Background: Persons with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) risk exclusion, both in research and as members of society. Because of their embodied communication, they face the challenges in being understood. Oftentimes, others speak on their behalf making inferences on what their perspective might be. Methods: Empathy is suggested…

Online education has skyrocketed in popularity. Every year, more universities are starting online programs. This increase is mostly due to institutional economics, and the demands of students who face a number of obstacles that make the on-campus format inconvenient. The University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center is no different.…

Three experiments were conducted in an investigation of information-processing capabilities of mentally retarded adults, nonretarded children (mental age control), and nonretarded adults (chronological age control). Findings support the theory of a structural defect in mentally retarded persons that results in slow information processing.…

The paper reviews cognitive development during the sensorimotor period (approximately the first two years of life) and considers approaches to assessing multihandicapped, deaf-blind, or severely/profoundly retarded students functioning at this level. Evaluation and training of basic sensorimotor schemes (visual fixation and tracking, sucking, and…

The study investigated two neurophysiologic components of event-related brain potential during auditory and visual target detection tasks with 11 non-retarded autistic children, 9 retarded autistic children, and 16 normal subjects, aged 15-19. Results were consistent with the hypothesis that non-retarded autism involves abnormal attentional and…

The study tested the effectiveness of Project LIFE, a programed language system, on a population of mentally retarded and/or learning disabled deaf children at Indiana State School for the Deaf. The perceptual training sequences and the thinking activities sequences of Project LIFE were implemented and evaluated. Pretest and posttest comparisons…

Nine conference papers focus on the following topics related to the deaf-blind and their education: pitfalls in the coordination of assessment and treatment of handicapped children, promotion of adaptive patterns in the handicapped child, use of hearing in deaf-blind children, etiology of hearing loss, and the educator's assessment of visual…

A case study of a difficult to manage nonspeaking young man with brain injury is presented. Assessment and intervention indicated severe cognitive-linguistic deficits, severe physical involvement of all extremities, extensive surgical management, visual perceptual and acuity deficits, and behavioral problems. (Author/DB)

A study examined central auditory processing ability of 15 children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), 15 children with ADHD and learning disabilities (LD), and 15 controls. Results indicated lower central-auditory-processing ability and significant correlations between reading and ADHD and reading and…

Eight papers on the diagnosis and treatment of handicapped children comprise proceedings of a conference for Directors of Special Education, past and present Regional Resource Center Directors, and the staff of the Bureau of Education for the Handicapped. E. Martin explains the rationale of Regional Resource Centers. A systems analysis of the…

The hearing ability and related cognitive ability of 26 adolescents and young adults with Down's Syndrome (DS) and 26 matched subjects with trainable mental retardation (MR) were compared. Results revealed greater hearing losses in DS than in other MR individuals, especially in the high-frequency range. DS subjects with poorer hearing needed more…

This paper discusses the findings from a study that investigated the information processing characteristics of 93 children (ages 8-16) who have been diagnosed as having either attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) only, ADHD-Predominately Inattentive Type, and combined ADHD and learning disabilities (LD). Thirty-nine average students,…

This issue of "Directions," a publication for updating academic, professional, career, and research activities, contains thirteen articles focusing on the education of hearing impaired children with additional disabilities. The following authors and titles are represented: "Multihandicapped Hearing-Impaired Students--Problems in Identification and…

Focus is on an assessment model that integrates process-oriented and eclectic approaches to cognitive, linguistic, motoric, and social assessment of this population. (Author/DLS)

Offers a conceptual model for students who manifest symptoms of both learning disabilities and emotional/behavior disorders. The model is based on six functional domains: cognitive processing, social/emotional adjustment, behavioral functioning, academic performance, language functioning, and executive functioning. The model is applied to critical…