This article outlines a model system for the use of supportive teachers working with students who have social, academic, and other problems that hamper their performance in the school environment. (JD)

All the pieces--laws, people, programs--can fit together. (Editor)

Discusses the training of teachers, who will be able to create humanistic learning environments committed to mainstreaming (allowing the child to move in an individually prescribed program), within an individualized environment--the Humanizing, Individualizing, and Personalizing Program at the University of Missouri at Columbia. (JM)

The placement of learning disabled and behaviorally disordered children in the least restrictive setting requires consideration of both environmental conditions and psychological factors which contribute to the handicap. (DB)

An example of the use of the cluster approach in a reading/language arts program for gifted first-graders (in a classroom with peers of varying ability) illustrates how this approach allows gifted students to work with others who have similar abilities and provides time-saving opportunities for teachers and modeling opportunities for non-gifted…

Play interactions between six male autistic children (aged 8 to 12 years), younger normally developing kindergarten children, and nonhandicapped same-age peers resulted in gains for all (subjects were only those autistic children (6) observed; their autistic classmates were not observed) subjects in proximity, orientation, and responsiveness when…

The process of curriculum compacting, a means of modifying and enriching the regular curriculum to meet the needs of gifted students is described and illustrated with classroom examples. The roles of classroom teachers, administrators, and gifted education specialists in implementing compacting are explored. (Author/DB)

To argue about the effectiveness of integration is to miss the point; both regular school and special education support services in Australia need to recognize the many changes essential to minimize failure and encompass the reasonable developmental needs of all children. A flexible education system can accommodate almost all children. (Author/JW)

The article briefly examines public policy and practices concerning mainstreaming in the United States, Great Britain, and Australia. Ambiguity in definitions of integration are noted, and proposed definitions are offered which distinguish between full, predominant, partial, and minimal integration. (JW)

Overidentification of learning disabilities may be caused by applying a model of disability which does not allow for classroom accomodation. A minority model of disability with classroom modification and accommodation to differences in students who fail to meet behavior and achievement standards is proposed. (Author/DB)

The study with five mildly handicapped students (ages 10-12) found that changing setting (regular or resource classroom) alone had no significant impact on student performance. The combined effect of changes in test materials and test administrator, however, indicated that curriculum differences did affect extent to which skills were transferred…

Regular educators (N=128) and special educators (N=133) in 21 Ohio school districts responded to a questionnaire regarding handicap integration. Willingness of regular educators to teach handicapped students depended more heavily on demographic variables (e.g., total number of years in teaching); willingness of special educators depended more on…

Used mainstreamed children (N=250) from four different groups (behavior disordered, learning disabled, mildly mentally retarded/educationally handicapped, and nonhandicapped) to examine rater, ratee, and sex bias in the Teacher Ratings of Social Skills (TROSS) ratings by teachers; concurrent validity and reliability; and factor congruence with a…

An interview with Dr. Donald J. Treffinger, an author and educator involved in gifted education, reveals his views regarding a "better blend" between gifted programing activities and the total school program. Such an approach would include more students in a larger variety of enrichment activities. (CB)