Providing reference material for the efficient operation of practices for handicapped children's integration at the preschool location is the primary objective of this research. Through related literature research (national and international), compreh...
Providing reference material for the efficient operation of practices for handicapped children's integration at the preschool location is the primary objective of this research. Through related literature research (national and international), comprehensive materials were reviewed concerning the definition of integration, related terms, validity of integration, problematic issues of integration, effectiveness of integration, the teachers' capabilities and attitudes, and operation of the preschool's curriculum of integration.
Integration includes not only physical integration but also active integration of the teachers and social integration. Furthermore, integration related terms include segregation, mainstreaming, least restrictive environment, inclusion, normalization, full inclusion, regular education initiative. The validity of integration can be presented from the legal, social-ethical, sociological, educational, developmental, and economical positions. The issues concerning integration can be pointed out as handicap type and degree, the ratio of handicapped children, and the timeliness of integration. The effectiveness of the integration of handicapped children can be viewed separately from the position of the handicapped child, the non-handicapped child, the teacher and the educational facility, and the parents. As a basis to understand the handicapped child, the teacher needs knowledge of the development and behaviors of handicapped children, the skills utilized in educating handicapped children,, and a positive and accepting attitude towards handicapped children. During integration, the operation of the preschool's curriculum can be summarized as construction of an environment for integration, methods for the classroom management, and methods for operating the preschool's curriculum.