The report summarized findings from a study of organizational issues involved in the use of microcomputers in special education programs in 12 school districts. Background of the study and details on site selection were given. Features of the selected districts (urbanicity, number of schools, enrollment, predominant ethnicity, and number of handicapped students), and of microcomputer systems (number in use, location, instructional applications, and administrative applications) were charted. The findings underlined the importance of collaboration with other microcomputer applications in the district and noted similarities in use by special and regular education. Applications for special education were identified, including administrative (such as child count data and student records) and instructional uses (such as computer assisted instruction, and vocational/career counseling and training). Specialized applications for special education were also identified, including as communication aids and individualized education program monitoring systems. Centralized and decentralized patterns of supervision were revealed, and factors important to the growth and utilization of microcomputers (including existence of skilled persons with authority) were noted. Analysis of the balance between instructional and administrative applications revealed that growth of microcomputer systems was strongest where mixed applications were present. Examination of training procedures revealed a variety of approaches and cited the importance of coordinators for growth beyond the initial adoption phase. Emphasis in special education applications on drill and practice exercises and educational games was noted along with a lack of integration with instructional management systems and ambiguous relationships to individualized education programs. (CL)