This booklet is the first step in a nationwide project to provide information that can be used for improving the accessibility of buildings and their programs for the arts. Arts programs and facilities are described that have been designed to overcome barriers to children, the elderly, and the handicapped. The second part lists organizations and…

Distributions of psychiatric classifications among 42,479 persons with mental retardation were reviewed to determine relative rates of disorders for persons with both mental retardation and mental disorder. Analyses indicated that rates of reported schizophrenic and psychotic disorders were generally higher than expected relative to rates of other…

This literature review addresses how the mental health professions view and use communication behaviors in their own diagnostic framework, focusing on cooccurrence of communication and psychiatric disorders, and psychiatrists' consideration of communication disorders as only one of a number of neurobehavioral systems. (JDD)

A choice assessment was used to categorize reinforcers as high, middle, and low preference with 4 males (ages 7 to 19) with multiple disabilities including severe/profound mental retardation. High-preference stimuli consistently functioned as reinforcers for all subjects whereas low-preference stimuli did not function as reinforcers. (Author/DB)

This study examined the use of air-puff conditioning audiometry in the hearing assessment of 12 multiply handicapped (including severe/profound mental retardation) subjects, ages 9-32. Ten subjects reached criterion conditioning and then completed the hearing assessment with the air-puff procedure while one reached criterion with a modified…

A study investigated the incidence of autism in 20 patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). The prevalence of autistic disorder was conservatively estimated at 20%. Data suggest a possible association between both hypsarrythmia and TSC-related cardiac abnormalities with autism in this subgroup of individuals with TSC. (Author/CR)

In this German study, 317 parents of children with hearing impairments and additional disabilities completed both the Parenting Stress Index and an additional questionnaire on demographics and related information. Analysis showed consistently high stress scores in the Child Domain, whereas the Parent Domain showed only a slight tendency toward…

In these two studies, two children with multiple disabilities and minimal motor behavior were assessed to see if they could use chin movements to operate microswitches to obtain environmental stimulation. In Study I, we applied an adapted version of a recently introduced electronic microswitch [Lancioni, G. E., O'Reilly, M. F., Singh, N. N.,…

Chronic tic disorders, including Tourette's syndrome (TS), affect approximately .5% of children and adolescents. Although strong evidence exists supporting a neurobiological etiology, operant factors may play a role in the maintenance of tic behaviors. Pharmacological approaches remain the most commonly used intervention for chronic tic disorder…

Background: This study analysed goals formulated in a functionally focused curriculum called Mobility Opportunities Via Education[TM] (MOVE). Method: The subjects were 49 children with profound multiple disabilities (PMD) who attended a centre for special education where the MOVE curriculum was implemented. Each goal was analysed to see whether or…

Background: The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of medical conditions of children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities on the professional support they receive in centres for special education. Method: The medical files, the daily records and daily communication records between parents and professionals were reviewed…

A handbook of approximately 160 skill activities, designed by the staff of the Perkins School for the deaf, multihandicapped students (ages 10 to 14) who are functioning on a preprimary level, is presented. The skill tasks are part of a prevocational program at the school in which the overall objectives are: to increase the attention span of each…