Describes a four-week summer marine education program for handicapped high school students funded by the National Science Foundation for the last five years. Discusses goals, participants, instructors, facilities, instructional program, special equipment, and problems. (DC)

This article reviews research on mainstreaming handicapped children. Topics include methodological problems, case studies, child-child interaction, peer imitation, mainstreaming and the teacher, the family's role, and transition and follow-up. Implications for early childhood educators are listed. (Author/DB)

Suggests that teachers are challenged with arranging the environment to allow physically impaired children to participate in classroom activities. Defines limited motor ability. Suggests ways to make minor modifications or adaptations to accommodate these children in common classroom activities, including circle time, art, sensory play, fine…

Discusses the critical role of the early interventionist in working with young children with Down syndrome and their families. Reviews physical problems that the children may have, including growth and dental problems, medical disorders, and medical problems that need monitoring. (CR)

The Handicap-Related Problems for Parents Inventory (HPPI) was developed for the measurement of handicap-related problems experienced by mothers of children with chronic physical conditions. An initial evaluation of its psychometric properties was completed with 119 mothers of children with physical or sensory impairments. The HPPI demonstrated…

Family demographics of 8th-grade students with visual impairments (n=89), hearing impairments (n=105), deafness (n=29), and orthopedic impairments (n=60) were compared to those of 22,368 additional U.S. 8th-grade students. Analysis revealed that families of children with disabilities showed higher percentages of divorce or separation, lower family…

The cost effectiveness of early intervention services provided at home versus provision at a program site for small groups of children and families was compared. The children had Down syndrome (n=42), motor impairments (n=64), and other developmental delays (n=51). Service provision, parental stress, and interactions with the child were assessed;…

This continuation of an earlier article that described computer-based speech recognition products focuses on future hardware and software predictions. Highlights include effects that speech input/output could have on teaching language arts in elementary and secondary schools; changes in thought processing factors; use by the physically…

Illegal parking in spaces reserved for people with physical disabilities was examined across three conditions: a vertical sign alone or in combination with a message sign announcing public surveillance or a message device dispensing reminder notes and announcing community involvement. Messages increasing expectation of negative social consequences…

Provides information for workers in early childhood programs about the needs of disabled mothers. Gives suggestions for accommodating mothers with various disabilities, including physical, psychiatric, sensory, cognitive, or learning disabilities. Explains that some disabilities are "hidden." Describes accessibility needs and lists…

Understanding the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) can help educational facilities managers, planners, and administrators achieve rapid, cost-effective compliance. Educational institutions fall under Title I, Title II, and Title III of the ADA. Guidelines for how to start and conduct an inspection and develop a written…

This article profiles a third-grader with physical and learning disabilities to exemplify the use of physical and occupational therapy in school and the teamwork required to achieve inclusion and to facilitate a comprehensive educational program. Providing related services in an educational environment is discussed, along with legal requirements.…

A study investigated the prevalence of different disabilities in 780 students found eligible for special education in Norway. Almost all had more than one disability, with the most common disabilities being psychosocial problems, intellectual disability, and communication disorders. One-third were reported to have attention deficit disorder or…

The number of people who experience a brain injury increases every year, and 40 percent of all cases involve children (Hill, 1999). In fact, this high rate has led brain injury to become the most commonly acquired disability among children (Bigge, Best, & Heller, 2001), leading to a variety of primary disabilities that affect cognition,…

This study explores children's understanding of the causal origins of disabilities. Using a forced-choice explanation task, children's understanding of social-psychological, physical, and biological causal explanations of disabilities was considered. We presented 79 children (26 4- to 5-year-olds, 26 6- to 7-year-olds, and 27 10- to 11-year-olds)…