This article draws on research from literacy and special education, as well as insights from autobiographies and memoirs authored by people on the autism spectrum, to argue that all students, including those without disability labels, benefit when students within the autism spectrum are included in classrooms with their same-age peers. An overview…

For the sake of university personnel just starting a Dean's Grant Program for teacher education in mainstreaming, the author synthesizes successful program design techniques from existing Dean's Grant Programs. (SJL)

Issues are discussed that arose in the training and implementation of the Advanced Learning Environments Model (an approach to restructuring educational services to accommodate full-time mainstreaming of most mildly handicapped elementary students) at two sites. A brief description of the model and sites is followed by specific issues. (Author/PB)

The Every Child a Winner Movement Program provides developmental movement experiences designed to fit the individual needs of children. This program is described in relation to its benefits for the mainstreamed population through themes of space awareness, body awareness, and quality of body movement. (JN)

In establishing appropriate social behaviors in mainstreamed severely handicapped students, it is important to understand the frustrations encountered in specific environments, the distinction between adaptive and appropriate behaviors, and the behaviors which may serve as transitions to more adaptive behaviors (such as communication of ideas). A…

A new book by John Dunstan gives evidence that the Soviet Union's special schools for the academically and athletically gifted are not as successful as commonly thought. The emphasis now is on mixed ability schools. (Author/SJL)

Implementing the least restrictive environment or full inclusion philosophy places new demands on public school personnel. In particular, principals must command an understanding of special education to implement procedural requirements effectively and to provide appropriate educational services for disabled students in their schools. However,…

Discusses career counseling for visually impaired students. Counselors can help reverse damaging employment stereotypes and help students succeed in the work world by using a positive approach and focusing on abilities and factual conditions. (JAC)

The central purpose of mainstreaming is to integrate handicapped students with nonhandicapped peers. It is the teacher's responsibility to foster positive and constructive interactions between handicapped students and their peers. Three ways of organizing constructive peer interaction are: (1) cooperation; (2) competition; and (3) an…

In this research review of basic issues in learning disabilities, definitions, possible causes, prevalence, and identification of learning disabilities are discussed. Characteristics of learning disabled individuals are considered under five headings: perceptual and perceptual-motor disabilities, problems with attention and hyperactivity,…

This article discusses prereferral intervention, mainstreaming, and appropriate education for culturally and linguistically diverse exceptional learners. One approach for addressing prereferral intervention at district or school building levels is described, emphasizing the need to expand training to meet the needs of minority non-Hispanic…

The advent of inclusive education has quietly changed the ecology of Hong Kong's educational system. Inclusive education is a product of education in the developed Western nations and has spread at the instigation of international organizations. It is a plan for educational development that is based on the concepts of human rights and peace and…

Rural and urban elementary schools implemented collaborative consultation to serve special education students. In the rural school, the special education teacher spends 4 days per week in the classrooms. She spends Wednesdays and 1 week out of 5 testing, writing IEPs, planning, and completing paperwork. The principal, instructional assistant, TAG…

Noted are problems such as the increased incidence of handicaps additional to the hearing impairment, the lack of homogeneity among the hearing impaired, and the poor language ability of most hearing impaired students. Current programs in Missouri, California, and New York are briefly described. (DB)

Notes that determining the appropriate educational environment for students with special education needs can be problematic. Reviews the case of Rachel Holland which led to a four-part test (educational benefit, noneducational benefit, effect on teachers and students, and cost) to determine where best to educate special needs students. (RS)