People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities have poorer health and face unique barriers to health care compared to people without disabilities. These health disparities can be partially attributed to physicians' limited knowledge about caring for patients with developmental disabilities. The purpose of this…

The number of postsecondary education (PSE) programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) has been steadily growing over the last few decades. There has been little public information regarding these programs and schools. Consequently, students, families, and researchers alike lack details about the various…

The purpose of this document is to define mental retardation and answer questions related to this topic. According to the American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR), mental retardation is a disability that occurs before age 18. It is characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviors as expressed in…

The pamphlet discusses several puzzling disorders of childhood, including autism, atypical personality development (childhood psychosis), psychosocial dwarfism, and Tourette's syndrome. Psychosocial dwarfism is said to be characterized by a marked reduction in physical development and by immaturity in behavior, while Tourette's syndrome involves…

Highlights adolescence as age of crisis and concern for those with developmental retardation. Considers complexities of this stage of life from the perspectives of the individual's development and commitment required by family, school, professional services, and society. Illustrates these issues with case vignette, examining them critically using…

Presents Comprehensive Employment Preparation program, an intervention designed to help youth and young adults with developmental disabilities acquire skills necessary to prepare them for effective functioning as self-sustaining, working members of society. Delineates such community-based strategies as vocational enrichment programs; pursuing,…

Presents overview of research on older adults with mental retardation, focusing on identification of the population, residential options, and service needs. Discusses similarities and differences between older persons with developmental disabilities and nonretarded elderly. Provides recommendations for future research. (Author/NB)

Defines goals of family-centered case management as empowerment of parents as caretakers and planners for their children. Describes model employing master's level social work case managers who serve rural Appalachian families with developmentally disabled children. Includes case illustration that delineates both case management activities and…

By watching and responding to the way a shill answered "yes-no" questions about food items, a developmentally delayed preschool boy greatly improved over his poor base-line "yes-no" answers to these same items. He was also able to give correct answers subsequently during generalization probe sessions. (PS)

Discusses how and why older persons with developmental disabilities have emerged as special category. Discussion makes reference to social systems theory, reviews social systems theory, and presents basic systemic tenets. Uses these tenets to examine historical development of social gerontology and present trends in service delivery system.…

Addresses the prevalence and implications of the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, substance abuser, and other mentally impaired offenders in the jail system. Argues for more systematic attention by service providers in the community and criminal justice personnel to the disabling conditions that may precipitate and reinforce criminal…

A three-year-old child with developmental handicaps was taught attention, imitation, and toy manipulation behaviors. Observation on 10 targeted behaviors showed that from the time the intervention program commenced, the child increased her attention to persons and objects and markedly decreased her level of self-stimulation and self-injury. (GC)

An overview is provided of a 5-year project conducted by the Early Intervention Research Institute (EIRI) which focused on the effects and costs of early intervention for young handicapped children. The bulk of the document consists of research reports of 14 investigations: (1) meta-analysis of the early intervention efficacy literature; (2)…

Presented is evidence suggesting that many of the 6 percent of children who have difficulty with arithmetic suffer from a neurological development lag rather than an underlying deficit. Such pupils appear to favor the right cerebral hemisphere, which serves spatial functions, rather than the left, analytic half of the brain. (Author/KC)

Reviews evidence on biological etiology of autism and other pervasive developmental deviations, stressing necessity for providing early and accurate diagnosis for family. Discusses implications of downplaying individual pathology and concentrating on parental or family dysfunction. Presents components of psychoeducational model for diagnosis and…