Presents information on 24 and 34 months of successful treatment with Risperidone of a young woman and young man with autism and profound mental retardation. Treatment with Risperidone resulted in positive changes for aggressive, self-injurious, and anti-social behavior. After treatment, subjects were able to participate in social activities. (CR)

The nonprofit Alliance to Save Energy has been helping schools reduce energy consumption through a combination of retrofits, classroom instruction, and behavior. Lists eight small steps to big energy savings, among them: involve the whole school, stop leaks, turn off computers, and recycle. (MLF)

Examines how a new principal at a historically low-performing high school brought about changes in the school culture and in student achievement. Describes how the principal emphasized achievement at the highest levels through heroes and heroines, rites and rituals, stories, governance and leadership, symbols, enforcing expectations, and serving…

Presents the negative-reinforcement paradigm as a framework with potential to guide development of interventions that increase desirable and decrease undesirable behaviors of students with disabilities. Studies involving children with emotional and behavioral disorders are presented to convey the importance of teachers' awareness of the paradigm's…

Examined the effect of the "Sex Can Wait" curriculum series on students' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to sexuality. Surveys of students in intervention schools and schools with traditional sex-education programs indicated that at the elementary and middle school level, the intervention program produced greater gains, but in high…

Two case studies illustrate the use of Level 1 research to monitor and improve the delivery of psychological services. The cases are of a 14-year-old with escalating disruptive behavior, including assault, and a 12-year-old with escalating nocturnal enuresis. The article urges research evaluating Level 1 research techniques and development of…

This review of Prader-Willi Syndrome notes characteristics (mental retardation and excessive overeating). Educational interventions including weight management, cognitive and educational development, behavioral interventions, and transition to adulthood are discussed. (DB)

A review of 14 studies on treatment strategies for sleep problems in individuals with severe mental retardation found the following treatments had been used: sleep scheduling, bedtime routine plus gradual distancing of parents, extinction, bedtime fading with or without response cost, chronotherapy, and melatonin. Results of treatments are…

This study developed an intervention that used social stories in a computer-based format with three elementary-aged boys with autism. Results indicated the multimedia intervention was effective in reducing behavioral and social problems in the boys. (Author/DB)

A study determined self-reported positive and negative physical, academic, and social effects of stimulant medication on 86 secondary students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Students reported the medication helped them pay attention, earn better grades, and improve their behavior but were unsure if it helped them on tests or on…

This project evaluated the effectiveness of the Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped CHildren (TEACCH) home program intervention model for young children with autism, which encourages parents to be active, ongoing co-therapists. The 11 children in the treatment group, compared to the control, improved…

Applies the evaluative methodology of F. Le Poultier to an observational, longitudinal study of children who lived in a residential community because of their multiproblem families. Confirms the correlation of the children's displayed behavior and educational practices, showing that the children's behavior determined the intensity of practices…

A study involving five elementary-age children with moderate disabilities and five typical peers evaluated the use of a structural analysis model as a vehicle for improving social interactions via peer-mediated interventions. Results indicate structural analysis was usable as a prescriptive tool to develop effective peer-mediated interventions.…

Proposes two theory- and empirically-based explanations for the emergent success of multisystemic therapy (MST) in community settings. First, MST may have demonstrated success because it bridges the gap between university-based psychotherapy studies and their community-based counterparts. Second, its favorable outcomes may exemplify the successful…

The human capital model is described as it relates to health promotion and exercise behavior change strategies, and possible limitations are discussed. An alternative called the human development-potential perspective is presented. The alternative model broadly frames health in socioecological terms with economic, moral, and sociocultural…