A Macro-Solution in Special Education

A macro-solution is a comprehensive system of public and private agencies in which the services needed by a specific group of children are coordinated in such a way that all such children receive services in the most efficient and least redundant way. Proper coordination of existing agencies and centralized planning and evaluation are the keys. Using the examples of the national system of centers for deaf blind children in the United States and the programs for the education of the deaf in Denmark, a macro-solution for the provision of services to all exceptional children in the United States is proposed. Specific suggestions include a state coordinator for all services, a central registry, coordination of funding, and centralized certification of personnel. A case history illustrating the inefficiency of the present system is provided.