DESCRIPTORS *Disabilities; Foreign ountries; *Paredt Attitudes;

Perceptions of 152 sets of parents,of handicapped young children were investigated. Interviews were conducted focusing on five aspects: initial notification that they had a handicapped child; parents ' need for suppdrt; views on their guidance needs in-Alelping children develop; and preferences fov-school settings'for. 'their children. Parents ' responses to each topic Are summarized and charted according to.five variables: type of handicap; residence-(Hamilton, Waikato, or Auckland, New Zealand), age of child, e,socioeconomic status,-and family size. Among major findings mere that oven half the parpts mere told about their child's problem within' the first week, mastly by obstFtricians and pediatricians; parents expressed the greatest n e'a information;. and parents clearly preferred integrated sch placements. (CL) t