Examines the implications of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the role of developmentally appropriate practice when insuring the safe inclusion of children with disabilities in play environments. Discusses four principles that should guide the creation of safe, inclusive play environments: safety; developmentally appropriate practice;…

Describes a British outdoor program in which 11- and 12-year-old students were placed in mixed groups containing several ethnic groups and hearing and deaf children. Includes children's comments on outdoor activities, their relationships with other children, and communication problems and their resolution. An adjacent page illustrates 12 British…

This paper examines the basic tenets of the 1968 blueprint for change offered by Lloyd Dunn, which outlined a progressive plan to improve special education for students labeled as slow learners and educable mentally retarded. Current extensions of the blueprint are offered along with a rationale for including those students with extensive support…

This paper offers a rationale for modifying textbooks for secondary students with learning disabilities who are taught in general education classes. Recent research on the uses of study guides, graphic organizers, vocabulary drills, and computer-assisted instruction is reviewed, and guidelines for selecting appropriate uses of these strategies are…

Reviews three books: (1) "Special Educational Needs in Schools" (Sally Beveridge), concerning the education of special needs children in Britain; (2) "Class Management" (E.C. Wragg), one of a series of practical resource books for primary school teachers; and (3) "Teaching Music in the Primary School" (Joanna Glover…

Reviews research concerning barriers to and benefits of integrating young children with disabilities into regular preschool programs. Discusses the effects of integrated programs on children without disabilities, critical integration issues, activity-based intervention, and implications of integrated programs. (BB)

Six dimensions of consultative services in early intervention for young children with disabilities are described: location, presence of other children, adult-child initiations, goal functionality, context of intervention, and consultant's role. A continuum of consultative models from totally segregated to fully integrated is presented, and data on…

This study assessed the relationship between attitudes and attributes (teaching assignment, teaching level, adapted physical education coursework, special education coursework, years teaching students with disabilities, quality of teaching experience, and perceived competence) of 150 physical education teachers. Most teachers did not believe…

Comparison of hearing (n=222) and deaf (n=217) young adults on employment, independent living, and social experience outcomes found that the hearing group was generally more successful than deaf persons from mainstream or residential schools. Gender differences did not uniformly favor men. Suggestions for improving transition programs for the deaf…

Examined the cognitive and social complexity of the play of disabled children enrolled in integrated early childhood programs and their interaction with teachers. Found that teachers were more likely to support the cognitive aspects of children's play than the social aspects, despite their belief that disabled children lagged behind their…

This study of family perceptions of early intervention services used a written survey (quantitative) completed by 539 parents of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers receiving early intervention services and in-depth, semistructured interviews (qualitative) with 12 parents. It found overwhelming satisfaction with most services, with some concerns…

Using a technical assistance model, the New England Center Pilot Project provides training and consultation to programs serving young children who are deaf-blind in inclusive education settings (preschool, kindergarten, and first grade). This article discusses the model's four major components, salient issues, and recommendations to enhance…

Peer tutors and task sheets can help students with disabilities to succeed in regular physical education classes. The article explains who can tutor, how to train tutors, how to use task sheets, how long it takes to train peer tutors, safety awareness, and task sheet verification. A peer tutor instruction sheet is included. (SM)

Mainstreaming deaf children may not adequately meet their educational, cultural, or social needs. Those advocating full inclusion have mistakenly pursued equal treatment rather than equal opportunity. The answer lies in approaching the problem from a cultural-pluralism perspective. (133 references) (MLF)

Analysis of data on 97 elementary students with and 97 without mild disabilities found that teachers' attitudes toward integration were not related to the social status of students with disabilities. However, teacher and peer perceptions of academic behavior and peer perceptions of disruptive behavior were related to social status for both student…