This paper examines the effects of research on social policy and in particular its impact upon handicapped infants and young children. The influence of research on mainstreaming, Head Start, deinstitutionalization, and personal preparation is discussed, as are barriers to the application of findings to social policy. The steps leading to the formulation of social policy are presented, followed by a discussion of factors that contribute to it. The reciprocal influence of research on social policy and of social policy on research is acknowledged.
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