In an interview, Dr. Edward L. Meyen (a past director of state planning for the mentally retarded) discusses the learner characteristics of mildly retarded students and describes organizational characteristics that facilitate learning, as well as training components that produce the most effective intervention. (SBH)

In an interview with J. Garvin, the State Director of Special Educational and Pupil Personnel Services in Vermont, and R. Sherr, Director of Special Education Services at the Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit in Pennsylvania, the development, scope, and problems of special education services for the severely and profoundly handicapped are…

Presented in a question and answer format, the article reports an interview with S. Stainack and W. Stainback, both professionals in the field of special education (specifically mental retardation), who answer seven questions on emerging trends in teacher training programs for the severely mentally retarded. (PHR)

J. Schrag, as state special education administrator in Washington, answers questions about such topics as current trends in mental retardation, fiscal crises, potential impact of new federal policies, related services, the role of the state education agencies, and ways to solve high teacher attrition rates. (CL)

Special vocational educator L. Allen Phelps identifies major issues in vocational programing for mentally retarded students (including implementing technology and expanding integration); comments on the effects of the changing federal role; notes changes in staffing patterns; cites the need for advocacy by professional associations; and suggests…

An interview with early intervention specialist Diane Bricker focuses on such questions as the effect of federal cutbacks for early childhood education, status of mainstreaming for preschoolers, effective intervention models, successful parent involvement, curriculum development and evaluation, and learning in the at-risk infant. (CL)

Through an interview format, L. A. Phelps identifies three major issues confronting vocational educational programing for the mentally retarded in the 1980s; discusses change in the roles of the federal government, professionals, and professional associations; and makes recommendations for interagency cooperation in education and employment of the…

An interview with Lawrence R. Sargent, a state special education consultant, focuses on state education agency problems related to evaluation, state evaluation and monitoring of programs for mentally retarded students, and Iowa's approach to developing instructional outcome criteria as a measure of program quality. (CL)

In the interview, Ron Thorkildsen (director of a research project on microcomputer/videodisc and computer assisted instruction for handicapped individuals) discusses his research and development project in particular and projects his ideas concerning the future of educating handicapped students via microcomputer/videodisc technology in general.…

An interview with Samuel A. Kirk touches on such topics as advances for mildly, moderately, and severely retarded persons; projections for the future; the relationship between regular and special education; needed changes in teacher education; and the importance of early education. (CL)

An interview with Duane Rumbaugh and Mary Ann Romski, researchers on the use of alternative communication systems for severely and profoundly retarded persons, focuses on applications from their primate research and the use of a computerized keyboard system to investigate language acquisition in severely retarded persons. (CL)