The author describes specific classroom activities and materials that can be used with visually impaired, multihandicapped children who can function in a group. Objectives, procedures, materials, and possible modifications are listed for activities involving colors, shapes, and gross motor development. (Author/CL)

The article presents findings of a survey of disabled populations (3,216 responses) in Wisconsin concerning alcohol abuse and disability. The survey results suggest that people with disabilities consume more alcohol than nondisabled people and some disability groups (including the blind or visually impaired) drink more than others. Assessment and…

Guidelines are offered for encouraging positive and predictive classroom behaviors from emotionally disturbed/hearing impaired students. Four suggestions are discussed: rewarding desired behavior, allowing students to decide, observing from other viewpoints, and setting written goals. (CL)

Discusses the importance of musical experiences to the multiply handicapped and presents mechanical aids which allow the physically disabled to play string and percussion instruments. Some of these aids are illustrated. (SJL)

A low functioning, nonverbal student who is hearing impaired as well as visually impaired presents special problems in designing instructional activities. Activities which have been used successfully with this type of student to develop attending to visual stimuli, tracking visual stimuli, and discriminating color and shape are described. (Author)

The study found that five multiply handicapped two-year-olds engaged in a greater frequency of communicative behaviors, a higher number of limb movements, and a higher developmental level of communicative behaviors when the interaction was child-initiated compared to when it was adult-initiated. (Author/JDD)

This article reports on a study of the methods that 21 ophthalmologists used to assess the visual acuity of children with multiple impairments and the difficulties they encountered. Additional means of assessing visual function and alternative means of communicating the results are suggested. (Author/DB)

Differential reinforcement of low rates of responding was used to reduce the disruptive behaviors of a blind 12-year-old boy with a learning disability. The subject earned reinforcers by not exceeding the established criterion of disruptive behaviors. An overall 88 percent reduction in target behaviors was observed across a 26-day period.…

This article introduces this special issue focused on application of guidelines based on the consensus of experts to the treatment of psychiatric and behavioral problems in persons with mental retardation. It explains the method of developing the guidelines, the limitations and advantages of the guidelines, and the organization of the guidelines.…

The paper addresses the issue of placement for students with severe and multiple disabilities. Controversies over the principle of least restrictive environment are reviewed; and the implications of the normalization movement and the passage of P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, are summarized. The rationale for…

The paper examines three case studies to illustrate problems and benefits involved in attempting to integrate severely handicapped persons into community and classroom settings. The authors discuss the integration efforts for two children with severe/multiple handicaps and one with autism and report on findings from site visits across the United…

This monograph, a product of a symposium that examined innovative research and practices in evaluation, adjustment training, and employment services for hearing impaired persons addresses the assessment phase of the vocational rehabilitation process. The editorial introduction provides an overview of how assessment is conducted with deaf…

The handbook describes the structure and process of practica for teachers of students with severe and multiple handicaps at the University of Alberta. Guidelines for introductory practica are presented and eligibility, practica duration, and location of the practica are discussed. The handbook includes forms of evaluating individual and group…

The paper discusses ways in which the Apple II plus and Apple IIe computers can be adapted to become highly effective tools in the education of the physically/multiply handicapped student. The role of word processing programs as communication aids, alternative input and output devices, and innovative software programs is examined. Among the…

The collection of papers by Swedish special educators, addresses approaches to helping mentally retarded and multiply handicapped people communicate. The papers are written by psychologists, educators, speech therapists, music instructors, and researchers and focus on the following topics: the context of communication (Mats Granlund), early…