Two methods of prompting were compared for their relative effectiveness in teaching a group of autistic students, age 12-20, to discriminate line drawings used in picture communication books. Students required fewer trials to criterion and made significantly fewer errors in the delayed-prompting technique compared to the fading-of-prompts design.…

A home safety assessment and training methodology for mothers with mental retardation was evaluated. Although the overall number of implemented safety precautions increased, the variability of results among the four mothers suggests additional training or support services are needed. (Author/DB)

Four interdisciplinary staff teams at a public residential facility for persons with mental retardation improved the timeliness of submitting evaluation reports during a period when timeliness was reinforced. Performance deteriorated during the nonreinforcement phase. (Author/DB)

Discusses ethics training in terms of expected outcomes, contribution to the organization, value, effectiveness, and evaluation methods. Addresses what is known about ethics training, the renewed emphasis on ethics, and what works. (JOW)

The study evaluated two simulation methods (either on-self or using a doll) of general case instruction in teaching menstrual care to four severely/profoundly retarded adolescents and women. Results indicated limited generalization after training using a doll, high levels of generalized responding following on-self instruction, but decreased…

The study taught three moderately mentally retarded adolescents to: (1) communicate an emergency (dial 911), (2) apply first aid for minor injuries, (3) apply a plastic bandage to a minor injury, (4) apply first aid for choking. The maintenance of skills rarely practiced is discussed. (DB)

In this case study, a six-year-old, multihandicapped child was treated for self-injurious arm-biting using two response contingent deceleration procedures and two forms of sensory extinction. Only the sensory extinction procedure with protective cuffs reduced arm-biting to manageable levels. (Author/DB)

Three students (aged 14-15) with severe handicaps were trained in independent use of a microcomputer, using a variation of the total task chaining procedure. All students were able to complete all necessary steps for computer use in an average of 16 sessions, thus expanding their available instructional and recreational opportunities. (Author/PB)

Discussion of training needs of small businesses highlights a training package based on an expert system that was developed in England. Learning styles are discussed, computer-based training (CBT) packages are described, the position audit process is explained, and the value of prototyping is discussed. (LRW)

Discusses teletraining as an instructional delivery system and provides recommendations for making it more effective. Topics discussed include distance education; research on teletraining; instructional effectiveness; motivational factors; acceptance of technological innovations; perception of teletraining by adult learners; and the importance of…

Five children with severe educational retardation, aged 5-12, were involved in sign training in which the spoken words corresponding to signs were receptively known to participants. Whether signs were taught concurrently or in a serial fashion, signs taught by total communication were acquired faster than those taught by sign-alone training.…

Defines the concept of curriculum for industrial personnel development needs, explains the concept of professionalism, and presents a model for developing curricula for business and industry called the Professional Development Curriculum (PDC) model. Training needs are discussed and two applications of the model in General Motors are described.…

Explains what a job coach is and gives information on how a job coach prepares handicapped students to do many different kinds of work. Describes specific techniques for training job coaches to be effective in teaching adolescents and other students. (RS)

A review of 25 studies found that demonstrations of successful generalization of skills by persons with profound mental handicaps were characterized by: several trained exemplars, trained behaviors likely to be reinforced in natural settings by natural consequences, use of training stimuli common to the generalization setting, and training in…

The study with four adults with moderate and severe mental handicaps found that both backward and concurrent chaining training strategies were equally effective in teaching use of a fast food restaurant and a supermarket. (Author/DB)