With this position paper, we advance the case for reformation of U.S. special education law and praxis. These have undergone mostly incremental changes over the five decades since their inception despite a substantial body of evidence amassed over this period, which points to a major gap between extant policy and praxis, and contemporary cultural…

Understanding inclusive education challenges in India involves acknowledging the complex linguistic, cultural, religious, and caste-based diversity affecting marginalized groups. Ambiguity surrounds implementing the "inclusion" concept, necessitating critical evaluation and adaptation to align with India's unique dynamics. Despite…

Peer-mediated interventions (PMIs) offer substantial academic and social benefits to adolescents served under the special education categories of intellectual disability, autism, and multiple disabilities (i.e., intellectual and developmental disabilities [IDD]). However, limited attention has focused on the impact of PMI on participating peers…

This investigation examines the relationship between prior disability-focused training and university staff members' attitudes toward students with learning disabilities (LD). A survey containing items pertaining to prior disability-focused training experiences and attitudes about students with LD was administered to 300 university staff members.…

Factors that contribute to the development of positive peer relationships between middle-school students with and without disabilities are investigated. Eight typically developing, seventh-grade boys participate in semi-structured interviews to discern their perspectives of the personal benefits or challenges associated with having social…

University faculty members play an essential role in ensuring that students with disabilities receive a quality postsecondary education. Many factors influence the willingness of faculty to provide quality services. The purpose of this survey study was to identify these influential factors through a structural equation modeling model. Findings…

A commonly attempted approach to modifying attitudes regarding people with disabilities is to place people without disabilities in situations that are designed for them to experience what it is like to have a disability. This approach, called disability simulation, continues despite criticisms including a reported lack of effectiveness data and…

This article examines important aspects of special education in the People's Republic of China today. To provide a context for understanding current practices, it first looks at cultural and historical influences on the development of special education in China. Next, it presents a current experience with the education of students with…

This study examined the effects of educational messages provided by a student with autism on middle school students' cognitive and conative attitudes. Students (N = 233; M age = 13.07 years) viewed a videotape of an unfamiliar student exhibiting autism-like behaviors and received one of four messages provided by the student via a written pamphlet.…

Since the 1970s, Italy has had a national policy of integrating nearly all students with disabilities into the general education classroom. As a result, many advocates of inclusion in the United States have identified Italy as an excellent example of how wide-range inclusion can be accomplished. However, some U.S. and Italian educators have…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether key elements of high school service learning programs (HSSLPs) cited in the literature were viewed as important by stakeholders in HSSLPs that included students with and without disabilities. Focus groups were conducted with five inclusive HSSLPs selected through purposeful sampling procedures.…

Based on a review of the literature and input from stakeholders, we developed a conceptual framework of self-advocacy involving four components: knowledge of self, knowledge of rights, communication, and leadership. This article summarizes the definitions and components of self-advocacy found in the literature that were used to develop this…

There is little consensus regarding which articles have shaped the field of special education and are therefore classics. To begin to address this issue, this article uses an objective, databased procedure to identify the 50 most frequently cited articles in general special education journals (i.e., Exceptional Children, Remedial and Special…

We obtained perspectives on increasing access to general education from high school students who provided ongoing support to their peers with moderate or severe disabilities. Focus groups were conducted with 32 high school students without disabilities representative of students who participated in a structured service-learning peer support…

Testing accommodations allow students with disabilities to both participate in and demonstrate their knowledge and abilities on statewide assessments. This article discusses accommodation-related research findings of a 3-year federally funded research study. The data analysis includes an examination of accommodation policies and discipline rates…