Social participation of students with special educational needs (SEN) is a key issue in the inclusion debate. However, the meaning of concepts like social integration, social inclusion and social participation used in current literature is often unclear. Recently, these concepts were clarified based on preschool and primary school literature. The…

The document reports on an international seminar on the role of recreational activities in the social integration of handicapped children. Chapter I presents concluding remarks by M. Neale about the seminar. Chapter II gives an overview of proceedings in the areas of social and philosophical change; theoretical considerations regarding…

The history of the least restrictive environment concept is reviewed as it relates to students with severe disabilities (moderate, severe, or profound retardation; autism; multiple disabilities; or deaf-blindness). Stages in the evolutionary process and future prospects are analyzed, with attention to physical, functional, and social inclusion.…

Reviews research on social integration of special needs children into regular preschool programs. Techniques used to facilitate integration are reassessed. Suggestions for teacher promotion of social integration are provided. (RJC)

This review concludes that peer tutoring is a very powerful intervention for special education because it increases students' opportunities to respond, reduces teacher-pupil ratio, individualizes instruction, improves students' social skills, and increases students' academic achievement as well as aiding in the integration of disabled students…

A comparative review of the literature on integration of handicapped children into ordinary schools across Western nations is presented. Implications for national policymaking and program implementation are discussed, based on programs in the United States, England, Italy, France, Switzerland, and Sweden. Case studies of integrated children with…

This literature review examined five terms used to describe the inclusion of students with disabilities in general education schools and classrooms. The objective was to determine if these terms have consistent definitions and descriptions. Major journals and texts in education, and position statements and newsletters from special education…

The central purpose of mainstreaming is to integrate handicapped students with nonhandicapped peers. It is the teacher's responsibility to foster positive and constructive interactions between handicapped students and their peers. Three ways of organizing constructive peer interaction are: (1) cooperation; (2) competition; and (3) an…

Children who are blind are among the most easily mainstreamed of children with handicaps. The child with visual impairments is in need of an educational program which will meet all the students' needs, including those resulting from the visual condition. (JN)

This guide describes five types of student team cooperative learning activities: (1) Student Teams-Achievement Divisions; (2) Teams-Games-Tournament; (3) Jigsaw; (4) Team Accelerated Instruction; and (5) Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition. In Part 1, each technique is described in detail. A review of research finds positive outcomes in…

This review of research on the social integration of children with disabilities in mainstreaming programs addresses the problems of generalizing findings to other groups of children, use of simplistic measuring techniques, limited evidence supporting the use of multivariate statistical procedures, and interpretation of treatment effects.…

Presents findings of a nationwide survey into the extent to which United Kingdom schools for students with emotional and behavioral difficulties reintegrate their pupils into mainstream schools and on the problems they have encountered. Results indicate that very few of these pupils ever return to mainstream school. Considers study's implications…

The paper distinguishes American and Canadian applications of the terms "mainstreaming" and "integration" in relation to placement of exceptional children in settings which foster interaction between them and their non-handicapped peers such as regular classes in neighborhood schools. The two terms are seen to represent…

The paper draws upon integration experiences and the literature from organizational theory to examine the process of change. Initiation, planning, implementation, administration, and advocacy are discussed as they pertain to efforts to include students with severe disabilities in regular schools and classes. (Author/DB)

This paper reviews literature on the use of cooperative learning strategies within integrated recreational activities to include children with severe disabilities. The review focuses on how recreation activities can be structured to maximize cooperative aspects, peer-participant characteristics, participant preparation, and sustaining the…