The Coping Inventory, a criterion referenced scaled observation instrument used to assess adaptive coping behavior in handicapped children, is described. The adaptive behavior summaries of two children, a 5 year old in a special education class and a 15 year old handicapped high school student, are used to show how the Coping Inventory results are…

The coping characteristics of 1,035 disabled and 405 nondisabled children, aged 4 months to 3 years, are assessed across 3 categories of behavioral patterns (sensorimotor organization, reactive behavior, and self-initiated behavior). The influence of family income, gender, age, and ethnicity is examined and the implications for early intervention…