The term severe disabilities refers to any student who is eligible for special education services in the United States under the category of moderate to severe cognitive impairment. The term takes into consideration a combination of shortages in both cognitive performance and appropriate behavior. Recently, in the field of severe disabilities, the…

There has been a long-standing history of segregation and exclusion of students with disabilities from receiving a quality education in public school districts throughout the country. In response to the growing outcry for equal opportunities for students with and without special needs, Congress passed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act…

Nine articles provide perceptions of teachers, administrators, parents, teacher educators, and others on the mainstreaming of handicapped children. In "One Parent's View of Mainstreaming," a parent recounts her son's successful experience. "Justice is Affordable--Securing the Entitlements of PL 94-142" by M. Thompson and R.…

Twenty faculty members who participated in workshops emphasizing sensitivity toward the handicapped demonstrated a statistically significant positive attitude change toward mainstreaming, although their knowledge about P.L. 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Children Act) and the learning characteristics of handicapped students did not…

Perceptions of regular preschool through senior high school personnel (n=160) and persons employed outside education (n=168) about the handicapped were compared in pilot and follow-up surveys. Society's attitudes and commitment toward education and subsequent employment of the handicapped present a barrier to the goals of PL 94-142. (SLD)

The report contains papers presented at a University of Vermont conference on the implementation of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (P.L. 94-142), entitled "A Free Appropriate Public Education for All." Titles and authors include "The Legislative Intent" (R. Stafford), "Perspectives From the Bureau of…

This training module is intended to increase awareness of workshop participants concerning their individual values and to develop positive attitudes and behaviors toward people with disabilities. The module includes workshop content (with side notes to the trainer in italics), overheads, and many handouts. Preliminary information includes module…

The article examines three problem areas of P.L. 94-142 (Education for All Handicapped Children Act): negative attitudes, fragmented training activities, and the "catch 22s" of the law. Strategies for facilitating educational reform are offered. (SBH)

Results of a national survey of board of education members indicate that board members know what has to be done to abide by the federal regulations but that they accept the task without wild enthusiasm because of the high costs involved. (Author/IRT)

All major aspects of P.L. 94-142--the concept of the least restrictive environment; due process procedures; individualized education programs; and parent involvement--were identified as problems for rural schools. Three primary hindering factors were identified: teacher retention and recruitment problems, rural attitudinal problems, and problems…

Questionnaires about attitudes toward mainstreaming were completed by 49 elementary education seniors attending University of Nebraska (Lincoln). The survey showed that number of special education classes, handicapped students experienced in student teaching, and handicapped friends and relatives can influence attitudes toward mainstreaming,…

Traces the direction which the mainstreaming movement has taken to date, analyzes models for organizing schools to best meet the needs of all children, discusses ways for facilitating appropriate changes, and describes the interrelationship between the mainstreaming movement and the desegregation and multicultural education movements. (Author/GC)

The document reports the Alabama component of Project IEP (individualized education program), a project designed to identify and clarify perceptions related to roles in the IEP process as mandated by P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. It is explained that under Project IEP approximately 200 persons (including state and…

The document reports the Washington component of Project IEP (individualized education program), a project designed to identify and clarify perceptions related to roles in the IEP process as mandated by P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. It is explained that under Project IEP approximately 200 persons (including state and…

The document reports the Wisconsin component of Project IEP (individualized education program), a project designed to identify and clarify perceptions related to roles in the IEP process as mandated by P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. It is explained that under Project IEP approximately 200 persons (including state and…