Core vocabulary is defined as "lexical items that are accepted as being central and indispensable to language use" (Bell, 2012, p. 1). Use of core vocabulary is common amongst professionals who teach augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to individuals with disabilities. Although the use of AAC is often classified as an…

As interest in derived relational responding has increased, so have the number of investigations evaluating interventions to promote the emergence of derived responding for individuals with autism, as well as other intellectual and developmental disabilities. However, much of the literature has focused on the relation of sameness, and less is…

Objective: Pragmatics can be defined as the appropriate use of language in social interactions. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) exhibit difficulties in pragmatic language (PL), but the nature and sources of these difficulties have not been fully investigated yet. The purpose of…

This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on aquatic activities compared with land-based activities in motor performance and physical fitness of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, developmental coordination disorder, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. A systematic search was conducted from four electronic…

Families of children with developmental disabilities in rural and underserved areas may lack access to direct service providers. Global pandemics such as COVID-19 have further affected access to service providers for most children, often shifting services online and increasing the role of technology and involvement of parents and caregivers in…

Background: As highlighted by research on typically developing children, various biases exist when evaluating bilingual children's abilities. These biases can lead to inequitable assessment of language and cognitive abilities--potentially over- or underestimating bilinguals' skills. Recent reviews on neurodivergent bilingual children alluded to…

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities (ASD/DD) often need to be explicitly taught personal hygiene skills (e.g., menstrual care, penile care and washing and cleaning of intimate body parts). The taboo and private nature of intimate care skills has often led practitioners to avoid teaching these skills…

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities (ASD/DD) may engage in socially inappropriate masturbation that puts them or others at risk for harm. This may lead professionals, parents, and other stakeholders to intervene in ways that suppress safe, socially appropriate, and gratifying masturbation. Single case…

The purpose of this systematic review of literature was to synthesize research on interventions that used augmented reality (AR) to teach academic skills to students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Eight studies published between 2007 and 2020 were included in the synthesis. These studies…

Children and adults with developmental disabilities often experience oral health problems such as excessive plaque accumulation and dental restorations related to caries. Researchers have examined the efficacy of a variety of behavioral intervention packages to teach preventative strategies (brushing, flossing) and to decrease challenging…

Families face systemic barriers when deciding on educational services for their children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Further, caregiver health and well-being is critical for supporting children with IDD. In addition, research has shown a negative correlation between the quality…

For children with autism or intellectual and developmental disabilities who also have complex communication needs, communication is a necessary skill set to increase independence and quality of life. Understanding the how, where, and communication style being taught is important for identifying deficits in the field as well as which interventions…

Functional communication training (FCT) is a well-established, evidence-based practice used to address challenging behavior among individuals across settings, ages, and disability categories. However, the research is limited on the implementation of FCT in inclusive school settings for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The…

Purpose: Today, an ever-increasing number of technological advancements are becoming mainstream. As the availability of technological innovations increases, so do opportunities for evaluating any benefits of those innovations in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) research for individuals with developmental disabilities. One…

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have a significantly lower employment rate than those without disabilities. One promising intervention for improving employment outcomes is video-based instruction. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the application of video-based instruction (VBI) to teach…