Following a description of the proceedings of the conference (including sponsors and a 3-day program), 12 papers are presented on the communication problems of the mentally handicapped. The keynote address, by S. Segal, reviews trends in teaching communication to mentally retarded persons, including the impact on teaching of British legislation and of computer technology. Subsequent papers include the following: "Communication between Agencies" (D. Leighton); "Improving Communication between the Caring Professions" (G. Carroll); "Towards a More Effective and Integrated Service" (A. Davison); "Makaton in the 1980's" (M. Walker); "The Development of Communcation Skills: Where Should We Go Next?" (C. Kiernan); "Communication Difficulties and Visually Handicapped People" (D. Ellis);"Educating Multiply Handicapped Children with Severe Behavioral Problems" (M. Jones); "A Computer Aided Implementation of Precision Teaching" (D. Lyons); "Overcoming Problems Facing Parents and Relatives" (T. Greaves); "Is That All Right for You?" (W. Apps); and "A Parent's Story" (M. Collins). Appendixes list the Makaton Vocabulary, and chart and list the organization for the Makaton Vocabulary Development Project. (CL)