Discussed are the historical aspects of special education and some of the projections for the future, with particular emphasis on the expanding domain in which special educators are expected to serve and the changing boundary lines between special education and other aspects of education. Six major topics are covered (sample subtopics are in parentheses): historical perspective (nineteenth century residential schools), forces and trends in the 1970s (minority groups, individualism, and broadening the mainstream), future trends (some major problem areas, and some predicted organizational restructuring), changing roles of special education personnel (more local educational services for the severely and profoundly handicapped and simplified formal systems for professional standards), general outlook on field developments, and a personal statement of alternatives and preferences (the right to education principle, and legislation, and shared authority). (SBH)