The article examines present policies and practices in special education affecting those children with mild handicapping conditions. (RD)

The large majority of the 300 blind and partially sighted students in British Columbia public schools are enrolled in regular day schools. Students are supported by a system in which textbooks and other materials are translated to braille, specialist teachers assist regular class teachers, and special equipment is made available.

Problems involved in grading mainstreamed students are examined, and solutions are suggested, including communication between regular class and resource teachers, use of a combination of corrective feedback and quantitative scores, use of individualized education program performance objectives, and emphasis on intra-individual assessment. (CL)

The author draws from her experience to cite factors needed for successful integration of children with hearing and visual impairments. She suggests that planning must take into account the physical setup, commitment of staff, school organization, and parents' involvement. (CL)

Group reinforcement procedures were effective in increasing on-task and rule-following behavior of a third-grade class of 52 students that included four behavior problem students referred to special education. Intervention included the teachers setting a class goal and the class selecting a group activity for meeting the goal. (CL)

Three issues appear to be preventing integration of handicapped students into regular vocational programs: negative attitudes and expectations of vocational teachers, overreliance on a traditional academic program at the expense of a vocational orientation, and organizational and administrative problems at the secondary level. (CL)

The effects of a peer tutoring procedure on the spelling behavior of a mainstreamed elementary school learning disabled student were investigated. Overall results indicated that the S obtained greater accuracy on the spelling tests during the peer tutoring than baseline condition. Both the tutor and the tutored student claimed improved spelling.…

Fifty-five gifted fifth and sixth graders in segregated or integrated classes completed the Piers-Harris Self Concept Test and a measure of peer relationship. Comparison with scores of 55 gifted children who had not been identified or placed revealed no significant differences among social distance or self-concept scores. (CL)

The article looks at the experiences of a Down's Syndrome child mainstreamed into a regular kindergarten class. Benefits of the least restrictive environment, such as cost effectiveness, are pointed out. Viewpoints of the teacher, the special education aide, and principal are presented. (SW)

An activity called "Concrete Sculpture in the Community" proved to be an outstanding educational and mainstreaming opportunity for interaction between handicapped and nonhandicapped students. During the course of the project, the students learned about handicapping conditions and discovered each other's strengths and limitations. (SW)

Teachers need to develop grading policies for mainstreamed handicapped students which are both feasible and equitable. The consequences of non-flexible grading on the handicapped student's motivation to learn are examined. Alternative approaches to grading standards are offered. (AM)

Postsecondary education and related provisions for special needs students in Britain are evolving. There is an ever-increasing range of opportunities, but these provisions have developed haphazardly and are far from the coherent national and regional plan advocated in the Warnock report. (SK)