An interview with four leaders (L. Brown, A. Halpern, S. Hasazi, and P. Wehman) on the conceptualization and implementation of transition programming for handicapped students focuses on such issues as the role of political factors, the possibility of effective school/adult service agency coordination, the importance of social skills, and emerging…

The current national emphasis on transition to the community and work for mildly handicapped students has resulted in close scrutiny of the outcomes of special education. A radical change in secondary programs for the mildly handicapped is needed, away from academics and toward functional, vocational programs. (Author/DB)

To obtain information on the potential benefits of integration, the study investigated the nature and extent of social interactions among 37 mildly, moderately, severely, and nonhandicapped preschool children at different developmental levels. (Author)

Results of a survey of state education agencies indicated that many states emphasize intelligence in the definition and diagnosis of mental retardation and deemphasize or exclude adaptive behavior. The rationale for a renewed emphasis on adaptive behavior and IQ in the identification and education of the mentally retarded is discussed. (Author)

Intervention programs claiming to benefit young handicapped children are increasingly being required to provide evidence of their effectiveness. An intervention efficiency index (IEI) is proposed as a method of measuring child progress and program impact by relating changes in children's developmental capabilities to time spent in a program.…

The interrelationships among the subscales of the Behavior Problem Checklist, the Conners' Teacher Questionnaire, and the Devereux Elementary School Behavior Scale were examined in a sample of 93 elementary and junior high students in special classes for the emotionally disturbed. (Author)

Through naturalistic observational procedures, the study examined the dynamics of individualized education program (IEP) conferences involving parents of handicapped elementary grade students. Participants present, the nature and frequency of topics discussed, and the length of conferences were considered. (Author/SBH)

Science activities for the visually impaired (SAVI) introduces blind and visually impaired children (9 to 12 years old) to physical and life sciences in a multisensory way. Evolution of SAVI activities involves exploration, local trials, and national trials. SAVI project materials can help integrate handicapped children into the mainstream through…

The article examines some of the implications of minimum competency standards and alternative policies for handicapped students. It is concluded that although the alternative of determining policies on an individual basis presents problems in terms of consistency and equity across handicapped students, it still seems to be the best approach. (SBH)

To assess teachers' statements that influence affective growth in children, two observation instruments were developed, and direct observations were made in seven suburban Head Start centers to compare the communications of 20 teachers to 21 handicapped and 21 nonhandicapped children. (SBH)

Among findings were that primary and middle grade teachers were more willing to integrate handicapped students than were teachers of grades 7 and 8 and that those teachers who had taken courses in special education were more willing to accept handicapped students in their classes than were those who had not taken such courses. (SBH)

The study involving 46 fourth graders evaluated the effects of a film pointing out how aspirations and interests of handicapped children are similar to those of nonhandicapped classmates. The film did not appear to be sufficient to handle all questions nonhandicapped children might have about handicapped peers, and its effect did not appear to be…

The study explored the influence of reinforcement and race on the verbal creativity performance of 50 emotionally handicapped children at the elementary school level. Among conclusions were that positive verbal reinforcement led to significantly higher creativity scores and that the race of the Ss (White or Black) did not affect creativity…

The study explored and compared goal preferences of school administrators, pupil personnel services staff, instructors, students, and parents (total=307) involved with four programs that mainstream hearing impaired students in regular occupational education courses for one-half of each school day. (Author/PHR)

The article is a response to R. Maggiore's article "Reliability of Proposed Short Form of Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities (ITPA)." The authors present evidence to rebut Maggiore's essentially negative conclusions regarding the reliability of the short form test. (For original paper, see EJ 194 153.) (Author/PHR)