By: Cindy Perras, Valerie Sharpe, Darlene E. Perner and Stanly H. Zucker
Abstract: On February 12-14, 2003, the Council for Exceptional Children Division on Developmental Disabilities (DDD) sponsored its Eighth International Conference: Research to Practice in Cognitive Disabilities/Mental Retardation, Autism, and Related Disabilities. The conference was held at the Sheraton Poipu on Kauai. The DDD Board of Directors decided to devote this issue of Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities to conference papers. The conference brought together educators from school and college classrooms from all over the world. Through a joint program process with the Pacific Rim Conference, taking place in Honolulu, Hawaii earlier in the week, sessions were offered on a wide range of topics. Presenters were asked to submit papers based on their conference presentations. Papers submitted were reviewed by the Guest Editors who selected the papers for publication. We think the selection of papers represents an interesting assortment of topics and formats ranging from discussion papers to databased research to descriptions of classroom techniques.