Describes a system of four separate but interdependent school-university consortia that have been developed as part of the special education department's reform and restructuring initiatives in a Florida university. The rationale for the consortia, barriers to their implementation, and their missions, activities, and governance structures are…

The University of Vermont offers an introductory undergraduate course in developmental disabilities based on the support model of services. Parents and individuals with developmental disabilities play a major role in planning and team teaching the course. The course emphasizes a family-centered philosophy, respect for individuals with…

The article presents a rationale for merging special and regular education in elementary/secondary schools. Steps that higher education could initiate to facilitate such a merger include: strengthening collaborative and cooperative efforts, restructuring organizational units, reorganizing program offerings and content, and coordinating with state…

This review of 5 books, 21 articles, and 11 papers on general- and special-education collaboration found that the dominant culture of individualism and balkanization in higher education institutions, the lack of appropriate reward structures for collaboration, and contrived collegiality inhibit the development of collaboration. Characteristics of…

Examines six school-university partnerships developed between the special education department of the University of South Florida and surrounding school districts, and delineates key factors contributing to their progress. Challenges to partnerships are discussed, including the establishment of parity and the role of personal values in developing…

Evaluation of a metacognitive model designed to promote cooperative instruction among 10 regular education and 10 special education preservice teachers found slight changes in attitudes and perceptions. The model included opportunities for cooperative prelesson planning and postlesson evaluations by prospective teachers, and actual delivery of…

An in-service training model was developed to encourage collaboration among regular classroom teachers to assist mainstreamed handicapped students. The model encourages teams of educators to undergo training, uses a collegial approach, provides a forum for sharing classroom problems and possible solutions, and provides technical skills for…