The paper, originally given at a 1986 Ethnic and Multicultural Symposium, provides an overview of educational opportunities for American Indian handicapped and gifted/talented students in the United States. Prevalence data of handicapping conditions among Indian children is presented for public schools, schools under the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Head Start programs. Data for numbers of American Indian children in programs for the gifted and talented indicates continued underrepresentation while Indian children are overrepresented in learning disabilities classes. The need for fair nondiscriminatory testing and evaluation procedures is stressed in sections on referral and assessment. Also reviewed are activities to increase parent involvement and to increase the number of American Indian special education personnel. Policy advances are identified in the areas of special strengthened state grant participation, preschool and early childhood services, discretionary programs, and vocational rehabilitation. Service delivery and research needs are identified in the areas of children served (both handicapped and gifted and talented); identification, assessment, and placement; parental involvement; personnel; early education; and rehabilitation. (DB)