The manual provides a curriculum for training volunteers in state protection and advocacy agencies, with particular emphasis on training volunteer advocates who have direct relationships with developmentally disabled people. The curriculum consists of five training sessions, each lasting about 2 1/2 hours. Following an introductory section with…

Intended for workshop planners, the document offers guidelines to organizing and designing a family education workshop or inservice program for families of developmentally disabled individuals. Section I focuses on steps in developing a family education workshop including identifying needs, determining goals and objectives, organizing the program,…

Planning a monthly social event for developmentally disabled adults is described in terms of such concerns as facilities/insurance, transportation, staffing/volunteer coordination, entertainment, rules and regulations, finances, toileting and incontinent participants, medical needs, refreshments, alternatives to dancing, and dance theme variation.…

This article first reviews the literature regarding temperament and outcomes for children with developmental disabilities and explores methods for integrating temperament information into early intervention practice. It proposes that children with developmental disabilities who present extreme scores in specific domains of temperament may benefit…

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was signed into law by President Obama on Tuesday, February 17, 2009. It is the broadest and largest funding package in American history. The intent of the statute is to stimulate the economy both through direct spending on a range of programs and to create tax relief. The package makes investments…

The role of family therapy in a clinic for developmentally delayed preschoolers is examined. Two types of families are said to benefit from the family therapy approach: families in which the child's needs are misunderstood or somehow misread, and families whose dysfunctional transactional patterns antedated the child's problems. Initial screening…

The dually diagnosed manifest a complex combination of cognitive and adaptive deficits compounded by significant psychiatric problems. These individuals pose a dilemma to human service agencies, which have historically become specialized to provide services for either problem, but not for both. Special guidelines for structuring therapeutic groups…

The paper addresses the issues involved in helping severely developmentally disabled individuals become placed in competitive employment. Based on the placement experiences of Project Employability, factors in job selection and in working with employers are described. (Author)

Tourette Syndrome has a history of being misdiagnosed or undiagnosed due to its unusual and complex symptoms. This paper describes: the symptoms of Tourette Syndrome; its etiology; age of onset; therapeutic methods, such as drug therapy, psychotherapy, diet control, and hypnosis; educational implications; and employment prospects. Several…

This booklet presents ideas and experiences of members of People First of Tennessee, including those with disabilities, an organization that is working to improve the lives of people with disabilities who still live in institutions. Emphasis is on their role as "next friends," people who get the attention of a federal judge regarding…

This book describes 21 toys that were designed to stimulate development in low birthweight babies, ages 0-3, and can be made from basic materials found in the home. Step-by-step instructions are given for each toy along with a list of necessary supplies. Illustrations and/or patterns are provided as needed. Each entry includes suggestions for…

The manual describes seven tools for use in screening and assessing the developmentally disabled infant and young child in the home. Instruments are said to have met four criteria (easy adaptation to the home setting, minimum training required to administer, speed of administration, and minimum equipment needed). Five categories of information are…

Discussion of family involvement in functional assessment (FA) with individuals who have autism or related disabilities first provides a rationale for family involvement, then reviews the literature and offers guidelines including: recognize, respect, and accommodate families' individuality; create a context for family centered participation; take…

The manual examines ways in which nonprofessional group home health care workers can enhance the communication and interaction skills of developmentally disabled clients. The communication process is explored in terms of information exchange, both verbal and nonverbal. Examples of vocal, nonvocal, and echolalic speech are offered and suggestions…

The booklet is intended to provide an overview of Tourette Syndrome, (TS), a neurological movement disorder characterized by multiple involuntary tics, uncontrollable vocalizations, and a range of behavior problems including attention deficit and hyperactivity. Typical characteristics of TS are described along with information on etiology,…