This article describes application of a collaborative service model for students with disabilities in a Minnesota middle school. The model delivers special education services in mainstream classrooms through curricula that are adapted, supplemented, and modified. The characteristics and role of the effective collaborating teacher are explored. (DB)

This study of interactions between three severely withdrawn, autistic preschool children and six nonhandicapped peers found that peers can be effectively taught strategies to increase appropriate social behaviors of autistic classmates, and a group-oriented reinforcement contingency is an effective complement to teacher-prompted interventions and…

Australian initiatives to integrate regular and special education are discussed, focusing on problems with integrated service delivery and the role of educational legislation and public policy in effective services. The feasibility of a legislative approach within the Australian constitutional framework is examined. (Author/MSE)

Provides an overview of issues and practice associated with the integration of handicapped students into regular education settings. Emphasizes the differences between mainstreaming and federally mandated provision of educational services in the "least restrictive environment." Discusses the changing roles of elementary school teachers…

This study compared 13 students (grades 6 through 8) with behavior disorders who were mainstreamed part of each school day with 6 similar students not mainstreamed. Overall, the mainstreamed students had higher reading and written language scores, better work habits, and higher grades. Nonmainstreamed students demonstrated more extremes in social…

A survey was conducted of 100 graduates (ages 7-17) of an auditory/oral Australian preschool for children with hearing impairments (92 integrated with hearing peers and 8 segregated). Most children perceived their academic progress to be average or above; nearly all received audiological support; over one-third received speech therapy and…

A special educator and speech and language pathologist made inclusion and collaboration a reality in middle schools. They stopped delivering services in self-contained classrooms and started meeting students' needs in regular classrooms via team teaching. The changes eliminated labels and stigmas and fostered higher self-esteem and success. (SM)

This study compared 16 students with either a less or more severe disability from elementary schools using the "full inclusion" model and 16 similar students from schools using the special class model. The study analyzed individualized education plans and also compared program quality and student outcome variables. Significant…

Reviews current research concerning the practice of mainstreaming disabled students, including effects on academic achievement, attitudes of disabled and nondisabled students in integrated classrooms, and the effects of teacher attitude and training on mainstreaming. Concludes that research does not provide unqualified support for mainstreaming.…

Profiles teachers' everyday experiences at a southeastern Texas middle school that mainstreams most of its special needs students. Classroom observations, accompanied by teacher and student survey data, showed that mainstreaming had deleterious effects. Since teachers spent a disproportionate amount of time serving special education students,…

A national survey of teachers of the hearing impaired (n=313) in either nonintegrated classes in residential schools and day programs, or in integrated settings in regular public schools, or in itinerant programs examined perceptions of the competencies most critical to their job. Similarities and differences in teacher competencies across service…

Describes efforts of the Child Study Center at San Diego University to mainstream infants with disabilities or special needs into a "regular" developmentally appropriate child care programs. (BB)

This article describes cooperative teaching involving general and special educators as an approach to serving students with special needs. The article provides an overview of the types of cooperative teaching and discusses implementation considerations, methods of problem solving, and the importance of interpersonal skills. (JDD)

A survey of 48 secondary-level learning disability content teachers and 45 basic skills teachers examined their relationship with the mainstream, curricular structure, instructional methodology, and students' behavioral characteristics. The two groups differed little in how they taught but more in how they perceived their interactions and their…

This article describes Marie Clay's Reading Recovery program which provides one-half hour daily of individual instruction in reading to a school's lowest achievers. Data demonstrating the program's effectiveness and student skill maintenance are summarized. The approach is seen to be especially suitable for mainstreamed children with special…