The principal of a special school for physically and mentally handicapped students in Milwaukee reviews the history of services for handicapped persons as well as current approaches used in her school. Provisions for least restrictive environment are discussed, and the concept of appropriate and individual education programs is applied to…

Summarized are three studies which used the Barclay Classroom Climate Inventory to measure the psychological and social-affective impact of six different classroom settings and a specific mainstreaming procedure on 240 educable mentally retarded and learning disabled pupils. Implications for mainstreaming and placement decisions are drawn. (SJL)

This study found that reliable, accurate, time-saving placement information for English as a Second Language students can be derived from a procedure whereby an open-ended cloze is truncated and remodeled into a multiple-choice format. (Author/POP)

A questionnaire of 500 pupils (ages 16-17)in Zimbabwe investigated their attitudes toward being integrated with students with disabilities. Results showed the students had more positive attitudes towards integration of students with disabilities than negative ones. No significant differences were found in attitudes of female and male students.…

Reviews both the technical and policy aspects of readiness testing in local school districts. Summarizes policy context, motivations behind the tests, and consequences. Discusses the types of readiness tests and developmental screening measures misused as readiness tests, along with evidence of these measures' substantive and technical validity.…

A Netherlands survey of 216 parents and 135 head teachers of children (ages 4-13) with Down's Syndrome, attending regular schools, examined how parents apply for regular education placement, characteristics of these parents, decision-making procedures used for student placement, and differences between schools that offer placements for children…

Comments on "Assessing the Comfort Zone of Child Care Teachers in Serving Young Children with Disabilities" (Buysse and others) and discusses the social value of inclusion for young children with disabilities. Explores the use of social-validity assessment to evaluate inclusive placements and current training efforts. (CR)

A study compared 422 Head Start children with a putative diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with typical Head Start children from kindergarten through third grade. Children with putative ADHD who had received medications were significantly more likely to be found eligible for special education than non-medicated children.…

The resettlement experiences of 36 New Zealand people (ages 0-20+) with intellectual disabilities were discussed by family respondents. Results indicated the families desired to have their relative live at home for as long as possible and an initial reluctance to consider alternative care arrangement outside of the family home. (Contains…

This listing provides the title, author, and length of doctoral dissertations completed during 2002 relating to children and adults with deafness or hearing impairments. Topics include speech development, literacy, peer tutoring, curriculum based assessment, and the effect of student placement on narration skills. Ordering information is provided.…

This article favors providing both gifted and advanced placement programs for students. Three components of a unique gifted program are identified: (1) interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary courses; (2) character development; and (3) independent study. Advanced placement program objectives can be added to gifted programs but should not replace…

A program in Hungary counseled 34 families of gifted students (ages 5-8) over a 2-year period. Common questions included what school the child should go to, how to support special abilities, and how to deal with demands for autonomy. The services provided by the program are outlined. (CR)

Discusses how collaboration between the special education department of the University of South Florida and local schools addressed problems with the schools' inclusionary practices. Describes a collaborative model of inclusion and a systemic school restructuring project that emerged as a result of the university-school collaborations. (CR)

A study of the computer records of 2,353 10th-grade students found no significant difference between the midyear 10th-grade holding power for students enrolled in general and special education programs. Significant differences favoring the holding power of general education for children with learning disabilities and behavior disorders were found.…

A survey involving 53 parents of children (mean age 5.3) with mental disabilities asked parents to rate various aspects of special education and related services. Results found parents were more concerned about development of skills in key areas than holistic skills development and were satisfied with current student placement. (CR)