Few tools are available to pediatricians for tracking and monitoring disability status in children. We describe the conceptual basis and pilot use of the Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM). Our pilot use of this instrument in children with limb deficiency, Down's syndrome, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, and extreme prematurity demonstrates that the WeeFIM is a valid measure for tracking disability in preschool age and middle childhood. The WeeFIM measures the impact of developmental strengths and difficulties on independence at home, in school, and in the community. This allows the pediatrician to prioritize interventions for enhancing comprehensive functional outcomes and supporting families.

An easily administered 16-item scale was developed to measure attitudes toward inclusive education. Principal components analysis yielded four discrete dimensions of inclusive education with satisfactory internal consistency, including physical, academic, behavioral, and social dimensions. Cross-validation procedures provided further evidence of the factor structure and internal consistency of the scale.I gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Elizabeth Drugan in the data collection.

Functional assessment of a preschool child's aggressive and disruptive behaviors identified antecedent conditions associated with difficulties during transitions from one activity to another at school. Antecedent conditions and functional communication were addressed in the behavior plan using a schedule board based on the Picture Exchange Communication System. A dramatic decrease in aggression and increase in cooperative behavior in the classroom was observed.

This study was conducted to scale the Attitudes Toward Inclusive Education Scale (ATIES) with Rasch analysis. The ATIES records positive and negative attitudes toward integrating children with various disabilities into regular classes. Rasch analysis resolved the nonlinear relationship between the finite range of recorded ATIES scores and the conceptually infinite range of attitudes. Results showed that the 16-item scale defined a unidimensional attitudinal variable and yielded interval measures of attitudes toward inclusive education.

The present study was designed to evaluate gender and age effects on three multidimensional factors (i.e., figure preference, body dissatisfaction, and body distortion) that potentiate eating-related problems among adolescents. Data from 454 students (X age 15.03) found females preferred afigure significantly thinner than their current status, whereas males were generally pleased with their body proportions. This discrepancy resulted in significant gender differences in idealfigure preference and body dissatisfaction. School level (high school vs. middle school) by gender, two-way ANOVA comparisons found an interactional effect, with high schoolfemales evidencing significantly higher levels of body dissatisfaction and distortion than the middle schoolfemales and males. Further analysis with females found body dissatisfaction increased with age in a linear configuration, whereas body distortion followed a curvilinear pattern.