In the Netherlands, the trend towards inclusion has led to the development of a 'To School Together' programme in which students with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) receive tailored care and education during the school day in a special classroom ('To School Together' class) within a mainstream school. Besides shared…

The aim of this study was to explore regular teachers' perceptions and experiences of supports and obstacles to communicative interactions for students with multiple and severe disabilities (MSD). Five teachers of students with MSD participated in two in-depth interviews. Interview transcripts were analysed using content analysis. Transcripts were…

Because of what are perceived by some as potential challenges it is still commonplace for research to fail to seek the opinions of pupils with multiple and complex needs. While many such pupils do have significant communication difficulties, along with other disabilities, which are undoubtedly a constraint, it is crucial in order to be inclusive,…

An observational study is reported in which social interactions and on-task behavior were investigated in a mainstreaming program for 20 severely multihandicapped children. It was concluded that severely multihandicapped students in this program experienced many interactions with nonhandicapped children and that their educational activities were…

The paper addresses the issue of placement for students with severe and multiple disabilities. Controversies over the principle of least restrictive environment are reviewed; and the implications of the normalization movement and the passage of P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, are summarized. The rationale for…

The paper examines three case studies to illustrate problems and benefits involved in attempting to integrate severely handicapped persons into community and classroom settings. The authors discuss the integration efforts for two children with severe/multiple handicaps and one with autism and report on findings from site visits across the United…

The needs of students with profound and multiple disabilities (PMD) have received more attention in the educational research and best practice literature over the past decade, especially in relation to the importance of maximising their social and communicative engagement. However, perhaps as a function of their low incidence rate and resultant…

Ten papers focus on aspects of a community integration approach for severely and profoundly handicapped students. Two general papers introduce the monograph: "Preparing Severely and Profoundly Handicapped Youth to Enter Less Restrictive Environments" (P. Wehman and J. Hill) and "Characteristics of an Appropriate Education for Severely and…

A case study is presented of a girl (age six) with multiple disabilities including moderate to severe mental retardation who was fully included in a regular first-grade classroom. The experience indicated that students with multiple disabilities can learn to follow classroom routines, follow directions, acquire new skills, and improve their…

The observational study investigated social interactions and on-task behavior of 20 severely multihandicapped children in a mainstreaming program. In comparison with nonhandicapped students, severely multihandicapped students interacted with teachers and aides more frequently but showed the same degree of on-task behavior. (Author/DB)

This paper focuses on the difficulties faced by rural school districts in their efforts to serve children with severe multiple disabilities. Both historic and contemporary views on mainstreaming and inclusion of students with multiple disabilities are presented. Concerns of educators about the inclusion of such students center around the amount of…

This article reports the experiences of one school district as it moved from serving students with severe disabilities in segregated programs to a full inclusion model. Year one focused on getting started, planning, and beginning integration efforts and year two on implementation of a structured peer integration program. Applicability of the full…

The report presents recommendations from a 1981 meeting sponsored by Unesco (United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization) on the topic of integration of severely/multiply handicapped persons into general and vocational education. A summary of discussion topics addresses terminology; the concept of integration--its advantages and…

A survey was conducted of 253 parents of severely-handicapped children attending either special schools or integrated programs in regular public schools. Parents of children attending special schools predicted that mainstreaming would be a negative experience, while parents of already integrated children indicated overwhelmingly positive attitudes…

One approach that has proved to be effective in providing prevocational training to the deaf-blind and severely handicapped is the continuum concept. This concept emphasizes the individual's movement from the educational setting into an appropriate community-based vocational environment. (JN)