Mothers of 23 infants with developmental disabilities were given suggestions for ways to interact in a contingently responsive manner. Compared to a control group, the interaction coaching group mothers increased responsivity and decreased stimulation, and the infants were less fussy and performed better on developmental assessments. (Author/JDD)

A review of articles on self-determination and self-advocacy published between 1992 and 1999 found that, with systematic instruction, students with a wide range of disabilities can acquire self-determination skills. Researchers have documented changes for students with learning disabilities, mental retardation, emotional disabilities, and…

The formative evaluation of the Self-Directed Literacy Distance Learning for Developmental Disabilities Workers project is intended to assess the effectiveness of the course materials, operations process, and implementation. Designed to provide 96 hours of workplace literacy training to 426 developmental disabilities workers in about 80…

The paper describes the GEL (Guidelines for Early Learning) Program developed by the Easter Seal Society of Southwest Florida which serves children, aged 4-6 years, with language, learning, and/or developmental problems. Developmental theories of Piaget and Chomsky and the model of David Weikart's High Scope Program were used to develop the GEL…

The final report describes Un Bien Comienzo, a 3-year model demonstration project which provided early intervention services for infants at risk and young children with mild/moderate disabilities who have working parents and are in day care. The project is a program of Rosemount Center (Washington, D.C.), a multicultural, bilingual day care center…

Contemporary developments concerning the effectiveness of family involvement in early intervention programs are described within the framework of Public Law 99-457 and illustrated with investigations focusing on children at biological risk, children with cerebral palsy, and children with general developmental delays. (Author/DB)

The report describes the program philosophy and accomplishments over the past decade of the Infant and Early Childhood Intervention Program (IECIP) of the Kansas University Affiliated Program (KUAP) at Parsons, Kansas, which has focused solely on delivering information and training to parents of developmentally delayed children. Topics discussed…

This paper reports on a project designed to reduce child care worker turnover at a residential treatment center by the development and introduction of a 5-day, on-the-job training curriculum for beginning child care workers. It describes the on-the-job training program which used experienced child care workers who displayed supervisory potential…

Sheltered workshops for severely disabled persons should be reformed to emphasize job placement, transition to more independent work environments, and retraining and replacement of workshop staff. A national policy on the employment of disabled persons focusing on supported employment, least restrictive work environments, and career development is…

This study evaluated the impact of intensive behavioral treatment by parents in the home setting on the development of 11 young autistic children. Compared to a control group, the children had significantly higher posttreatment IQ scores. Smaller, but statistically significant effects on symptom severity were also found, although experimental…

This site visit report reviews activities of Monadnock Developmental Services, Inc., a program serving people with developmental disabilities in one New Hampshire region. The report focuses on the development of employment services in the state and region, including system change strategies, practices being used to support people in jobs, and…

This pilot study demonstrates the applicability of the job club concept for adults with developmental disabilities who have completed a vocational training program at Chicago City-Wide College (CCC). The pilot project, which served 26 students, operated in a business-like atmosphere with rules such as those found in workplaces. The job club…

This document is a transcript of hearings conducted in Hartford, Connecticut, before the United States Senate Subcommittee on the Handicapped on the effects of deinstitutionalization of the mentally retarded. The bulk of the testimony was given by Connecticut officials and leaders in the mental health field. They presented evidence and case…

Presented are four papers on Project PACE (Parent Action in Childhood Education), a homebound early childhood program designed to demonstrate the value of early education for developmentally delayed children (birth to 6 years old). In the first paper (by J. Becker) an historical perspective of the project and a brief description of the community…

Data on the status of residential services for developmentally disabled persons are presented, and major concepts guiding changes in such services are identified. The role of natural (least restrictive) environments in helping disabled individuals to develop both social and personal living skills is highlighted. (CB)