This series of articles focuses on the provision of special recreation services in the community for a variety of populations including the elderly, latch-key kids, cardiac patients, physically and mentally disturbed children, adolescents, adults, juveniles, and the multihandicapped. The quest for "recreation for all" on a national level requires…

Ten nonhandicapped 3-5 year olds were taught to help instruct six autistic-like classmates. When compared to controls, the nonhandicapped helpers engaged in less disruptive behavior and equal amounts of on-task language and peer interaction. Treatment gains for autistic-like Ss' positive peer interactions were equivalent to levels exhibited by…

The study analyzed change in attitudes of elementary students and teachers following the integration of multiply disabled students. An attempt was made to explore shifts in attitude toward such students through a standardized questionnaire and videotaped segments of actual students with multiple disabilities. Results indicated no specific changes…

Research on teacher attitudes toward exceptional children is examined in relation to acceptance-rejection issues, underlying dimensions of attitude formation, and attempts at attitude modification. (Author/CL)

The author points out the need to consider the situational factors involved in serving children with mild to moderate learning difficulties and cautions that a within-the-child model based on psychological/cognitive deficits does not pay enough attention to the child's environment. (CL)

The author suggests that the most effective method of serving mainstreamed secondary level disabled students is through a comprehensive support system delivered by direct involvement of special needs teachers in the mainstreamed classes. (CL)

An observational study is reported in which social interactions and on-task behavior were investigated in a mainstreaming program for 20 severely multihandicapped children. It was concluded that severely multihandicapped students in this program experienced many interactions with nonhandicapped children and that their educational activities were…

The article presents a model based on the premise that visual and conceptual delivery of information presented in the classroom is more important than the verbal transliteration of the spoken material for hearing impaired students in regular classrooms. The changing role of the educational interpreter is examined. (Author/CL)

Three nonhandicapped confederates were trained to direct social initiations to three handicapped preschoolers. Teachers prompted the confederates when necessary and rewarded them with tokens. Confederates' initiations resulted in increased frequencies of positive social interaction. There was not generalization to other classroom settings.…

Four research studies are presented which (1) assess spontaneous, integrated social interaction; (2) compare observed levels to a normative sample; (3) attempt to build durable social interactions; (4) investigate the use of classroom aides to arrange opportunities for integrated social interaction. Data indicate that durable social interactions…

The teacher training program drew on the most effective techniques of special education, condensing them into a course on how to teach. The program, implemented with regular secondary teachers on a voluntary basis, provided on-site practical training with follow-up. Reflections are offered on reasons for the program's success and training models…

The article presents educators with specific strategies to consider in constructing teacher-made tests to optimize the performance of mainstreamed students. Guidelines relating to content and format of tests as well as test-taking behaviors are discussed. (Author/CL)

An elementary social studies unit on American Indians was built around the Enrichment Triad Model which proposes three levels of activities (general exploratory, group training, and real problem solving). The unit grew out of a desire to better serve the needs of gifted students in the regular classroom. (Author/CL)

The development of effective community integration training programs for persons with severe handicaps is examined in terms of the human needs of severely disabled persons, the importance of comprehension and community-oriented training, emphasis on generalization, and consideration of individual preferences and interests. (CL)

The article analyses Board v. Rowley's meaning for "appropriate" education and justifies the rightness of that decision in terms of its impact on the education of the child and the integration of children who have disabilities with children who do not. (Author/CL)