R. Conrad's position that the use of forms of manual communication in the education of deaf students is highly effective and desirable is supported; however, a reinterpretation of his work is offered to provide a more solid theoretical base and to indicate judicious and appropriate strategies in educational practice. (Author/SW)

The paper reviews theories of Lev Vygotsky, founder of the Soviet school of cognitive developmental psychology and an architect of Soviet defectology, the discipline concerned with physically and mentally handicapped children. Three of his basic concepts are explained: (1) "cultural" versus "natural" mental functions; (2)…

The paper documents the "failure" of deaf education and proposes a model program for the education of deaf children. Reasons given for this failure include lack of linguistic access to curricular content and the cycle of low expectations. Early acquisition of American Sign Language (ASL) is encouraged both to develop cognitive skills and improve…

Papers presented at a 1977 symposium on language acquisition held at the University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee are included. Contents are as follows: "Assumptions, Methods and Goals in Language Acquisition Research" (Sheldon); "The Mother as LAD: Interaction between Order and Frequency of Parental Input and Child Production"…