Background: There is a great deal of evidence to support the robust relationship between phonological awareness and literacy development. Researchers are beginning to understand the relationship between the accuracy and distinctiveness of stored phonological representations and performance on phonological awareness tasks. However, many of the…

This paper focuses on the impact of peer mediation as a strategy for promoting social inclusion in primary school settings. Peer mediation constituted one of the interventions in the UK Government-sponsored On Track programme and evaluative data from this project are reported. The paper reports on trends in bullying and anti-social behaviour in…

Examination of parental attributions of exceptionality within a mainstreamed classroom revealed differences in rank ordering of seven categories of exceptionalities. The category of emotionally disturbed was considered least desirable. (CL)

Telephone surveys of 101 parents of handicapped and nonhandicapped children in mainstreamed kindergarten settings indicated a high level of agreement on the benefits and drawbacks of mainstreaming with the greatest benefits identified as related to social outcomes and the greatest drawbacks in instructional areas. (Author/CL)

Because research exploring how students with disabilities read and comprehend on the Internet is scarce, a mixed methods study was implemented to determine if Internet Reciprocal Teaching (IRT) is an effective intervention for improving online reading comprehension among seventh grade students with high-incidence disabilities in inclusive…

Public policy and current educational reforms have challenged schools to close the achievement gap for all students, including those with disabilities as required under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001. As schools seek to implement sound instructional practices for students, technology has become a dominant force in schools and society.…

The purpose of this study was to examine Korean Americans' perceptions of disabilities. Participants were 147 Korean Americans, male and female, between the ages of 18 and 70. Participants were recruited from Korean churches and educational organizations such as schools and local universities in California. Results showed conflicting perceptions…

Professional learning for teachers is important if they are to be prepared for teaching in inclusive classrooms. This is particularly pertinent in Hong Kong where teachers have little personal experience of inclusion and where teaching continues to be didactic and examination oriented. Since Hong Kong implemented a whole school approach to…

This self-report study investigated 274 pre-service teachers' attitudes toward students with learning and behavioural difficulties (LBD) and the factors that predict their attitudes. Using four scenarios describing students with LBD, we investigated the degree to which pre-service teachers' open-minded thinking dispositions, readiness to learn…

Inclusive education is defined as educating students with disabilities in general education programmes with their non-disabled peers. In order to create a successful learning environment for all children, general and special educators must be responsive to all students' needs. Although inclusive education practices were developed over 15 years…

The available data suggest that both students and adults with disabilities sustain injuries and are victims of crimes at high levels. Despite these alarming data, several researchers have suggested that safety skills instruction has largely been ignored as a curricular domain. Further, although parents can serve a critical function in educational…

This paper is a personal perspective about the disability issues within the Cook Islands. It looks at how the needs of children and adults with disabilities have been addressed over the years and the vision of many people who have worked towards building an inclusive society, starting with mainstreaming in the schools to full inclusion. It…

Most people probably assume that the quality and type of education that children receive in school influences academic progress, but may be less clear about the ways in which parents can also influence outcomes. When a child has a developmental disability then the most people will be less confident about predicting the effects of schools or…

The rising incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnoses and consequent medication prescriptions has stirred great controversy in the USA. The very meaning and social utility of the disorder are hotly contested in the public sphere and in the schools. Since 1997, changes in federal law have led to increased involvement of…

Based on the findings of a qualitative case study, this paper describes how a karate school within a community came naturally to include students with disabilities. Data for this study were collected through in-depth interviews with the Sensei or head instructor of the school and participant observations. Findings indicate that the Sensei's…