Annie Sullivan Enterprises, Inc. (Chapel Hill, North Carolina), a community resource network for the integration of children and youth with developmental disabilities and mental health problems, is described. A brokerage model is espoused for accessing and delivering services. Recommendations based on seven years of successful operation are…

The short- and long-term effectiveness of a staff-monitored, home-based aerobics program was assessed in a group of 15 individuals with developmental disabilities and compared to fitness levels of 12 non-participating controls. Results showed significant improvement on some aspects of fitness, but difficulties with measurement and maintenance were…

An anthropological description of interaction between two boys with profound developmental disabilities, living in a state institution, is offered. The socio-cultural analysis revealed behavior patterns which demonstrated feelings, communication, autonomy in play, and purposeful interaction in the attainment of a goal. (JDD)

The paper describes a series of management strategies for developmental apraxia of speech. Numerous unanswered questions about the effects of therapy are posed and pertinent research issues are identified. (Author/DB)

The study compared the attention-directing behaviors of 15 autistic children, 14 children with developmental language delay, and 13 young normal children. Although the autistic children's behavior was most unlike that of the other groups, autistic children did not produce more attention-directing behavior when a high degree of adult direction was…

The feeding skills of 73 adults with severe developmental disabilities who aspirated were examined. Mobility, level of mental retardation, or feeding skill did not discriminate those who aspirated. Mealtime respiratory distress (65%) or chronic lung disease (55%), however, were significantly associated with aspiration. (Author/DB)

This paper, developed by a group of parents, advocates, and service providers, addresses the limitations of human services for people with developmental disabilities, including: (1) services cannot "fix" people or problems; (2) consistency and uniformity are not necessarily good qualities of human services; (3) more human services are not…

This paper identifies and evaluates emerging developments in the behavioral pharmacotherapy of people with developmental disabilities, including such medications as the opiate antagonists, fenfluramine, beta adrenergic blockers, buspirone, antipsychotics, amantadine hydrochloride, and antilibidinal drugs. The need for more well-designed drug…

Specialists in developmental disabilities and aging need competence in the following areas: advocacy, characteristics of older persons with developmental disabilities, planning and implementation, communication, and training. (SK)

The phonological competence of 4 children, ages 5-7 years old, with a diagnosis of developmental apraxia of speech (DAS), was contrasted to that of 4 normal children. The DAS children revealed a severe deficit in rhyming ability. Results suggest that DAS is a fundamental disorder of the segmental phonological level of language. (Author/DB)

This paper outlines the principles of the rehabilitation process; describes the role of rehabilitation medicine with reference to services in the Saint George district of southern Sydney (Australia); and discusses the problem of the transition of patients to adult services. (Author/JDD)

Interview questions most frequently used and corresponding beneficial responses were derived from an empirical analysis of the "hiring community" and were used in developing a job interview skills training package for adults with developmental disabilities. Training resulted in improved responding by all subjects. Improved quality in responding to…

Text, a table, and a graph show average per resident daily expenditures in large state-operated mental retardation/developmental disabilities (MR/DD) facilities in Fiscal Year 93 by state, and average annual per resident expenditures in large state-operated MR/DD facilities since 1950 both in absolute dollar amounts and in 1964 dollars. (DB)

This commentary on EC 605 926 examines the issue of whether the family or the individual with developmental disabilities should be the unit receiving services and discusses the impact of disability on the family. It concludes that the best interests of the family generally coincide with the best interests of the individual with disabilities. (JDD)

Administered 2-, 4-, and 6-subtest Stanford-Binet (Fourth Edition) short forms to 53 children (ages 6-10) with Total Composite (TC) Standard Age Score (SAS) under 79. Compared prorated Partial Composite SASs based on subtests with TC SASs. Six subtests correlated with TC SAS; only one six-subtest short form accurately approximated TC SAS at level…