The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has undergone numerous revisions since 1965 when the first federal statute dealing with the education of students with disabilities was implemented. A revision completed in 1975 instituted the concept of least restrictive environment (LRE), which demands that all students with disabilities be…

This article explores how an online course was received by a group of teachers who teach students with severe/profound intellectual developmental disabilities. The intent of the course was to engage teachers in conversations, activities and reflections that support the development of curriculum and instruction in a least restrictive environment.…

The development of effective community integration training programs for persons with severe handicaps is examined in terms of the human needs of severely disabled persons, the importance of comprehension and community-oriented training, emphasis on generalization, and consideration of individual preferences and interests. (CL)

An investigation of the educational impact of integration of severely handicapped students revealed that over and above functional level, degree of integration, as measured by interaction with nonhandicapped students, was a significant predictor of educational progress, as measured by the proportion of individualized education program objectives…

The study evaluated a school-based integrated aerobic conditioning program for children (ages 6 to 13) with moderate to severe disabilities. Evaluation indicated that 9 of the 12 disabled students improved their level of fitness and that both disabled and nondisabled students enjoyed the program. (Author/DB)

A case study is presented of a girl (age six) with multiple disabilities including moderate to severe mental retardation who was fully included in a regular first-grade classroom. The experience indicated that students with multiple disabilities can learn to follow classroom routines, follow directions, acquire new skills, and improve their…

Examined were the effects of integratinq 14 trainable mentally retarded students (3-8 years old) into regular preschool programs. Nine questionnaires measuring attitudes and behavior were completed by teaching staff and parents, and anecdotal records were reviewed. Teachers showed a positive gain in attitude toward integration, where a control…

A study involving 16 preschool students was conducted to determine whether severely handicapped preschool children could learn normal classroom behavior through the single treatment variable of exposure to the regular classroom environment with normal peers. Systematic observation of the children's free play and verbal interaction, independence in…

The Utah Elementary Integration Model places students with severe disabilities in neighborhood schools that provide supported integration in age-appropriate grade-level homerooms, peer-referenced and community-referenced curriculum, a transdisciplinary team approach, and data-based training in natural settings. Twenty-seven participants achieved…

Three young children with severe, multiple disabilities were taught to utilize a voice output communication aid (VOCA) to request access to preferred items and/or peers during play activities. Acquisition of VOCA use resulted from a naturalistic intervention strategy that consisted of creating communication opportunities, prompting the participant…

The final report describes the accomplishments of the Carolina Institute for Research on Early Education for the Handicapped, a center sponsoring ecological research on families of young handicapped children. An introductory section outlines the institute's mission and administration. Eight research projects are detailed in as many chapters.…

We studied parents' perceptions of the effects of their nondisabled child's participation in a classroom in which a child with severe disabilities was enrolled full time. Survey responses from 389 parents indicated that they generally perceived their nondisabled child to have benefited from this experience. A minority of parents held negative…

Promoting access to the general curriculum for students with disabilities has emerged as a central theme of recent legislative and policy initiatives. Ensuring that students with severe disabilities benefit fully from the myriad learning and social opportunities available through the general curriculum remains an important challenge, particularly…

Field-testing in five Vermont school districts demonstrated the effectiveness of a model to support local school personnel in forming effective collaborative teams and acquiring the necessary competencies to educate severely-disabled learners. The model featured inservice training, modeling, coaching, and feedback. (Author/CB)

The Collaborative Education Project's goal was to assess the effectiveness of collaborative problem solving (CPS) by peer advocates for enhancing the integration of students with severe disabilities into regular early education contexts. The CPS strategy gives some responsibility to nondisabled students for the planning and design of activities…