Background: One of the most commonly cited rationales for inclusive education is to enable the development of quality relationships with typically developing peers. Relatively few researchers have examined the features of the range of relationships that children with developmental disability form in inclusive school settings. Method: Interviews…

Background: Positive self-concept is an important educational outcome for individuals with disability. Method: Perceived competence and acceptance of 17 children with intellectual disability, included in mainstream classes, were assessed using the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children (PSPCSA) and…

Background: The purpose of this study was to revise and validate the "Individual Child Engagement Record" (ICER), an instrument designed to observe and measure the engagement of children with disabilities in early childhood settings. Method: The ICER was revised with reference to pilot study results and the literature. Inter-observer reliability…

Background: The engagement of children with developmental disabilities (DD) in social relationships with typically developing peers has become increasingly important as inclusive practices have become more the norm than the exception. This paper provides an overview of the research on social relationships between these two groups. Method: Studies…

Assisting children with delays and disabilities to develop skills that will maximise their chances of success in regular education classrooms has become important with the trend to inclusion. This study examined (1) the essential skills for successful integration nominated by teachers, (2) the relationships between teacher perception and child…

A survey of 138 Australian therapists providing services to students with severe disabilities found their role perception was consistent with a contemporary functional approach and that practices associated with a collaborative team approach received both a higher level of agreement and reported implementation than practices not associated with…

National, metropolitan, and local newspaper coverage in Sydney, Australia, of individuals with developmental disabilities was analyzed in terms of content--categorical focus, age of individuals, possibility for and means of improvement, and terminology used. Although the study found frequent use of inappropriate terminology when referring to…