Although American society may never have adequately educated the majority of its immigrants and their children, many who lacked a good education in an earlier era could support families through factory, agricultural, or construction work. Today's jobs require more education. Those with limited English proficiency and literacy skills will be only…

This book discusses activities in dramatic arts for students with disabilities in a variety of settings, as well as guidelines for mainstreaming such students into regular theater activities. An introductory chapter describes the program for individuals with disabilities offered by the Bethesda (Maryland) Academy of Performing Arts. Chapter 1…

This final report of the Portage Multi-State Outreach Project discusses the project's activities in assisting states, agencies, and local programs to plan, develop, and provide services for unserved and underserved young children with disabilities and their families across a variety of settings and program options. Specifically the project…

Regular educators (n=11), special educators (n=7), and classmates without disabilities (n=181) were surveyed at the end of the first year that middle school students with severe disabilities were integrated into regular education classes in two suburban midwestern communities. Results revealed many benefits for educators and students. Educators…

Project Porvenir is a program to develop English as a Second Language (ESL) and native language arts (NLA) among limited-English-speaking, native Spanish-speaking students through career education. In its second year of operation, the project served 599 students of varying language proficiency in general and special bilingual education classes,…

This study examined the extent to which people in Australia with impaired hearing were receiving some form of literacy assistance and whether requests for service were fulfilled by providers of Adult Literacy and Basic Education (ALBE) services. A questionnaire was sent to a sample of 71 providers. In addition, telephone interviews were conducted…

One of nine competency-based training modules for personnel preparation in early childhood special education, this guide focuses on integration of children with disabilities in preschool programs. All modules are adaptable for use with a general audience, direct service personnel, or administrators and are based on the following principles of the…

This report describes the implementation of a reverse integration and inclusion program at a school which had previously been exclusively for students with cognitive disabilities (trainable mental retardation). An extensive review of the literature provides a history of special education, mainstreaming, reverse integration, and the inclusive…

These six papers address theoretical and practical issues in the inclusion of students with severe disabilities in regular classes and related settings. Emphasis is on how communication and other social skills can be taught to these students in inclusive settings. A prologue and epilogue, by Beth Dixon, a parent, relates her severely disabled…

These instructional materials are designed to improve the performance of paraeducators working with school-age students with disabilities in inclusive classrooms. The modules cover: (1) roles of paraeducators working in inclusive classrooms; (2) communication and team-building skills; (3) human and legal rights of children and youth with…

This federally funded study investigated Virginia special education program standards, focusing on local applications of the standards for class size and class mix and the effect of varying class size and class mix on student outcomes. The study concentrated on students with educable mental retardation, severe emotional disturbance, and specific…

This report documents what has been learned through the National Longitudinal Transition Study (NLTS) of Special Education Students about regular education and secondary students with disabilities. Findings are based on data from more than 8,000 youth in secondary special education, ages 13 to 21, in 1985-86. Focus of the report is on how much…

This paper presents ideas on restructuring teacher education in the field of special education and the ensuring implications for training personnel. The reform of the American education system requires the simultaneous reform of the teacher education system. The different procedural standards, methodologies, and certification tracks used by each…

A questionnaire survey canvassed the views of 72 New Zealand educators, in order to identify gaps or deficiencies in services and to establish priorities for development. Respondents were asked to comment on special education system strengths, growing points, desirable policy directions, and special interests. Four issues emerged as central to…

The paper describes an inservice training program designed to bring together special education teachers, elementary teachers, and administrators to address the following issues: (1) attitudes toward integration of handicapped students into regular classrooms; (2) communication between regular and special educators; (3) specific skills for regular…