Mainstreaming in the Kindergarten Classroom: Perspectives of Parents of Handicapped and Nonhandicapped Children

Abstract

In this study 101 parents of both handicapped and nonhandicapped children in mainstreamed kindergarten settings participated in a telephone interview. Results indicated a high level of agreement between both sets of parents on the benefits and drawbacks of mainstreaming. The greatest benefits of mainstreaming were identified by parents as related to social outcomes, whereas the greatest drawbacks were in instructional areas. Approximately one-third of the parents in each group did not have prior information or knowledge of mainstreaming; nearly all parents were interested in receiving more information on the topic. The implications of these data for research, teacher training, and information dissemination to parents are discussed.