Experiences working with nonverbal severely and profoundly retarded and multiply handicapped children are discussed in this paper. Alternative communication systems are reviewed, including use of manual signs, pictures and symbols, photographs, realistic drawings, pictograms, and Bliss Symbols. A model for teaching basic understanding of…

The article presents eight lessons for teaching practical signs to deaf-blind individuals. (CL)

The article describes methods used to bring a seven-year-old boy with severe auditory and visual impairments and no communication skills to a level of oral communication within one year. The manual, graphic, and oral-aural strategies used are described. (Author/DB)

Students with the dual handicaps of hearing impairment and mental retardation display special problems in language acquisition. These problems do not appear to have been addressed by curricula that have been designed for either of the single handicap groups. Since specially designed curricula for this population are virtually nonexistent, a…