The paper describes the decision process in the determination of software purchase for the professional's use of the microcomputer. Consideration to ensure that the software purchased will be a success, which software will be needed, and options that will facilitate the location and evaluation of software are discussed. (Author/CL)

The article considers current issues concerning service delivery systems and practices concerning augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) services in U.S. schools. Concerns in AAC program development are noted and service delivery models (center-based, community-based, or collaborative) are compared. (DB)

This article describes how to use flowcharts in designing, implementing, and evaluating programs for students with disabilities. Types of flowcharts, basic flowchart symbols, and guidelines for drawing flowcharts are discussed. A case study illustrates how a flowchart was used to develop and display a behavior teaching plan for a nonvocal…

The South Metropolitan Association Communication Development Program in Flossmoor, Illinois, developed a language-oriented program that improved reading and writing proficiency of students with communication disorders. The program involves development and reading of language experience stories, role playing, vocabulary development, and other…

A survey was conducted in Victoria, Australia, to collect data concerning the prevalence of individuals with severe communication impairments. Based on the data gathered from 1100 service facilities, the Severe Communication Impairment Outreach Project was established. Funding was acquired to employ two statewide consultant speech pathologists…

This paper describes an intervention model used by speech language pathologists (SLP) in rural schools. The model involves whole-class instruction for children with communication disorders. Whole-class instruction uses the curriculum content and expectations of children's regular classrooms for the content of speech language therapy. The SLPs…

A program was developed to provide long-term loans of high technology equipment to severely handicapped students who require such assistance to meet educational goals. Coordinated by the Pennsylvania Special Education Assistive Device Center (ADC), the program enables handicapped students to communicate, to access computers for instruction, and to…

The COMPIC Development Association, an organization based in Victoria, Australia, has developed techniques for publishing pictographic materials for use by individuals with severe communication impairments. The COMPIC (Computer Pictographs for Communication) system comprises a method of electronically publishing customized communication aids and…

This report describes the development of a community-based service for the implementation of augmentative and alternative communication strategies with regard to children with severe disabilities in South Africa. The intervention process was developed by the Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication of the University of Pretoria. The…

The article describes a group evaluation/individualized inservice model developed by a child study team at the Boys Town Institute for Communication Disorders in Children (Omaha, Nebraska). (SB)

Organized around eight topics, this document provides guidelines for Oregon school district health services programs for students in preschool/kindergarten through grade twelve. A list of principles related to health program development, a summary of related health legislation, and a checklist for assessing compliance with Oregon administration…

The booklet presents goals, objectives, and procedural guidelines for educational services to communication impaired children in Louisiana. Guidelines are set forth for the following aspects of speech, language, and hearing programs: evaluation, identification, and assessment; criteria for case selection; use of the weighted scale to assign…

The importance of well-planned, meaningful assessments is emphasized in planning effective educational programs for severely communicatively impaired individuals. Assessment and evaluation are defined, and key provisions of Public Law 94-142 and Public Law 99-457 are outlined. Several issues to be considered in establishing effective…

A 5-year plan to improve the delivery of services to special needs students was evaluated in Fairbanks, Alaska. The plan focused on developing a model for integrated services and reducing the number of pull-out programs by having special services staff work directly with classroom teachers. Information sources included interviews with 62 staff…

This manual presents 21 chapters on the use of applied behavior analysis techniques with children who have autism. After an introductory chapter, three chapters consider the choice of an effective treatment, including: "Evaluating Claims about Treatments for Autism" (Gina Green); "Early Behavioral Intervention for Autism: What Does…