The handbook presents six papers dealing with integrating handicapped children into existing early childhood programs. An introductory paper reviews the rationale for mainstreaming, while a second notes such important considerations in mainstreaming as student characteristics, teacher characteristics, and the economics of day care and preschool tuition and transportation. Aspects of the children's experience are discussed in another chapter, with information about preparing children for a special classmate, facilitating interactions, and making classroom adaptations for special needs children. A fourth paper is directed to parents, with suggestions for working with professionals and helping the child's transition into an early childhood program. Implications of special needs in early childhood, including a description of signals of special problems, are addressed in another paper. Discussions of legal aspects and community resources are provided, as well as sample project forms. (CL)