This article addresses three issues concerning the development of social skills in young children with special needs, especially children with severe social limitations. First, the importance of children's social skills is stressed; next, specific peer-related social skills that should receive priority in early intervention are identified; and…

Discussion of special education at the turn of the century raises concerns about the abandonment of core values and professional responsibility (as in the emphasis on general rather than special education), adoption of methodologies (such as co-teaching) without any evidence of effectiveness, and a "one size fits all" approach (inclusion of…

Problems in providing educational services to minority and working-class special education students are discussed in the context of their experiences in the education system as a whole. The paper focuses specifically on prejudice, culturally inappropriate instruction, and what educators can do to improve the situation. (JDD)