Four brief observational surveys were used to determine the incidence of drooling by institutionalized individuals with mental retardation. An average of 14% was identified as drooling on any one occasion, with the accumulated proportion of clients reported as drooling as 28%. Sampling of two clients within and across days was also conducted.…

Research on working poor families participating in an anti-poverty initiative in Milwaukee found 60% of families had at least one child with significant problems (learning, school achievement and/or behavior, retardation, or other disabilities). Comparison with other families with children with troubles found the program families adapted less…

This commentary responds to a critique (EC 610 642) of a study on professional acceptability of various treatment procedures for challenging behaviors exhibited by individuals with disabilities. The commentary asserts that treatment options should be evaluated in terms of probability of success, time factors, distress caused by the procedure, and…

Comparison of developmentally disabled adolescents presenting conduct disorder (N=56) with those exhibiting other types of psychopathology (N=57) found significant differences in the conduct disordered group including: more severe retardation, fewer pubertal changes, fewer persons with epilepsy, more normal electroencephalographs, and more…

Reinforcement with tokens and time-out procedures was used to control the disruptive or negative behavior of nine retarded children in a nursery school setting. (Author)

Interviews were conducted with 17 families having a member with mental retardation and problem behavior, to investigate the families' definition of problem behavior, challenges the family faces, and successful approaches to changing the behavior. The needs of families were identified, such as the need for more information on the problem behavior.…

Presents clinical findings among 43 children with and 43 children without developmental disabilities referred for treatment of child sexual abuse. This preliminary research found similar clinical findings for both groups and these findings were consistent with the existing research literature. However, slightly more clinical problems were reported…

Assessing the acceptability of various treatment procedures for individuals with disabilities and challenging behaviors in residential/vocational situations is a much debated issue. Instead of being forced to stay in untenable situations, these individuals should be helped to develop more comfortable environments. Efforts should focus on…

The relative frequency of serious medical and behavioral incidents in group homes for mentally retarded persons was assessed. Findings suggested that property damage, police involvement, elopements, and emergency room contacts are the major serious problems involving mentally retarded group home residents, but only a few clients were responsible…

Parents (n=79) of children with autism and related disabilities were surveyed about their children's challenging behaviors and what resources were needed to manage these behaviors. A high frequency of such behaviors was reported. Contingency management was the most effective management approach. Results are discussed in terms of families' needs,…

A survey of 190 public and community residential facilities indicate that staff in community and public residential facilities must be prepared to deal with maladaptive behavior, that behaviorally oriented response strategies appear to be most effective, and that there is a need for greater attention to training direct-care residential staff in…

This article describes the development of statewide system change in positive behavior support being implemented by the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs in collaboration with the University of South Carolina. Key areas discussed include the impetus for change, the development process, plan components, capacity building,…

Data were summarized from 1,841 sessions involving 10 subjects with mental retardation who participated in a number of experiments over a 10-year research program concerning dietary influences on ruminating. Relationships were found between amount of food consumed and rumination. Satiation feeding resulted in substantial decreases in postmeal…