Deaf students with multiple disabilities have a long history of limited opportunity, including limited access to educational opportunities available to their deaf peers. This article places the individual needs of deaf students with multiple disabilities in the context that guides much of deaf education--the importance of language acquisition.…

This paper reviews issues in the provision of services to individuals who are mentally ill chemical abusers and addicted (MICAA). Introductory material defines this population and notes that these people are frequently ineligible for services aimed at either mental illness or chemical abuse alone. Service provisions within the psychiatric/mental…

A project is being conducted to provide vocational training for severely emotionally disturbed students in the Salem, Oregon, School District. Most of the youths have previously been institutionalized, and many are retarded and have other handicaps such as learning disabilities, epilepsy, and speech and language disorders. All students qualify for…

This paper reports a case study of an 8-year-old deaf, blind, and mentally impaired girl who was self-abusive. The behavior was excessive to the point that she sustained fractures to her jaw and arm and had to be restrained. Several treatment techniques were unsuccessfully attempted, including sensory stimulation, aversive conditioning, and…

Competency based modules are presented for educating paraprofessionals to work with severely and multiply handicapped persons. Objectives, suggested learning activities, and performance criteria are listed for six modules (sample subtopics in parentheses): human growth and development (prenatal influences); orientation to disability and…

A sex education program for an adolescent who is mentally retarded or blind must emphasize concrete teaching, visual compensators, resource persons, repetition of content, and opportunities for social learning. Nurses and special educators can serve as consultants to health educators in planning a sex education program. (JN)

The United Cerebral Palsy Open Education Project was developed to meet the individual educational goals of multiply handicapped children (ages six months to 13 years). (PHR)

Discussion of assistive technologies that help students with multiple impairments focuses on procedures and equipment used by a college student with Usher's Syndrome, involving vision and hearing impairments. Highlights include federal legislation; problems and possible solutions at various educational levels; specific learning problems; and…

This article describes a conceptual model of the literacy learning process in individuals with severe congenital speech and motor impairments. The literature is reviewed on the relationship between spoken and written language development in both the nondisabled population and those with disabilities. Practical applications for instruction are…

This case study describes use of apprenticeship opportunities in a collaborative writing context with two primary grade students with multiple disabilities in an inclusive setting. Analysis of written work and verbal interactions revealed the collaborative peer approach fostered active and constructive participation by both students. (Contains…

According to enrollments in schools for the deaf and data from the national census and neonatal hearing screening programs, the incidence of severe and profound childhood deafness in Australia is, and has been, less than commonly assumed. Factors implicated include improved medical care, mainstreaming, cochlear implants, and genetic science. Data…

The final report summarizes activities regarding development of the Early Childhood Education for the Severely/Multiply Handicapped Project, a model demonstration program providing comprehensive and direct educational services to 0 to 6 year old children and their parents. The program and curriculum design is based on two phases--the early…

The document reports on a demonstration project funded under the Early Education for Multihandicapped Children Project to develop a model for children (0 to 8 years old) in the moderate to profound range of mental retardation with one or more physical handicaps and their families. Accomplishments during each of the project's 3 years are reported…

Microcomputer applications for four areas of special education are discussed: (1) information management and decision making for administrators; (2) characteristics of quality second generation computer assisted instructional programs for teachers; (3) communications and early prostheses advances for educators of the severely and multiply…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of a 4-year federally supported project to develop independence in 12 young children (ages 3-5) with deaf-blindness enrolled in the Portland (Oregon) Public Schools Early Intervention Program. The project focused on helping teachers learn to target communicative and cognitive learning…