Four community surveys in the boomtown Delta, Utah, 1975-86, revealed that, while some social disruption occurred during rapid growth years, even greater changes occurred in anticipation of the boom. Community satisfaction and social attachment did not recover when the boom was over. Contains 37 references. (SV)

A mother describes the decision-making and the process involved in mainstreaming her five-year-old hearing-impaired son into a mainstream kindergarten program. The parents considered input from other parents and the need to achieve true social integration in the mainstream setting. (DB)

Describes an integration project initiated in an Israeli elementary school during 1984-85 and its effect on student academic achievement. Reports that lower level students placed in the integrated school achieved significantly higher scores on a reading comprehension test than did the control group. Higher level students remained superior despite…

Parents and teachers need to work together to help children with special needs develop meaningful friendships. Emphasis is on the need for parents and teachers to build structures likely to facilitate the development of friendships. (DB)

An integrated preschool physical education curriculum to serve children with and without disabilities is detailed, including the five-step curriculum development process, the developmental and functional characteristics of the curriculum, and facilitation of social integration. A table lists the curriculum's goals and objectives. (DB)

This article maintains that "social role valorization" is not an adequate reformulation and replacement for the principle of normalization in services for people with mental retardation. The term "social valorization," in which the person and role are valued, is offered as a possibly more coherent replacement for the term…

This study found that, in the early stages of joint participation in community recreation activities, 19 nondisabled adults expressed cautious yet optimistic attitudes toward developing "friendships" with people with mental retardation. Such friendships are often perceived to be based partly on obligation and/or altruism. (DB)

This article considers the appropriateness of full inclusion for all students with learning disabilities. It clarifies the relevant terminology and examines the premises and assumptions of full inclusion. Preservation of the continuum of alternative placements for students with learning disabilities is recommended. (Author/DB)

Transition experts (n=149) ranked barriers to achieving social integration of individuals with disabilities and identified areas of consensus on social integration outcomes and interventions related to youths' transition from school to employment. Experts agreed that social integration is a multidimensional concept, indicating that varying…

Interviews with 19 general education teachers of grades K-9 found that, despite teachers' initial negative reactions to placement of a child with severe disabilities in their classrooms, 17 teachers described positive transforming experiences and identified benefits to the students with disabilities, their classmates, and the teachers themselves.…

This paper uses qualitative research data and examples from a high school drama class to examine how achieving full learning membership for students with severe disabilities requires teachers, in collaborative and consultative relationships, to provide all students with crucial supports by flexibly working within three inclusion parameters…

Switzerland's multilingual and multicultural image as an exemplary model of successful cohabitation and conflict management gives a misleading static impression of harmonious intercultural relations. The highly complex Swiss society faces challenges from the coalition of cultural and linguistic entities that live beside, rather than with, one…

Thirty hearing college students were interviewed to assess their perceptions of deaf students as classmates and influences of these perceptions on campus integration efforts. Hearing students felt that deaf students had similar academic competencies but were less competent socially. Full integration, especially social integration, did not occur.…

Japanese suicide rates are higher in rural than urban areas. In 1979-81, higher suicide rates were associated with sparse population, stagnant economy, and overrepresentation of females and elderly in the population, reflecting loss of social integration during a period of national economic growth and industrialization. Contains 55 references. (SV)

This study found little actual integration resulting from placement of 16 high school age students with severe multiple disabilities in special education classrooms within regular high schools. Guidelines for evaluating the integration of students are offered including a two-pronged test and examples of data appropriate for evaluating integration…