Attitudes of Teachers and Parents in the Australian Capital Territory (A.C.T.) Towards the Integration of Moderately Intellectually Handicapped Children

Abstract

This paper is a partial report of an investigation into the integration program at two A.C.T. special schools catering for moderately and severely intellectually handicapped children. Teachers and parents of the children at the special schools completed questionnaires concerning the conduct and outcomes of the program. The opinions of teachers at the regular schools were obtained by personal interview.

Overall there were positive attitudes expressed towards the program. Areas of concern include the level of support required for the regular class teacher, the level of preparation the handicapped children required before integration commenced, a worry of parents that handicapped children may be exposed to unnecessary pressures in the regular school system, and the fact that mere exposure of a handicapped child to a regular school environment may not lead to effective integration in the larger community.