The paper, originally given at a 1986 Ethnic and Multicultural Symposium, looks at special education and the changing society in terms of ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status, birth rate, and school completion. Current and emerging demographic characteristics are related to special education policy, organization, training, research, and scholarship. Implications for special education include: differences between emerging demographic characteristics of the country and current demography of special education as a discipline; an expansion of groups eligible for special education services (e.g. children handicapped by sexually transmitted diseases such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome); the possibility of public reaction against increased special services leading to more careful delineation of eligibility; and increased need for educational services by disabled adults. Special educators are encouraged to be aware of demographic trends and prepare to respond to the changing ethnic nature of our society and schools. (DB)
Authors
- Peer Reviewed
- F
- Publication Type
- ['Opinion Papers', 'Speeches/Meeting Papers']
- Published in
- United States of America
Table of Contents
- One of the most powerful forces affecting education in familiarize themselves with demographic 2
- This countrys population continues to 2
- States had 2
- Youth 3
- Not only is the population growing older and becoming less White 3
- Socioeconomic status remains a consistent correlate of school 3
- .1 learning 3
