This article discusses the process and structures of teacher collaboration; the collaborative tools available to educators for accommodating students with disabilities in regular settings; and the instructional, curricular, and contextual factors in designing more inclusive educational programs. It proposes a decision network that collaborating…

Five universities offering credential programs for teachers of individuals with physical disabilities jointly investigated demographics, and teacher competency and training options. Surveys completed by 220 administrators and 143 teachers indicated a body of expertise exists available to special education teachers, and special and general…

Presents an overview of school inclusion programs for students with disabilities and describes specific strategies for designing and implementing successful programs which prepare students for the real world. Outlines strategies involving organizational change, curriculum and instruction modification, and school culture transformation. (GR)

Presents reflections of a veteran teacher about the relationship between veteran and new teachers; about the trends of change in educational approaches; and about the benefit of summer programs for teachers. Shares some opinions about educational issues, such as standardized testing and busing. (TB)

Describe four different laws related to the education of children with disabilities: (1) Public Law 94-142; (2) Public Law 99-457; (3) Public Law 101-336 ADA; and (4) Public Law 101-476 IDEA. Discusses the topic of mainstreaming and highlights the recent legal decisions that have occurred. (CMK)

Examined preservice teachers' beliefs about inclusive education for students with mild disabilities. Surveys of 239 undergraduate and graduate students indicated that while many preservice teachers held positive attitudes toward inclusive education, nearly half considered the special education classroom to be the optimum placement for students…

A study examined identity issues and health behaviors of 52 mainstreamed students (ages 11-15) who are hard-of-hearing and 470 controls. Although there were few statistically significant differences, there were indications that subjects more often experienced a sense of loneliness. The majority did not self-identify as having a hearing disability.…

Chronicles the experiences and feelings of the authors, parents of a son who was blind from birth. It describes their encounters with the public educational system from kindergarten to college, concentrating on the boy's adolescent years, from middle school to college. Also discussed are mainstreaming, friendships, time management, contact with…

Intended to help regular elementary education teachers find useful information on teaching special needs children in the regular classroom. Contains sources in two categories, books and journal articles/ERIC documents, which, in addition to general information on inclusion and related federal laws, provide suggestions for implementing curricula,…

Presents four principles (based on court decisions and due process hearings) to help make inclusion work: (1) placement decisions should consider regular education with supplemental aids; (2) decisions should be made in the child's best interest; (3) regular education teachers should be fully aware of the nature of the child's individualized…

This second of two articles responding to Grosse's 2002 article on inclusion outlines instructional strategies for inclusive physical education, focusing on: curriculum design, student assessment, goals and objectives, adapting content, class organization, teaching styles, goal structure, positive behavioral support, and communication. The article…

Briefly describes ERIC documents and journal articles that pertain to teaching in elementary and middle school. Teaching methods and characteristics of successful teachers are described. (DG)

Analysis of data from direct observations of 12 special education teachers found that, compared to simply providing children with opportunities to play, consistent implementation of specific teaching, planning, and monitoring procedures to promote social interaction resulted in greater increases in children's interactions during free play.…

The General Education Collaboration Model is designed to support general educators teaching mainstreamed disabled students, through collaboration with special educators. The model is based on flexible departmentalization, program ownership, identification and development of supportive attitudes, student assessment as a measure of program…

Pros and cons of the Regular Education Initiative are presented in terms of legal premises, labeling and classification, funding, effectiveness, teacher competencies, curriculum, and professional barriers. It is concluded that the initiative has achieved much and will achieve more as the debate continues, but debate should be used as a learning…