Problem behavior is a primary barrier to successful community inclusion for people with developmental disabilities and therefore a major priority for intervention efforts. Recently, researchers and clinicians have begun to focus on the systematic assessment of a broad range of contextual variables that purportedly affect problem behavior. In the…

Functional behavioral assessment (FBA) has been suggested for facilitating the development and effectiveness of behavior intervention plans. In this study, the researchers examined whether behavior intervention plans based on FBA information (function-based) were more effective than behavior intervention plans not based on FBA information…

While many individuals with challenging behaviors now enjoy the benefits of inclusion and self-determination, large numbers of their peers remain in segregated, restrictive settings and continue to be subjected to coercive intervention plans that include aversives, (nonemergency) restraint, and seclusion as "treatment." A rising tide of…

Exposure to alcohol in utero is considered to be the leading cause of developmental disabilities of known etiology. The most severe consequence of such exposure, fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), is characterized by a distinct constellation of characteristic facial anomalies, growth retardation, and central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction. Some…

Parents and teachers of 98 developmentally delayed children (ages 5-17) rated the childrens abilities for self-help, speech/language, and play skills and for the presence of behavior problems. Significant agreement was found on 77% of the items. The mean level of agreement was 68%. (Author/DB)

The study assessed the effects of a negative practice contingency plus DRO on the self-stimulatory hand-clapping of three developmentally disabled students, aged 6-9. The procedure was effective in suppressing the behavior, and follow-up observations showed that the occurrence of hand-clapping continued to be low. (Author/JDD)

Offers selective reviews on adult outcomes of severe mental retardation, autism, conduct disorders, mild retardation and adjustment disorders of childhood. Discusses important prospective study of mild retardation. Stresses that adjustment disorders of childhood only rarely continue into adult life; but incidence of these disorders is on the…

This study examined experiences of 44 employed mothers of children (age 5) with developmental disabilities who had searched for and found child care services within the preceding year. Care by relatives was the most common arrangement; center-based care the least common. Severity of developmental delay and the presence of behavior problems…

A study of a man (age 19) with severe developmental disabilities evaluated the effects of implementing extinction for some problem behaviors of a functional response class, with and without reinforcement of an alternative communication response. Results found that using extinction and functional communication training reduced all topographies of…

Since behavioral interventions for challenging behaviors in children with developmental disabilities have limitations in the family setting, this paper presents a theoretical and working model of intervention that integrates contemporary behavioral and systemic orientations. Four stages for intervention are provided, each consisting of practical…

A study of 405 Irish children (ages 2-18) with Down syndrome, autism, and cri du chat syndrome, and 280 siblings found most had some level of self-feeding skills. Chewing problems were reported for some children, including siblings of children with Down syndrome and autism. Behavioral problems at meals were common. (Contains references.)…

A fading procedure was successfully used to maintain high levels of compliance obtained with presenting high-probability requests immediately antecedent to low-probability requests in both a 5-year-old boy with developmental disabilities and a 15-year-old girl with developmental disabilities (for whom rephrasing of "don't" requests to…

Comparison of 28 young children with autism, 29 children with other developmental disabilities, and 28 typical children found that autistic children were significantly less compliant with parental prohibitions than were control groups. This behavior correlated with chronological age, not with mental age, language development, or parental behavior.…

This study examined three maladaptive behaviors, self-injurious behavior (SIB), stereotypies, and aggression in 36 adults with either autism, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and mental retardation. Findings indicated that, for all three diagnostic categories, aggression was primarily maintained for attentional…

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common and treatable. There is extensive research on people of average intelligence yet little on individuals with developmental disabilities. Methods: We report two people with intellectual disability (ID) who experienced PTSD. The relevance of their developmental difficulties, social and…