title: Effects of social integration on preschool children with handicaps.
abstract: This study examined the effects of (a) integrating handicapped and nonhandicapped children in preschools and (b) a condition designed to promote social integration. Fifty-six children with mild and moderate handicaps were randomly assigned to four experimental conditions: integrated/social interaction, integrated/child-directed, segregated/social interaction, and segregated/child-directed. Observation revealed a higher proportion of interactive play, as well as higher language development, in the social interaction conditions; and children in the integrated/social interaction condition received significantly higher ratings of social competence. These data suggest that structuring social interaction between higher and lower performing children can result in benefits to the lower performing students.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Odom
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Speltz
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D004495:Education of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008282:Mainstreaming, Education; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012917:Social Adjustment