This literature review analyzes 47 studies and reports on the type and range of medical care, resources, and support services needed to maintain individuals with mental retardation in the community; health-related outcomes; barriers to the provision of community-based medical services; and availability and access to services. (Author/JDD)

The paper reviews trends in the integration of young disabled children and proposes replacement of the traditional concept of least restrictive environment as a continuum of placement with a concept of integration opportunities determined by individual child needs, family needs, and community resources. The need for integrated service delivery…

This information package explores a "housing/support services" approach to residential services for individuals with severe disabilities. It provides an introduction to housing strategies and resources that can be used to promote home ownership by parents and people with disabilities, to make all housing more accessible, and to increase the…

This paper examines policy options in implementing least restrictive environment (LRE) requirements of federal legislation (Public Laws 99-457 and 94-142), and offers recommendations regarding the array of placement options that should be available in relation to preschool children with handicaps. First, the legal interpretation of LRE is analyzed…

This review analyzes the impact of the traditional school reform model on students who are "at-risk" and disabled. Several goals of current reform initiatives are felt to be exclusionary, such as specifying national or state goals for student achievement, establishing rigid graduation requirements, and relieving schools from "burdensome…

This conference report focuses upon transition issues for those individuals with profound multiple-sensory impairments. It contains presentations, reactions, and syntheses of discussions by working groups. The keynote address, by H. D. Bud Fredericks, is titled "Those with Profound Handicaps: Who Are They? How Can They Be Served?."…

This monograph presents a brief review of the literature on integrating students with disabilities into mainstream educational programs. It begins by clarifying such terms as normalization, least restrictive environment, mainstreaming, and integration. It offers a historical perspective with a Canadian emphasis. The research on efficacy of…

The five chapters of this monograph review the literature and propose best practices for the successful transition of youth with disabilities from school to adult life in the community. The opening chapter, "Transition from School to Integrated Communities" (Janis Chadsey-Rusch and others), offers a review of the research on outcomes attained by…

This paper provides an overview of educational, legal, and philosophical aspects of integration of Massachusetts students with disabilities. It discusses effective practices based on current research, the experience of parents and practitioners, and model programs. Introductory sections consider the importance of the integration concept and offer…

This booklet explains the features and benefits of learning communities and summarizes Australia's experience with them. Part 1 traces the history of learning communities from the 1970s through the present, presents several definitions of the term "learning community," lists reasons for becoming a learning community, and explains the…

The extent to which vocational education and training (VET) policy is nurturing lifelong learning in Sweden was examined through a review of recent policy documents issued by various Swedish government agencies and data from comparative studies compiled by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the International Adult…