The Integration of Children with Handicapping Conditions into the Mainstream of the Elementary School System

Abstract

<p>This project discusses a major issue in the educational system of the Province of Ontario in the 1980' s. With the full implementation of Bill 82 in September of 1985, school boards across the province will be forced once again to determine how the needs of children with handicapping conditions ought best be met. Should they be mainstreamed with their chronological peers in neighbourhood schools or should they attend special schools where all ancillary services are provided? The purpose of this paper is to examine this integration/segregation debate. The first two chapters provide the reader with a historical overview of the issue as well as with a description and critical analysis of the early efficacy studies that have been used as justification for the choice of one type of administrative arrangement over another. Chapter three outlines more contemporary arguments and research in support of the mainstreaming position. It also describes the philosophy, strategies and tec110iques of a local school board that has been mainstreaming children with handicapping conditions since the late 1960's. The final chapter outlines two evaluative techniques that can be used to asses the effectiveness of integration segregation as educational models. Further, a proposal for future research is described in which both of these evaluative techniques would be employed.</p>