High school teachers' perceptions of students with disabilities

This study examines the perceptions of regular education teachers and special education teachers regarding mainstreaming or including students with disabilities in regular education classes at Oceanside High School in Oceanside, California. Teachers were surveyed to determine what attributes they believed students with disabilities possessed. They answered questions about their knowledge of special education, if they should be expected to modify their instruction, and how a student with a disability affected a general education classroom. The results from this study suggested that the teachers viewed students with disabilities in a negative way. Most of the teachers had basic knowledge of special education. Many believed they should be expected to modify instruction, but complained about having to make modifications. Most teachers believed having students with disabilities mainstreamed or included impacts general education classrooms in a negative way