Tess is a joyful eight-year old girl with epilepsy, frontal lobe dysfunction, and dyspraxia, as well as delays in language, fine motor, and gross motor skills. However, despite her disabilities, Tess happily embraces life. With assistance from a few support professionals, Tess currently functions successfully in a regular education second grade…

The bibliography of 90 items lists books and journal articles for professionals and parents on the topic of integration of early intervention programs. The list encompasses publications on program models, parental expectations, financial concerns, effects on development of handicapped and nonhandicapped children, social behavior, and educational…

Teachers and parents can help learning disabled students make transitions to mainstream settings by preparing them for change in physical conditions, instructing them in organization and time management, teaching them interpersonal skills through role-playing, and assisting them in identifying and responding to a variety of emotions. (CL)

This edition of the newsletter of the National Information Center for Handicapped Children and Youth explains the meaning of Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) and shows how it can be put into operation not only in school but throughout the life of a disabled person. Brief articles have the following titles: "The Least Restrictive Environment:…

There has recently been an explosion of interest and writing about autism, autism spectrum disorders, pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDDNOS). This issue of the "Early Childhood Bulletin" suggests readings for parents, therapists, and professionals serving on Interagency…

This module was developed as part of a federally funded study group project, to answer the question of how students with severe disabilities can actively participate in lessons within regular elementary classrooms alongside their nondisabled peers, while still meeting their individualized goals and objectives. The module presents a brief overview…

This manual makes a case for cooperative (as opposed to competitive) play among disabled and nondisabled children. Part 1, which concerns the philosophy involved, discusses the rationale for cooperative games, the importance of play, cooperative games as an alternative, components of cooperative games, structure of cooperative games, and…

Parents must work actively with teachers to encourage the social integration of disabled children in mainstream classrooms. The ability to initiate and maintain positive peer relationships is necessary for healthy cognitive and social growth in all children, and it helps the disabled helps to overcome destructive cycles of rejection and isolation.…

This book is the second in a series designed to provide families and teachers with practical strategies for meeting the diverse needs of all students in the inclusive general education classroom. The book offers a process for responding to three basic premises about effective curriculum and instruction: it is grounded in the general education…

This article examines the challenges and successes experienced over four years by three academically gifted students with deaf-blindness in inclusive educational programs, and presents recommendations about placement of students with similar needs in inclusive programs. (Author/DB)

The paper discusses the roles of educational agencies, teachers, parents, and the children themselves in ensuring successful transitions from special education preschools to mainstreamed kindergarten placements. Factors determining classroom placements for the child include chronological age, results of school readiness and developmental screening…

A more effective partnership for the advocacy of integrated educational options can be formed when parents and professionals work in concert. Eleven strategies for securing integrated options are offered, including working with the media, working within other advocacy organizations, influencing others in the school system, and consulting with…

This document describes an activity-based, independent-study, introductory survey course intended to help child caregivers in caring for mildly to moderately handicapped children in day care settings. Course materials consist of an audiotape cassette and a supplementary handbook; the handbook and a transcript of the audiotape are included in the…

This booklet contains an outline of, and recommendations based on, a study of 128 New Zealand children in special groups mainstreamed into kindergartens and play groups. Research goals were to explore how mainstreaming had been implemented, whether special group children were profiting from the environment's educational opportunities, and whether…

The use of a teletypewriter (TTY) to help a primary grade deaf child better communicate with hearing peers is described by the child's parents. The article addresses obtaining the two TTY machines, involving the teacher, learning to use the machine by both deaf and hearing children, and the machine's value for developing language skills in…