title: Principals' attitudes regarding inclusion of children with autism in Pennsylvania public schools.
abstract: This study sought to identify the attitudes that principals held regarding the inclusion of students with disabilities, and the relationship between their attitudes and their placement recommendations for children with autism and to identify the relationship between specific demographic factors and attitudes toward inclusion and placement. A stratified random sample was drawn from the active list of 3,070 principals in the Pennsylvania public schools. From 1,500 surveys, 571 principal responses were received. The most significant factor in predicting both a positive attitude toward inclusion of children with disabilities and higher recommendations of placements for children with autism was the principal's belief that children with autism could be included in a regular education classroom.
authors.affiliation: The Timothy School, 973 Old Lancaster Road, Berwyn, PA, 19312, USA. jhorrocks@timothyschool.com
authors.forename: Judy L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Horrocks
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000288:Administrative Personnel; D001076:Aptitude; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001290:Attitude; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002648:Child; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008282:Mainstreaming, Education; D008297:Male; D010414:Pennsylvania; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires