Described is the behavioral program for autistic children in use at the Valley View School District in Illinois. Sections cover the following topics: (1) characteristics of the autistic child (basic impairments, special skills, and secondary behavior problems), (2) basic principles of operant conditioning, (3) description of the methods used in…

This study, an approach to controlling "acting-out" behaviors of handicapped children in elementary schools, describes the use of a home-based dependent group contingency to eliminate the destructive behavior (fire-setting, vandalizing property) of a mildly retarded eight-year-old boy. (Author/PN)

Examined are the implications of independent ambulation for severely retarded children and reviewed is the literature describing behavioral interventions which facilitate walking. (Author)

In this article infant operant conditioning studies are grouped according to distinct procedures: free operant; discrete trial with one discriminative stimulus; discrete trial with two or more discriminative stimuli; controlled operant with two or more discriminative stimuli; and unrestricted operant with two or more discriminative stimuli.…

This paper discusses how to set up and implement a token economy system for students with behavior disorders in a classroom setting. The available literature is reviewed, and it is concluded that token economies have been proven effective in improving behavior among students with social and academic deficits. (Author/PB)

The case studies presented by seven school psychologists illustrate the nature and scope of psychological intervention with emotionally disturbed and otherwise handicapped students. Included are papers with the following titles and authors: "Desensitization--An Approach to the Elimination of Phobic Behavior" (E. Asmus); "Reduction of Classroom…

A program was designed to train college students in the use of behavior modification procedures with problem children in the classroom. Through application of social learning theory principles and operant conditioning, program trainees learned to reduce the innapropriate behavior of problem children in class, to prevent small difficulties from…

The paper describes the referral, diagnostic, interventive, and evaluative procedures used in a self-contained behaviorally oriented noncategorical program for preschool children with speech and language impairments and other developmental delays. (CL)

Selected literature on the use of daily/weekly report cards with parent-managed contingencies to modify school learning and behavior problems is reviewed. The development, implementation, evaluation, and fading of such programs are discussed and were found to be effective in modifying numerous school-related problem behaviors. (Author/RL)

Parents of four nonverbal and four echolalic autistic children, aged five-nine, were trained to increase their children's speech by using the Natural Language Paradigm. Following training, parents increased the frequency with which they required their children to speak, and children increased the frequency of their verbalizations in three…

Discusses the use of behavioral assessment for both descriptive and program evaluation purposes. Notes the use of behavioral assessment to study coaching behaviors and their effects on young athletes. Operant and cognitive-behavioral interventions have proven effective in both athletic and psychosocial outcomes. Discusses unresolved issues and…

Seventy-five children (mean age of 7.3 years) were referred for evaluation of learning or behavioral deficits. Each child was administered the Reitan Indiana Neuropsychological Test Battery or the Halstead Neuropsychological Test Battery for Children, depending upon age. Intellectual, academic, developmental and social assessments were performed.…

This article highlights the theoretical framework that dominated speech-language pathology prior to the widespread introduction of microcomputers and poses questions regarding the application of computers in assessment and intervention for children with language-learning impairments. It discusses implications of computer use in the context of…