The article describes the three-year development/demonstration phase of a project for gifted/talented handicapped children, known as RAPYHT (Retrieval and Acceleration of Promising Young Handicapped and Talented). (Author/DLS)

The Retrieval and Acceleration of Promising Young Handicapped and Talented program, part of the Joint Early Education Program for the Handicapped, identifies and educates preschool children who are both handicapped and gifted or talented. (PHR)

The paper describes the identification process and procedures developed in a project for gifted/talented handicapped children (3 to 5 years old) in six talent areas: intellectual, academic, creative, social/leadership, visual and performing arts, and psychomotor. Characteristics of two approaches (the informal open classroom and an approach based…

Discusses (1) rationale for early identification and programing for gifted/talented children, (2) issues in developing a program for young children, (3) procedures for identifying the young gifted child, (4) guidelines for program evaluation, and (5) principles for program development. Two university programs, one for identifying gifted…