A systemic approach for planning inservice training related to Public Law 99-457

Public Law 99-457 has inaugurated a major shift in how the roles of professionals working with young handicapped children and their families are being defined. The demands for inservice training are acute as existing service delivery systems attempt to respond to changes. The challenge involves not only training professionals in complex skills, attitudes, and knowledge related to new roles, but also coordinating between the various disciplines affected by the legislation. The efforts are further complicated by state and local translations of how the law will be implemented. This article describes a systemic approach to planning inservice related to Public Law 99-457 that combines flexibility and structure. Specific recommendations emphasize the similarities between the family and social systems approaches being promoted in the literature and the systemic approach to inservice training described in this article.