Paired and group presentation methods of preference testing were compared with eight adults with severe-profound developmental disabilities. Each presentation method was also compared with staff rankings of learners' preferences. Similar preferences were identified with both methods. Staff preference rankings were not highly correlated with those…

The University of California, Irvine University Affiliated Program has developed a model for prevention of developmental disabilities which is interdisciplinary, promotes reasoned cooperative efforts, and provides a basis for evaluation and research. The model is composed of five major and functional approaches to prevention with a central core…

Treatment with two setting condition manipulations and use of a visual occlusion helmet was found to decelerate intense screaming by a 16-year-old girl with developmental disabilities. Cranial pressure was found to be the critical element in self-control, and replacing the helmet with a headband was found to be effective in maintaining behavior…

Interview questions most frequently used and corresponding beneficial responses were derived from an empirical analysis of the "hiring community" and were used in developing a job interview skills training package for adults with developmental disabilities. Training resulted in improved responding by all subjects. Improved quality in responding to…

A profile of implementation strategies for funding postgraduate training programs in developmental disabilities using local or state resources is described. Two university affiliated programs in western New York and Missouri are described as the basis for generating implementation strategies. Strengths and weaknesses of various strategies are…

This article first reviews concerns over the use of psychotropic medication and the use of diagnostic criteria with persons with developmental disabilities and notes the variety of potential diagnoses that may underlie a behavior disorder. A model to guide clinical decision making is developed that stresses the importance of reliable differential…

This article discusses problems inherent in the analysis of automatically reinforced behaviors, which are behaviors that are maintained by operant mechanisms independent of the social environment. Four classes of treatment that are compatible with automatic reinforcement are reviewed, including manipulations of establishing operations, sensory…

This paper reviews recent literature on health issues for adults with developmental disabilities, reflecting on how it informs service provision, future research, and social and health policy. Results suggest future research should focus on interactions among biology, pathology, and behavioral and environmental determinants. More use of…

A study compared a brief and an extended functional analyses of three adults with serious developmental disabilities and aggressive or self-injurious behavior. Both analyses revealed the same controlling variables, but the brief functional analyses took less than 20% the time in analog conditions as the extended analyses. (Author/CR)

This article assessed productivity of authors and research institutions in the area of developmental disabilities through review of all reports published between 1979 and 1999 in six applied developmental disabilities journals. Tables list the top (most productive) 21 individual authors and the top 50 institutions. (Contains three references.) (DB)

Two studies compared the effectiveness of two procedures (multiple examples across trials and within trials) in teaching 10 students (ages 10-20) with moderate disabilities functional word discriminations. The first procedure was superior in acquisition; the latter procedure, however, was better under generalization for most participants.…

The Stereotypy Analysis, a means of analyzing environmental variables associated with differential rates of stereotypic behavior, was conducted with five adults with developmental disabilities. Results indicate the analysis was able to detect environmental events associated with stereotypic responding for three subjects and was useful in…

A comprehensive nutritional assessment was conducted of 37 institutionalized developmentally disabled children/adolescents. Variables included dietary intake, serum laboratory values, anthropometric measurements, feeding skills assessment, and clinical assessment. Findings suggested that the children/adolescents were adequately nourished and had…

This study describes the development of the Active Treatment Client Rights checklist (ATCR), which was designed to facilitate the assessment, monitoring, and implementation of readily observable client active treatment services for adults with developmental disabilities. The ATCR was found to be highly reliable, valid, and useful in enhancing…

Analog baselines are an experimental methodology for identifying the functions of maladaptive behavior of individuals with developmental disabilities in naturally occurring environments. This article identifies potential limitations of this methodology, including: fidelity of baseline design conditions, a narrow analysis of behavior, and limited…