People with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the right to access appropriate and comprehensive sexuality and relationship education (SRE), but face a long history of exclusion from SRE in the USA due to myths about the sexuality of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, biases against people with disabilities, and…

Shared interactive book reading (SIBR) is a broad term used to describe the act of adults reading aloud to children, while encouraging interaction by asking questions and engaging in a discussion about the book. SIBR can be used to embed naturalistic communication teaching strategies, creating learning opportunities to promote a child's language…

During early childhood, practitioners and family members are often tasked with determining optimal approaches to support social skill development in young children with developmental disabilities in inclusive and self-contained settings. Eight different evidence based approaches are highlighted (social narratives, scripting, pivotal response…

The latest volume in the Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities series will help general and special educators collaboratively design and implement embedded instruction (EI) for students with developmental disabilities in general education classrooms. The guide provides practical and field-tested EI strategies, along with case studies…

Tourette Syndrome has a history of being misdiagnosed or undiagnosed due to its unusual and complex symptoms. This paper describes: the symptoms of Tourette Syndrome; its etiology; age of onset; therapeutic methods, such as drug therapy, psychotherapy, diet control, and hypnosis; educational implications; and employment prospects. Several…

Three preschool children with significant behavioral and developmental delays were taught to participate and respond to teacher commands during large group instruction, important skills for later mainstreaming. Techniques included increasing "opportunities to respond" through increased rates of teacher commands to the group and instituting a group…

The manual examines ways in which nonprofessional group home health care workers can enhance the communication and interaction skills of developmentally disabled clients. The communication process is explored in terms of information exchange, both verbal and nonverbal. Examples of vocal, nonvocal, and echolalic speech are offered and suggestions…

The booklet describes approaches to teaching a large group of severely developmentally disabled students. The book begins with a review of the circle time format intended to foster motivation through a sense of playfulness, novel items, and opportunities for student participation and response. A theme approach to planning is advocated, and…

The "3D" approach to providing speech/language service for developmentally delayed preschoolers involves three instructors (speech/language therapist, classroom teacher, aide) plus three motor tasks (gross, fine, oral), while bringing speech therapy into the classroom. The article discusses team planning sessions and provides a sample curriculum…

The study found that a pragmatic teaching strategy based on milieu teaching and time-delay procedures was effective in teaching four nonspeaking, developmentally delayed children (ages five and six) using manual communication boards to initiate requests for information (i.e., who, what, and where) (DB)

The paper proposes teaching travel skills to developmentally disabled persons based upon the principles used to teach orientation and mobility to blind people. The approach emphasizes success orientation, sequencing, fading, individualized instruction, and in vivo instruction. Content includes environmental concepts, recovery techniques,…

This article discusses the use of sign language to facilitate language development of children with developmental disabilities mainstreamed into the early childhood setting. It discusses the benefits of using sign language, presents a rationale for its use, and provides instructional guidelines and resources. (JDD)

Incorporating group socialization procedures into a classroom with young children with developmental difficulties requires identifying target children, implementing the procedures, and evaluating the procedures. Socialization activities may include encouraging children to interact with one another, frequent modeling of prosocial behavior, frequent…

This paper describes a language-based, problem-solving socialization and sex education curriculum designed for individuals with developmental delays. The curriculum aims to increase the students' understanding of themselves socially, psychologically, and physically enabled to function more effectively in a mainstream society that is ever changing.…

Since people with developmental disabilities may be particularly vulnerable to the acquisition of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), prevention education is critical. Key principles utilized in existing models are discussed with recommendations for adapting these models to persons with mild/moderate mental retardation offered. (Author/DB)