The study analyses variations in school well-being, social inclusion, and academic self-concept in a population of Norwegian children born with a physical disability (N = 311). Overall, the children reported positive experiences regarding their social and emotional inclusion in school but tended to have a more negative experience of their academic…

Autistic girls' heightened social motivation and associated social coping strategies, such as camouflaging, mean they may be less likely to receive appropriate support in mainstream schools. In this research, a multi-informant approach was used to examine the camouflaging strategies used by autistic girls within specialist resource classes…

Four seven- to ten-year-old boys with autistic behavior were examined with behavioral and observational measures in a peer mediated training, an integrated generalization assessment, and a segregated generalization assessment setting. Results favored the developmentally integrated condition for increases of positive social behaviors. (Author/MC)

Fifty-five gifted fifth and sixth graders in segregated or integrated classes completed the Piers-Harris Self Concept Test and a measure of peer relationship. Comparison with scores of 55 gifted children who had not been identified or placed revealed no significant differences among social distance or self-concept scores. (CL)

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a cooperative learning (CL) intervention on the levels of social and task engagement of a child with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) conducted in a mainstream class setting and a child with ASD implemented in a special needs class setting. The target children were two 8-year-old boys…

Analysis of essays comparing experiences in gifted and regular classes written by sixth grade gifted students found that many students felt teachers and peers outside the gifted class had unfair expectations of them. Other topics addressed by students included grading, group work, lack of acknowledgement for effort, treatment by peers, and teacher…

The study examined the social interaction of nine language-handicapped children (7 to 10 years old) in a speech and language unit as compared to an equal number of regular class children. (SBH)

One of the provisions of the law for special education in Cyprus is for children considered as having special needs to be educated in "special units". The purpose of this study is to investigate and observe the way that "special units" function in the educational environment in Cyprus, paying particular attention to one unit in…

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…

Free-play observation of 12 preschoolers (normal or mentally retarded) in integrated and segregated settings on four occasions during the school year indicated a steady increase in positive social interaction over time for normal children in both settings and for retarded children in the integrated setting. (Author/JW)

The article describes a social skills training group for 10 British autistic children (ages 9-16 years) which aimed to integrate them into the regular classroom. The weekly sessions were held over 4 years and followed guidelines of G. Mesibov and S. Spence. (Author/DB)

The peer interactions and cognitive levels of play of mildly developmentally delayed preschool children were compared as they participated in mainstreamed and specialized settings. They engaged in substantially higher rates of peer-related social behaviors and constructive play when mainstreamed. Factors affecting early childhood mainstreaming…

The social participation patterns of 28 young children with visual impairments (some with additional disabilities) during free-play periods was compared across specialized and integrated settings. Although no significant differences were found between settings, there were significant differences between children with and without additional…

Forty-two students attending a centralized program for the trainable mentally retarded were placed in satellite units in elementary schools. After 2 years teachers reported on the extent of integration, changes in behavior, play with nonretarded students, and their feelings about the change. Parents were interviewed about their feelings before and…

The Integrated Preschool Curriculum (IPC), which is designed to facilitate the social integration of young children at risk for learning disabilities into mainstreaming and integrated special education classes, was compared with a standard early childhood education model curriculum. The IPC successfully promoted social interaction between…