The monograph examines issues affecting the future of handicapped people generally, and mentally retarded people specifically. E. Meyen introduces the volume and describes how the issues were identified. H. Turnbull and P. Barber, in "Perspectives on Public Policy," discuss such issues as defederalization, redefinition of handicaps, and professional ethics. R. Yoshida's "Perspectives on Research" follows with a discussion of four research topics: (1) appropriate assessment, (2) components of educational programs for mentally retarded students, (3) postschool adjustment of mentally retarded students, and (4) normalization of institutionalized mentally retarded students. "Perspectives on Severely Multiply Handicapped," including selective abortion, fetal surgery, euthanasia, and educability are examined by D. Lehr and F. Brown. Among the "Perspectives on Early Childhood Education" noted by A. Rogers-Warren and C. Poulson are family involvement, technology, and challenges in service delivery. In the final paper, "Perspectives on Instruction," J. Gottlieb and M. Alter review data on classroom effects as well as on teacher instructional behavior and curriculum considerations affecting handicapped children. (CL)