Provided are selected proceedings from the Conference on Exceptional Children at which minority educators and educators from the dominant society discussed the special educational needs of culturally and linguistically different children. One speaker offers suggestions for ways in which a knowledge of linguistics can be used to assess the potential of minority children. Four sessions concerning the linguistic and cultural patterns of Asian, black, Indian, and Spanish persons are summarized. Another address focuses on ways in which the culturally different student comes into conflict with traditional curricula. Ethnic perspectives on cultural diversity are presented in six articles on the following topics: the language and cultural diversity of black Americans, the learning style of the Mexican American, learning styles and Asian culture, the conflict of values involved in the education of the Native American, the Asian American's search for identity, and the Puerto Rican in New York City schools. Participants' evaluations of the institute are included. Appendixes contain a copy of the institute evaluation form, a list of additional papers presented at the conference, excerpts from a 3-month followup report, and a list of tape cassettes on cultural diversity. (GW)