Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

This report describes a mail survey of faculty members in general early childhood education designed to secure information about their perceptions of the benefits of and barriers to preschool mainstreaming A 22-item questionnaire was mailed to 204 general early childhood education faculty members selected randomly from all regions of the United States. A total of 114 (55.9%) questionnaires were returned in usable form. Respondents represented a full range of institutions of higher education. In all, 211 benefits in 10 categories and 202 barriers in 10 categories were listed Learning to accept differences was the mostfrequently cited benefit, and lack of trained staff and consultation was the most frequently listed barrier. Many benefits commonly ascribed to preschool mainstreaming were listed by the general early childhood education faculty. However, some (e.g., availability of peers as models, peers learning to be helpers) were cited less frequently than expected, and others (e.g., benefits to personnel preparation programs) more frequently than expected Negative attitudes were listed as a barrier by fewer than a third of the respondents. Few faculty listed skill deficits and behavior problems of children with disabilities as barriers.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bailey, D.B. , & McWilliam, R.A. (1990). Normalizing early intervention . Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 10, 33-47.

Bailey, D.B. , & Winton, P.J. (1987). Stability and change in parents' expectations about mainstreaming. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education , 7, 73-88.

Bricker, D. (1978). A rationale for the integration of handicapped and nonhandicapped preschool children. In M. Guralnick (Ed.), Early intervention and the integration of handicapped and nonhandicapped children (pp. 3-16). Baltimore: University Park Press.

Dillman, D.A. (1978). Mail and telephone surveys: The total design metbod . New York: Wiley.

Hoyson, M. , Jamieson, B. , & Strain, P.S. (1984). Individualized group instruction for normally developing and autistic-like children: The LEAP curriculum. Journal of the Division for Early Cbildbood, 8,157-172.

Klein, N. , & Sheehan, R. (1987). Staff development: A key issue in meeting the needs of young handicapped children in day care settings. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 7, 13-27.

Miller, L.J. , Strain, P.S. , Boyd, K. , Hunsicker, S. , McKinley, J. , & Wu, A. (1992). Parental attitudes toward integration. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 12, 230-246.

Odom, S.L. , & McEvoy, M.A. (1988). Integration of young children with handicaps and normally developing children. In S. L. Odom & M. B. Karnes (Eds.), Early intervention for infants and children with handicaps: An empirical base (pp. 241-268). Baltimore: Brookes.

Odom, S.L. , & McEvoy, M.A. (1990). Mainstreaming at the preschool level: Potential barriers and tasks for the field. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 10, 48-61.

10.

Peck, C. A. , Odom, S. L. , & Bricker, D. (Eds.) (1993). Integrating young children with disabilities into community program: Ecological perspectives on research and implementation . Baltimore : Brookes.

11.

Rule, S. , Stowitschek, J.J. , Innocenti, M. , Striefel, S. , Killoran, J. , Swezey, K. , & Boswell, C. (1987). The social integration program: An analysis of the effects of mainstreaming handicapped children into day care centers. Education and Treatment of Children, 10, 175-192.

12.

Strain, P.S. , & Smith, B.J. (1993). Comprehensive educational, social, and policy forces that affect preschool integration. In C. A. Peck , S. L. Odom , & D. Bricker (Eds.), Integrating young children with disabilities into community programs: Ecological perspectives on research and implementation (pp. 209-222). Baltimore: Brookes.

13.

Templeman, T.P. , Fredericks, H.D. , & Udell, T. (1989). Integration of children with moderate and severe handicaps into a day care center. Journal of Early Intervention , 13, 315-328.

14.

Wolery, M. , Huffman, K. , Brookfield, J. , Schroeder, C. , Venn, M.L. , Holcombe, A. , Fleming, L.A. , & Martin, C.G. (1992). Benefits of and barriers to preschool mainstreaming: Perceptions of general early childhood educators. Manuscript submitted for publication.

15.

Wolery, M. , Brookfield, J. , Huffman, K. , Schroeder, C. , Martin, C.G. , Venn, M.L. , & Holcombe, A. (in press). Preparation in preschool mainstreaming as reported by general early education faculty. Jourml of Early Intervention.

Preschool Mainstreaming: Perceptions of Barriers and Benefits by Faculty in General Early Childhood Education

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References