Intended for special educators, the book is designed to provide information for assessing classroom needs, making decisions about purchasing software and hardware, and using the microcomputer effectively. Each chapter begins with statements to think about and a list of sources. At the end of each chapter are questions and exercises designed to aid the reader in understanding chapter information. Six chapters cover the following topics (sample subtopics are in parentheses): introduction to the microcomputer (microcomputer languages); software considerations and evaluation (external and internal evaluation of software); hardware considerations and inservice education (peripherals); media selection and microcomputer uses (administrative uses); microcomputer uses in special education; and elementary programing for the microcomputer (program development support). (SW)