The authors describe many current school design responses to mainstreaming as limited in scope, focusing mainly on barrier free environments. This approach, they suggest, is an incomplete one to a wide range of problems in mainstreaming. An analysis of the literature is seen to demonstrate that barrier free design is casually substituted for the…

The manual is intended to help school districts comply with federal mandates for physical accessibility and least restrictive settings for handicapped elementary school children. A general introduction to the accessibility concept in chapter 1 considers the historical background, the role of the physical environment, and existing federal…

Social, psychological, and physiological factors all impinge on the awareness of the handicapped, the elderly, and the rest of us in experiencing architecture. (Author)

The concept of environmental design cybernetics is explained, and its use by special educators and architects in creating learning environments is discussed. A proposed habitability framework is defined, and its applications to buildings and building occupants/users are offered. Research on architectural design applied to special education…

The proceedings of a conference called to institute a dialogue between the architectural and educational professions are summarized. Areas considered include deterrents to efficient dialogue, the need for research, parameters of research (foundational questions; flexibility; furniture, materials, hardware, and teaching equipment; information…