This article presents principles, options, and factors to consider when determining the amount of time and the kinds of instruction that should be provided to students with severe intellectual disabilities in regular education classrooms and other settings. These include intellectual ability; chronological age; related services;…

Analysis of questionnaire responses of 51 regular elementary teachers and 50 paraprofessionals in British Columbia classes which included handicapped children found both groups tended to agree on actual, preferred, and not appropriate paraprofessional tasks. Task endorsement was primarily determined by the age, grade level, abilities, and needs of…

This article examines the special education teacher's role in Wisconsin's Designated Vocational Instruction interdisciplinary approach to providing vocational skills and competencies to disabled high school students in the least restrictive environment. Both direct support to students and indirect support to vocational instructors and the program…

A total of 93 elementary, middle school, and high school teachers rated the desirability and feasibility of adaptations for mainstreamed students in their general education classes. All adaptations were perceived as more desirable than feasible, and few differences were found among teachers of different grade levels. (Author/JDD)

Examines concerns of elementary special needs students who must make transition to and from regular classroom and special education classes. Sees counselors in strategic position to act as consultants to regular and special educators involved in mainstreaming special needs students. Identifies two significant areas in which counselors and…

The article reviews legislative and associated initiatives of the British Columbia Ministry of Education since the 1988 Sullivan Royal Commission on Education report. It stresses the need to move behavior-disordered students into regular classes in regular schools, a move supported by both the educational literature and legislation. (Author/DB)

The examination of the attitudes of 100 Australian teachers and 100 English teachers found both groups favored integrated programs for the academically gifted, opposed programs that might be interpreted as elitist, and recommended that inservice training in teaching methods for gifted education be provided to all teachers. (DB)

In missing point of "Swimming against the Mainstream" Bill Thomas provides occasion for focusing educators' efforts on bringing special education model to every child. Original article concerns not only problematic Ronald Doe but all other John and Jane Does with rights to equal educational opportunity. Through perseverance, Ronald received help…

The inclusion of students with mental handicaps in their neighborhood schools and classrooms provides a diverse learning community within which a living curriculum can be ongoing. The democratic goal of schools is to ensure that all students learn. Successful inclusion efforts require support systems from both specialists and community volunteers.…

Including individuals with disabilities into community recreation programs has become more popular recently. The ADA stresses the need for true inclusion, where people with disabilities can actively participate and interact in programs in a meaningful way. The paper describes two special programs that help include individuals with disabilities.…

The 4th Circuit's decision in "Hartman v Loudoun County Board of Education," involving the placement of an 11-year-old autistic child, teaches important lessons about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: mainstreaming is a strong preference, not an unyielding requirement; and if educators make active and careful efforts to…

Describes collaborative behavioral contracting as applied to the reintegration of students with disabilities, using as an example the case of a 13-year old who had been in a self-contained program for students with emotional and/or behavioral disorders. Covers the development of a behavior management plan, writing the collaborative behavioral…

Discusses how young children with disabilities may be supported in environments with same-aged peers without disabilities. Examines the unique issues involved in supporting young children, and presents guidelines to help practitioners and families make informed decisions about creating supports for young children. Delineates examples of…

This study compared the social-communicative performance of six preschool children with developmental delays during free play in both mainstream and reverse-integration program settings. Neither setting appeared to promote adequate rates of initiating and responding. The use of attention-getting devices increased the number of successful…

Study reports the results of reintegrating 18 elementary-age students with mild disabilities, who were served in special-education pull-out programs, into their general-education classroom for reading instruction. One-half of the reintegrated students rated as benefiting from reintegration; only three students were judged as not benefiting.…