Participants in an inservice workshop (n=121) and a graduate course in teaching the young handicapped (n=271) were surveyed concerning their perceptions of community attitudes toward the handicapped, the support school systems will provide for implementing P.L. 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Children Act), and the current level of implementation in their local schools. Ss were located at 31 sites in Appalachia. Responses were analyzed by region, urbanization, and respondent's position of employment. Participants' perceptions of community awareness and the degree of school support were neutral to low. Forty-one percent of the course participants and 32% of the workshop participants reported mainstreaming currently taking place in their school. A significant effect was found for region in level of mainstreaming. Results were discussed in terms of the need to establish a data base of information for the successful implementation of P.L. 94-142, and the impact of public awareness and teacher attitudes was addressed. (Author)