When it comes to supporting individuals with disabilities including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) can be an invaluable tool in understanding and changing behavior. More than a technique or method, ABA is a disciplined approach rooted in science to teach specific skills and then reinforce them so individuals can…

Golf has become a popular sport for kids throughout the world; however, many do not realize that it is also a sport that offers benefits to children with physical challenges. Golf can be used for recreational purposes and as a motivational tool for rehabilitation. These two principles serve as the foundation upon which Texas Scottish Rite Hospital…

Michael is a 6-year-old boy with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). He and the other children in his class have delays in their verbal and nonverbal communication skills and difficulty with social interactions. Higgins and Eliza are two lovable cockapoos who help young children with ASD learn new words, expand the length of their sentences, try…

This article features Shakespeare with Heart, a two week inclusive summer program for middle and high school students with and without disabilities. The program runs each morning until noon, culminating with a workshop performance of a Shakespeare play with full costume and set with a live audience of parents, friends, and community members. The…

Music improves spatial reasoning, which is vital to strengthening the mental circuits used for mathematics. Dance develops critical thinking skills along with persistence and perseverance. Drama becomes a partner in the development of abstract thought and speaking skills. And the larger process of creating musical theater encourages cooperation,…

A school nurse recounts ways in which intervention and family efforts improved functioning in a child with cerebral palsy. (CL)

In this article, the author describes the positive outcomes experienced by a father and his son with cerebral palsy after participating in Unified Sports, a program that places approximately equal numbers of Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities ("partners") on sports teams for training and competition. The goal…

Carmen Scialabba was on his way to making a name for himself in professional boxing, winning the 1959 All Marine Corps Lightweight Boxing Championship and realizing his dream of boxing at Madison Square Garden when his dreams were shattered after contracting polio at the age 25. But his disability did not stop him from earning a degree and…

Many adults come up short on social skills. Some of these may be co-workers, friends, or family members who make occasional blunders. Some of these individuals may experience marked social skills deficits throughout life, as is the case with young adults who are diagnosed with High Functioning Autism or Asperger Syndrome (HFA/AS). Following years…

In this article, the author cites the good outcomes from exposing young people to Paralympic Games. In addition, the author explains how the Paralympic Games brings to the host city many opportunities for young people to experience first-hand the common humanity that lies within every human being. Children are given the opportunity to witness and…

Early intervention programs are very diverse in clientele served, ages served, staffing, focus of services, location of service, length of service, agencies responsible, and funding. The Early Intervention Research Institute at Utah State University is investigating the efficacy of early intervention programs; 13 of its ongoing longitudinal…

School districts are making after-school day-care programs available for disabled children by expanding existing programs for non-disabled students to include children with disabilities. Project SCOPE (Serving Children of Parents Employed) in Springfield Illinois and school-age child-care programs in Arlington and Fairfax County, Virginia, are…

Jane Schoenfeld's eighteen-year-old daughter and five of her daughter's friends have major learning differences. After searching fruitlessly for a summer class in independent living skills, Shoenfeld relates how she and the parents of her daughter's friends decided to set up their own summer program. They found a facilitator and invited two…

The Early Intervention Research Institute (EIRI) reviewed extensive data reported by early intervention projects. Among surprising findings were that half-day programs produced as many gains as full-day programs, and programs which expected parent involvement were not more effective than those which did not. Current EIRI research efforts are…