Tools and approaches to promote the development of social skills among students who are deaf are presented. Social skills assessment inventories are described, and six commercially available curricula are identified. Examples of goals and objectives are provided, as well as suggestions to facilitate social integration of deaf and hearing students.…

The tendency for New York area Chinese to live outside Chinatown is related to socioeconomic status, educational attainment, marriage, and fertility. But unique characteristics of the enclave economy, immigrants' kinship ties to the ethnic community, and ethnic segmentation of housing markets also structure residential patterns. Contains 30…

Presents class activities to help elementary teachers prepare their students for cooperative learning. Phase one involves building team spirit and appreciating differences. Phase two includes strategies for trying substantial cooperative projects. Phase three offers ideas for adding cooperation to basic subject areas all year long. (SM)

This paper reviews the cultural and historical context of mainstreaming students with disabilities in the United States and contrasts this with a proposed model for Canadian integration. Mainstreaming and integration are seen as reflecting different social dynamics and cultural traditions, and the administrative and research implications of the…

The provision of adequate sex education to students with learning disabilities, behavior disorders, and mild mental disabilities should be a part of a general education effort to acclimatize them to full social integration. This paper discusses teaching strategies, issues in developing a sex education curriculum, and personal traits of successful…

This study of 20 preschool children with disabilities and 8 normally developing children found that more peer interaction occurred during play activities that were more structured, whereas teacher interaction rates were not related to activity structure ratings. Among children with disabilities, rate of peer interaction correlated positively with…

This paper describes an integrated, extended year pilot program which integrated 18 preschool and elementary children with severe disabilities into community recreation programs. The paper discusses the program development process; preliminary results of the program; and evaluative feedback from recreation agency staff, nondisabled children, and…

This article describes challenges and solutions to the integration of children with multiple disabilities into supported regular elementary classes: (1) providing a functional curriculum in a regular class; (2) providing community-based instruction; (3) scheduling staff coverage; and (4) promoting social integration. Solutions are illustrated with…

Nashville (Tennessee) elementary-school students with and without disabilities produced a musical play called "Super Kids." The play included songs about super heroes, communication, student rights, aspirations, and believing in oneself. The impact of the play on peer attitudes and development of friendships is noted. (JDD)

A survey of 281 mothers of young children with cognitive delays, communication disorders, physical disabilities, risk of delays, or typical development revealed widespread support for the benefits of mainstreaming and a substantial number of perceived drawbacks. Mothers' perceptions of mainstreaming were similar across family demographics, child…

This study examined the attitudes of physically disabled adults toward work and employment and the effects of an outdoor adventure program on reducing attitudinal barriers of able-bodied individuals in hiring and working with disabled persons. Joint wilderness trips involving both groups resulted in improved attitudes by both disabled and…

This paper discusses issues related to educating children dependent on medical technology. It examines the movement toward greater normalization for these children, the use of transdisciplinary teams to develop specific plans addressing the students' unique health care and educational needs, and possible curricular and classroom accommodations.…

Semi-structured interviews with 21 nonhandicapped high school students indicated that their experiences with peers with moderate to severe disabilities had resulted in such benefits as improved self-concept, increased tolerance of other people, reduced fear of human differences, and development of personal principles. Areas of difficulty were also…

Lifestyle normalization, community integration, social support, and personal satisfaction were examined for 133 adults with mild and moderate retardation living in small group homes, supervised apartments, and with their families. Among findings were that residents of supervised apartments achieved the most normative lifestyles and that social…

Comparison of two interventions on the peer social interactions of 105 young children with and without hearing impairments found that the integrated activities intervention resulted in greater gains in total positive peer interaction than the social skills intervention. However, withdrawal of either intervention resulted in decreased peer…