A survey examined attitudes of teachers toward children with visual impairment and implications for inclusion. Teachers with direct or indirect experience with students with either low vision or blindness held a more positive attitude toward inclusion than randomly selected teachers, but only toward students with low vision. Teachers demonstrated…

A survey examined attitudes of teachers toward children with visual impairment and implications for inclusion. Teachers with direct or indirect experience with students with either low vision or blindness held a more positive attitude toward inclusion than randomly selected teachers, but only toward students with low vision. Teachers demonstrated…

Teachers of gifted children read a descriptive vignette of a hypothetical gifted student and rated their willingness to refer the student for gifted program placement. Results showed that the 197 teachers were influenced by the presence of the educational label "learning disabled" and by the social class of the student. (Author/JDD)

Multidimensional scaling was utilized to assess the disability perceptions of 4 groups of educators (elementary school principals, special education administrators, regular elementary teachers, and special education teachers). Despite identified differences among the 247 educators' perceptual spaces, the groups shared some commonalities relating…

Explores the impact of having a hearing-impaired peer on preschool children's understanding of hearing and deafness, comparing children with and without a hearing-impaired peer. All children referred to their own experiences to explain hearing loss. Children with a hearing-impaired classmate understood sign language and the consequences of hearing…

An outdoor leader describes personal experiences with hard-of-hearing children and offers observations on understanding communication methods, incorporating individuals with various training, involving parents, and fostering teamwork. Stresses that apart from the disability, deaf children should be seen as "normal" in other ways. (KS)

The 1988 attitudes of 191 undergraduate students toward persons with mental retardation were assessed and compared to a 1975 survey. Results showed a positive shift over the 13-year period. Exposure to a course on developmental disabilities and contact with individuals with mental retardation also improved students' attitudes. (Author/JDD)

Teacher/child interactions with learners with exceptionalities (n=15), learners at risk (n=19), and typical learners (n=50) were observed in three inclusive elementary classrooms. Teachers initiated more task-related interactions with exceptional children and gave them more negative feedback compared to others, but only at the beginning of the…

Peer-assessed problem behavior was examined in relation to peer-group membership and social-network centrality in 59 fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade classes. Most students with high peer-assessed problem behavior were students without disabilities, but students with disabilities were over represented at the highest levels of problem behavior.…

A study investigated 171 mass transit operators' beliefs about blindness and the factors that may influence their beliefs. There were statistically significant differences among transit operators' beliefs on the basis of the operators' ethnicity. White participants had significantly fewer irrational beliefs about blindness than Hispanic and…

A review of laws and records of the courts of colonial New England indicates early laws of Massachusetts extended certain rights to idiots: they authorized the transfer of property, exonerated idiots who committed capital crimes, and extended relief to impoverished idiots. The relationship between colonial laws and present legislation is examined.…

Presents two perspectives on integrating students with a range of disabilities into regular classes. Focuses on how organizational support can impact teachers' ability to serve the needs of the students in their classes. (DDR)

This article provides teachers with a list of books and ideas for teaching about disabilities. Forty-six books are identified, 17 received either the Newbery or the Newbery Honor Award. The list of books includes a brief summary of the plot, the main disability discussed, and other curricular applications. (Author/CR)

This article identifies some of the underlying emotions of our school administrators, congressional leaders, and communities that result in the neglect of students who are in dire need of special education and related services. The systematic underestimation and underidentification of students with emotional or behavioral disorders are…

Results of six demonstration/research projects at outdoor education and interpretive facilities indicate that these inclusive outdoor programs were effective in terms of participation, peer acceptance, and learning outcomes for children and adolescents with and without disabilities. Programming recommendations focus on environmental awareness as a…