Presents a critical review of studies designed to teach language production skills to children with specific language impairment. The evidence reviewed suggests that a number of training approaches are effective, often resulting in gains that exceed the rate seen in normal development, provided the speaking situation resembles enough the training…

A survey of 102 personnel working in 14 adult programs for the developmentally disabled was undertaken to assess training needs. Results showed that the majority of respondents ranked the same training needs, and skills necessary to carry out their current jobs as most important. (PHR)

To determine why North Carolina's limited guardianship law is not being utilized by developmentally disabled (DD) persons, interviews were conducted with 79 DD adults, 14 group home housemanagers, 8 clerks of court, 8 social workers, 13 mental retardation specialists, and 13 parents of DD persons. (Author)

A national survey of 104 community residence homes for the developmentally disabled attempted to monitor the exodus from such homes and to determine what alternatives are available to those who leave them. (DLS)

Attitudes toward blindness and other developmental disabilities were measured in two groups: parents of blind children and a control group of parents whose children were unimpaired (N=28 each). Parents of blind children had more positive attitudes toward blindness and other disabilities (epilepsy, cerebral palsy, deafness, and mental retardation)…

The paper addresses the issues involved in helping severely developmentally disabled individuals become placed in competitive employment. Based on the placement experiences of Project Employability, factors in job selection and in working with employers are described. (Author)

A developmental questionnaire, encompassing the ages from 4 weeks to 36 months, has been devised that, when completed by parents, can be used to screen children as being developmentally normal, questionable, or abnormal. Journal availability: see EC 115 198. (Author)

Outlines problems faced by parents and caregivers of a child with encopresis. Differentiates between knowledge, skill, and volition issues when dealing with the encoprectic child; and suggests possible causal frameworks for the behavior. Concludes with suggestions for managing the teaching/learning situation arising from this behavior. (Author/KB)

This study compared 21 children with pervasive developmental disorders (autism group) with 15 children with fragile X syndrome on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale and the Reiss Scales for Children's Dual Diagnosis. Seven of the fragile X children also scored in the autism range and were more impaired than the other fragile X children. (Contains…

Pediatric occupational therapists (n=59) were surveyed to identify assessments to evaluate functional performance that accommodate special needs of children with pervasive developmental disorders. Fifty-two assessments were identified. The study highlights the need for practice parameters that would guide the assessment process and create…

This annotated bibliography describes literature for children that addresses issues concerned with developmental disabilities. The 15 references are grouped into those for children in prekindergarten through grade three and those for children in grades four through eight. (DB)

Describes consultation to a public school district in the form of a systems-wide evaluation of instructional and behavior support practices for students with developmental disabilities. The format of the evaluative model, respective findings, suggested remedies, and implications for large-scale public school consultation are provided. (Contains 22…

Case studies of 4 females and 1 male, aged 6-25, with pervasive developmental disorders are described. All met standard diagnostic criteria for autism and showed many Rett syndrome symptoms. It is concluded that there is considerable overlap between the 2 disorders and that symptomatic similarities might mirror common pathopsychological…

The history of residential care for persons with autism and other developmental disabilities is summarized for the past 200 years. Residential trends toward community integration in the past three decades are traced for autism in general and for the Murdoch Center in North Carolina. Possible negative side effects of current trends are identified.…

In the area of developmental screening, predictive validity is typically assessed by two methods: correlational analysis and classificational analysis. This paper describes each methodology and reviews their relative advantages and disadvantages in relation to early identification of developmental handicaps and risks. (JOW)