not show a decrease in overall mortality rates for the patients. Data review will continue as we strive to improve our overall mortality rates while maintaining a decrease in the amount of codes.

Early identification of insulin-resistant individuals would allow extra time for preventive measures and may alter the progression of the development of associated cardiovascular risk. A recommendation for a treatment plan of identified insulin-resistant individuals is provided.

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