Among developmentally disabled persons (N=35,000) young and middle aged adults were found to receive psychotropic medication at higher rates than children, adolescents, or elderly persons. Medication increased with severity of retardation, restrictiveness of residential setting, severity of problem behaviors, and presence of a psychiatric…

The application of microtechnology in a school for multiply handicapped children is explained to include a language arts program stressing sentence formation and letter matching, production of artificial speech, and communication aids for physically impaired children. Adaptations for severe physical involvement and for visual impairments are…

Visual defects associated with cerebral palsy and educational issues relevant to the multiple handicapped child are considered. Educational concerns include medical and developmental assessment; periodic evaluation of the individual education plan; comprehensive programing (i.e., medical, psychological, educational, and sociological); and parental…

Results were considered significant in that 11 percent of the students screened were identified as potentially hearing impaired as compared to 4 percent of the regular Baltimore City School student population who failed hearing screenings. (Author)

The authors describe how the "I CAN" physical education program, an individualized instructional management system for developing skills, associated concepts, and social growth in handicapped children, was adapted for use with deaf blind children (5 to 21 years old) at the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind. (SBH)

The prevalence of communication disorders in a population of 242 children with learning disabilities between 8 and 12 years of age was determined. A speech, language, or hearing problem was exhibited by 96.2 percent of the children. Only six percent of the children were considered to be receiving appropriate services. (Author/DB)

This article presents information on the complications of both Type I and Type II diabetes and the implications for the rehabilitation of persons with diabetes and visual impairment. Topics covered include retinopathy, cataracts, glaucoma, peripheral neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetic hand syndrome, neuropathy of the autonomic nervous…

This article describes the major components of rehabilitation services in Japan for people who are visually impaired from diabetes. These components include diabetes education and medical care, social welfare and rehabilitation services, nutrition and exercise, medication, monitoring of blood glucose, glycemic control, and the prevention of…

This article presents a model for efficient assessment of young children with visual impairments or multiple handicaps. The approach has team members simultaneously observe various aspects of a child's functioning to gain an understanding of the child as a whole. (Author/DB)

Many children with severe disabilities never have the opportunity to try general physical education (GPE) because their Individualized Education Program (IEP) team feels that they will not be successful, will not benefit, or will not be safe. However, there are ways to safely, successfully, and meaningfully include children with severe…

The authors describe personal experiences with Usher's Syndrome, a condition involving visual impairment (due to Retinitis Pigmentosa) and deafness. Prevalence and onset of Usher's Syndrome are described along with characteristics of two different types. Problems connected with diagnosis are reviewed, including genetic aspects and the progressive…

The report describes evaluation of the Bergen County (NJ) program designed to develop positive self concept, foster appropriate communication skills, maximize physical growth and ability, and provide direction and counsel in making appropriate decisions for postschool life of approximately 135 multiply handicapped children (3 to 20 years old).…

The Saginaw Valley (Michigan) Special Needs Clinic serves visually impaired children and adults, multiply impaired low vision persons, and developmentally disabled persons with vision problems and is based on a client-centered concept involving health professionals, rehabilitation specialists, special educators, consumers, and social agency…

The subject of this case report is a two-year, seven-month-old girl with de Lange syndrome, normal intelligence, and age-appropriate language skills. She demonstrated initial delays in gross motor skills and in receptive and expressive language but responded well to intensive speech and language intervention, as well as to physical therapy.…

A job training program in rural Wyoming is described in which 86 percent of the disabled clients served in a two-year period (N=57) were placed in employment after receiving sheltered workshop training in one of 10 vocational training modules. Among data reported are wages, success rates for training, and length of training. (JW)