General and special educators' basic information and experience with cleft palate.

Two hundred and sixteen general and special educators completed a 25-item questionnaire which was designed to assess their knowledge of and experience with children with cleft palate. Special educators were found to be better informed and had more experience with these children than general educators. Both groups of educators, however, were deficient in basic information regarding cleft palate and associated problems, and acknowledged limited academic and classroom experience with this population. Yearly continuing education programs are essential for educators, because they are important members of the cleft palate child's habilitation team.