This longitudinal, observational study of 13 children in a preschool for children with visual impairments examined the effects of reverse mainstreaming, in combination with the cooperative learning strategy, on the social interaction patterns of preschoolers with and without visual impairments. It found that the type of environment provided and the learning strategies used affect both whether and how children relate to their environment.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BrownD., SimmonsV., & MethvinJ. (1986). The Oregon project for visually impaired and blind preschool children (3rd. ed.). Medford, OR: Jackson Education Service District.
2.
CrockerA. D., & OrrR. R. (1996). Social behaviors of children with visual impairments enrolled in preschool programs. Exceptional Children, 62, 451–461.
3.
ErwinE. J. (1994). Social competence in young children with visual impairments. Infants and Young Children, 6, 26–33.
4.
ErwinE. J. (1993). Social participation of young children with visual impairments in specialized and integrated environments. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 87, 138–142.
5.
FraibergS. (1977). Insights from the blind: Comparative studies of blind and sighted infants.New York: Basic Books.
6.
FraibergS., SmithM., & AdelsonE. (1969). An educational program for blind infants. Journal of Special Education, 3, 121–139.
7.
GilliesR. M., & AshmanA. F. (2000). The effects of cooperative learning on students with learning difficulties in the lower elementary school. Journal of Special Education, 34, 19–27.
8.
GuralnickM. J., & GroomJ. M. (1985). Correlates of peer-related social competence of developmentally delayed preschool children. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 90, 140–150.
9.
GuralnickM. J., & GroomJ. M. (1987). The peer relations of mildly delayed and nonhandicapped preschool children in mainstreamed playgroups. Child Development, 58, 1556–1572.
10.
HartupW. W. (1983). Peer relations. In HetheringtonE. M. (Ed.), Handbook of child psychology: Socialization, personality, and social development (Vol. 4, pp. 103–196). New York: John Wiley & Sons.
11.
ImamuraS. (1965). Mother and blind child [Research Series No. 14]. New York: American Foundation for the Blind.
12.
JohnsonD. W. (1980). Group process: Influences of student-student interaction on school outcomes. In McMillanJ. H. (Ed.), Social psychology of school learning (pp. 123–168). New York: Academic Press.
13.
JohnsonD. W., & JohnsonR. T. (1990). Using cooperative learning in math. In DavidsonN. (Ed.), Cooperative learning in mathematics: A handbook for teachers.Menlo Park, CA: Addison-Wesley.
14.
JohnsonD. W., JohnsonR. T., HolubecE., & RoyP. (1984). Circles of learning: Cooperation in the classroom.Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
15.
McGahaC. G., & FarranD. C. (2001). Interactions in an inclusive classroom: The effects of visual status and setting. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 95, 80–94.
16.
RogersS. J., & PuchalskiC. B. (1984). Social characteristics of visually impaired infants’ play. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 3, 52–56.
17.
SkellengerA. C., RosenblumB. K., & JagerB. K. (1997). Behaviors of preschoolers with visual impairments in indoor play settings. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 91, 519–530.
18.
TaitP. E. (1972). Behavior of young blind children in a controlled play situation. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 43, 963–969.