A special educator and speech and language pathologist made inclusion and collaboration a reality in middle schools. They stopped delivering services in self-contained classrooms and started meeting students' needs in regular classrooms via team teaching. The changes eliminated labels and stigmas and fostered higher self-esteem and success. (SM)

Reviews current research concerning the practice of mainstreaming disabled students, including effects on academic achievement, attitudes of disabled and nondisabled students in integrated classrooms, and the effects of teacher attitude and training on mainstreaming. Concludes that research does not provide unqualified support for mainstreaming.…

This paper notes conflicts among England's education laws and discusses philosophical and practical weaknesses of the National Curriculum for serving students with special needs. European practices are described, and it is concluded that establishing central control can actually discourage curriculum differentiation and encourage the exclusion…

A survey of 1,140 eighth grade students showed that regular class students had higher levels of self-concept than did students who were educationally marginal or learning handicapped. African-American students had higher self-concept ratings than did white and Hispanic students. Males had higher ratings than did females on five of seven scales.…

This paper reviews issues in regular and special education and the changes these issues will require in university preparation of teachers. Issues concern the content of teacher preparation programs (such as developing behavioral management skills and training in concepts rather than techniques) and the changing school environment (such as…

Describes efforts of the Child Study Center at San Diego University to mainstream infants with disabilities or special needs into a "regular" developmentally appropriate child care programs. (BB)

Examines the degree to which states' political climates, resources, policies, and interagency services predict progress in the implementation of Part H of Public Law 99-457, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). (Author/BB)

This article first presents definitions of terms in special and regular preschool education, a brief history of relevant federal legislation, and the educational/social context of recent early childhood education. It then identifies major issues (e.g., funding, parent education, coordination of services) and research needs in curriculum and…

This article describes cooperative teaching involving general and special educators as an approach to serving students with special needs. The article provides an overview of the types of cooperative teaching and discusses implementation considerations, methods of problem solving, and the importance of interpersonal skills. (JDD)

A survey of 48 secondary-level learning disability content teachers and 45 basic skills teachers examined their relationship with the mainstream, curricular structure, instructional methodology, and students' behavioral characteristics. The two groups differed little in how they taught but more in how they perceived their interactions and their…

Over a 10-month period, normal children showed an increased reliance on memory retrieval and a decreased reliance on counting when they solved addition problems. There was an increase in speed of counting and of retrieving addition facts from long-term memory. Children with a mathematical learning disability showed no change in problem-solving…

Overcoming the education obstacles facing women, minorities, and the disabled is discussed. A report published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) on the topic of bringing underrepresented groups back on track for careers in science, math, and engineering is examined. (KR)

This study investigated the differential effectiveness of assertiveness and problem-solving training on 28 dually diagnosed (mild mental retardation and mental disorders) patients' adaptive social behavior, distress and psychiatric symptoms, anger control, and problem-solving coping skills. Improvements resulted from combined assertiveness and…

Fifty-four county mental health authorities in Michigan were surveyed before and after implementation of new policies and funding for support services for disabled individuals and families. Case management assessment, respite care, in-home services, and advisory committees showed significant increases in availability. Length of time that families…

This paper examines progress made in educating adolescents with mild handicaps since implementation of Public Law 94-142, based on graduation rates of these students and their postschool outcomes. The paper then presents a model for restructuring special education programs to prepare youth for utilitarian, social, and personal roles. (JDD)