Education is the foundation of any modern society, though as America approaches a new millennium, we often lose sight of this fact. If we are to meet the challenges of a new society, a new economy, and a new world order, then education needs to be a relevant, vibrant, and vital institution for all of our people. Enabling people with disabilities to be contributing and participating members of our new world is one of the critical issues policy-makers need to be focused on today. There will be a significant price, not only in terms of money and resources, to be paid should we fail to address the issue in a forthright and direct manner. The Wildwood Institute believes that by aligning practice and policy with the real and true needs of our emerging new world, we can successfully meet this formidable challenge.
Introduction Begin with the end in mind.
Fit programs to students, not students to programs. The practitioner's role is pivotal. Multidisciplinary instruction is extraordinarily difficult, but well worth the effort. Standards need to be relative, not universal. Meaningfully involved families are assets, not liabilities.