Roughly 54 million people with disabilities live in the U.S., and there are many more millions of people with disabilities around the world. Not surprisingly, differences among and between people with disabilities are often as notable as differences between people with and without disabilities. While the lack of homogeneity among people with…

Annual program plans for residents written prior to and following the implementation of the IPP (Individual Program Planning) system were rated to determine the extent of changes that resulted. More departments attended meetings, stated objectives, described intervention plans and evaluation procedures for proposed objectives, and reported…

The authors describe the effects of combining a vision specialist's abilities with those of a physical therapist when working with low functioning visually and physically handicapped preschoolers. (CL)

This paper addresses orientation and mobility (O&M) training for people with multiple severe disabilities including visual impairments. The historical origins of O&M training are reviewed, noting difficulties with applying the traditional curriculum with such groups as very young children, the elderly, and those with multiple disabilities. A…

This article describes a process for customizing instruction for students with profound multiple disabilities that has been used to design instructional programs and maximize attainment of functional outcomes. The process focuses on collaborative teamwork and problem solving to design and implement instructional programs and includes five major…

A team programming approach that uses parents and professionals to select unified programming goals for severely/multiply disabled students, provide direct and indirect related services, integrate programming methods, and monitor student progress is described. Program philosophy and overall functional assessment-curriculum organizes team members…

The scant literature that does exist is reviewed, and suggestions are made for assessing mobility potential, improving locomotor skills, organizing physical exercises, and teaching orientation skills and cane travel to such persons. (Author/DLS)

This article presents general information on visually impaired children with progressive, terminal neurodegenerative disorders including implications for the classroom, specific techniques to help the child live and learn, and the development of multidisciplinary support systems including both professionals and family members. (DB)

Discussion of transdisciplinary activity-based assessment for young children with multiple disabilities focuses on application of assessment results to program planning for inclusion of these children in typical early childhood classes. Assessment steps are detailed and a sample assessment protocol is included. A case study is used to illustrate…

Presented is the final report of a project to demonstrate educationally relevant approaches to assessment of and prescription for severely handicapped children (0 to 21 years old) within an existing multidisciplinary diagnostic facility, the Central Arizona Child Evaluation Center. Part I provides introductory information with a definition of…

Project CoNECT (Collaborative Network for Early Childhood Training) provided preservice and inservice training to help multidisciplinary personnel better serve young, severely handicapped children. The project, which was divided into three subcomponents, utilized univerisity-based training as well as field-based training. In Subcomponent I,…

Provided is a collection of presentations from a conference for ophthalmologists, optometrists, and educators meeting to exchange their concerns and share knowledge on various types of sensory handicaps of deaf blind children. The conference is seen as an introduction to the needs of deaf blind children and to the importance of stating diagnostic…

Designed for small-group inservice training at a Connecticut state school, the working manual offers a philosophical framework and a collection of practical ideas and techniques for educators working with severely disabled, multihandicapped persons toward the ultimate goal of community integration. Chapters have the following titles and emphases:…

This document provides information regarding the coordination of services in educational settings to address the complex needs of students in Kentucky with severe and multiple handicaps, ages 3 to 21. The first section outlines the role of related services in educational settings. The second section describes various team models of service…

This interdisciplinary scientific journal emphasizes the linkage between special education and rehabilitation services. Selected papers from the first two issues include: "The Impact of Current Issues in Teacher Education on the Preparation of Special Educators" (Patricia Edelen-Smith and others); "Training Teachers and Parents To Work…