Five historical stages are identified in analysis of placement efficacy for mildly retarded students: (1) birth of the efficacy question, (2) tremendous growth in special classes, (3) move to abolish such classes, (4) search for alternatives along the continuum of services, and (5) recent re-analysis of appropriate placements. Research is…

The article traces the history of mass segregation of handicapped students in U.S. public schools, notes the advent of the concepts of mainstreaming and least restrictive environment, and analyzes such ramifications of mainstreaming as increased numbers of handicapped students in college and re-emergence of "tracking" or ability grouping. (CL)

Comparison of programs for the visually disabled and orthopedically disabled shows parallel development indicating similar direction toward integrating the disabled child in the regular classroom, but with a significant lag in program implementation in the area of the orthopedically disabled. (Author)

The paper traces the apparently conflicting trends toward elimination of special classes for handicapped students (mainstreaming) and the movement toward special programs for gifted and talented students. Issues related to identification and labeling are examined, and the importance of flexible definitions for both retardation and giftedness is…

The paper reviews the history of education for visually handicapped students in the twentieth century. Noted are the establishment of residential schools for the blind, gradual integration into public school classes, controversies over braille, the appearance of "talking books," and beginning efforts in orientation and mobility. (CL)

Special education reform has targeted placement of children with disabilities. Terms such as "mainstreaming,""least restrictive environment," and "full inclusion" describe various reform stages. This article briefly reviews the history of special education reform, discusses current ideas related to best practice, and…

Discussed in the speech on criteria in the public education of the severely handicapped are historical developments leading to the current situation, the kinds of developing structures emerging in special education, the question of criteria and its ramifications, and major tasks to be accomplished. Identified are four historical stages in special…

The article describes the history of educational programs for deaf children, predicts that deaf education will become more closely aligned with general education, notes shifts in student placement from residential to public mainstreamed settings, and describes several Gallaudet University programs involved in research, training, and outreach to…

The article reviews the legal history of special education and the Education for All Handicapped Children Act as well as special aspects of deaf education and problems with implementation of the federal law. Journal Availability: Law Quarterly, School of Law, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130. (DB)