Describes Ohio's efforts (including supplemental state legislation) to implement the new federal legislation on handicapped children and points out implications this legislation may have for all education in the areas of parental involvement and individualization of instruction. (IRT)

In discussing the need to restructure school programs and more completely integrate students with special learning needs into regular school programs, the problems of classification of students in special education and overlapping services and programs are presented. Includes a table featuring effective classroom environments and a reference list.…

The authors warn against placing too heavy a burden of responsibility on building-level administrators for service delivery approaches tailored to the individual needs of all students. Given the goal of meeting individual needs through combining regular and special education resources, there is no reason for maintaining a dual system. (JW)

Interviews with 26 regular education teachers regarding their perceptions of modifications made for mainstreamed mildly handicapped students indicated that teachers made more typical modifications (i.e., in format and procedures) than substantial modifications (e.g., of difficulty level) modifications. (Author/KM)

A lag sequential analysis method was used to analyze observational data of regular classroom behaviors of learning disabled, seriously emotionally disturbed, and average elementary grade children. Teachers behaved differentially toward the handicapped children, interacting with them primarily when they were not on task. (Author/DB)

Based on an extensive literature search, this paper identifies key actions school administrators may take regarding systems that limit or avoid student referrals for special education services. Findings indicate that referrals may be limited by early intervention strategies and overall improvement of the mainstream educational system. Includes 93…

Three instruments designed to tap the self-system in normal IQ children were administered to 126 retarded children in mainstreamed and self-contained classrooms. Factor structures differed significantly from normal IQ results. The need to revise instruments for use with the retarded and to obtain social comparison information is emphasized.…

Data on 686 mainstreamed, hearing impaired high school sophomores were compared to those on 26,418 of their normally hearing peers on demographic characteristics, academic achievement, and indices of motivation. In all areas of academic achievement tested, the pupils with hearing disabilities fared more poorly than did those with normal hearing.…

Examination of parent factors (joint attitudes toward their children and their children's exceptionality, maternal attitudes, parental interest in educational activities, parent participation in educational activities, and income level) indicated that hearing-impaired children with mothers exhibiting positive and expectant attitudes toward them…

The social, emotional, and physical benefits of physical education activities for mainstreamed students with special needs are discussed. Success or failure in physical activity is a sensitive issue which affects attitude. The mainstreamed child must gain a sense of belonging without experiencing failure. Suggestions for structuring a program are…

The well-planned playground can serve as the common denominator for all children, with the resulting process of play as the natural avenue for knowing and understanding oneself and others. Guidelines are presented for considering the needs of children in general, as well as the needs of the physically-, visually-, and hearing-impaired, and the…

Possible strategies to integrate severely disabled students into regular classrooms are offered. Suggestions are given for promoting support among school personnel and parents, designating a support facilitator, developing networks of support, providing instruction naturally, promoting respect, and integrating personnel and resources as well as…

Discusses a study to evaluate the impact of a training program in mainstreaming on student-teacher classroom management styles and mainstreamed pupil behavior. Reveals that mainstreamed pupils in control classrooms displayed significantly less appropriate learning behaviors than did their experimental classroom peers. (RAE)

Illustrates the use of a student-managed response-cost system using free tokens to modify the on-task behavior of 2 mainstreamed students--an emotionally disturbed fourth grader and a learning-disabled sixth grader. Subjects' on-task behavior as well as their academic performance improved after the program. (SKC)

The study identified areas of innovative practice in 131 recently funded projects under the Handicapped Children's Early Education Program. Innovations emerged in curricula, mainstreaming, transition services, use of technology, interagency coordination, type of service provider, and technical assistance. Most interventions had a family focus.…