A screening program for vision problems and Usher's Syndrome (a common cause of deaf-blindness) among 210 hearing-impaired students found 44 percent had significant vision problems and 1 percent had Usher's Syndrome. The program involved an interagency network of school, health care, and support personnel and utilized a dilated ophathalmological…

The article describes the Parent and Toddler Training Project, a research-based early intervention program for visually impaired and blind multihandicapped infants, toddlers, and their families in the Western Pennsylvania area. Project purposes include increasing infant social responsiveness, developing parenting skills, reducing family…

The effects of a combined neuromotor/behavioral approach using a microcomputer mediated teaching system on the acquisition of basic motor skills by two young children (17- and 24-months-old) with severe and multiple disabilities were examined. Increased frequency and duration of target behaviors in both training and generalizing settings were…

Vignettes illustrate the effectiveness of a project providing computer-assisted instruction to three multiply-handicapped deaf high school students. Individual and group activities resulted in increased language skills, more positive attitudes, greater self-esteem and motivation, and improved peer interactions. Software programs are briefly…

The observational study investigated social interactions and on-task behavior of 20 severely multihandicapped children in a mainstreaming program. In comparison with nonhandicapped students, severely multihandicapped students interacted with teachers and aides more frequently but showed the same degree of on-task behavior. (Author/DB)

The article begins with a brief overview of P.L. 94-142, (The Education For All Handicapped Children Act), legal principles used by courts and hearing examinors in decisions about day versus residential placement, reviews the use of the factual record in determination of appropriate placements, and presents conclusions from case law. (CL)

Inappropriate mealtime behaviors of a blind, mentally retarded, behaviorally disordered 10-year-old were modified via behavior therapy techniques, including audiotape of favorite stories turned off during inappropriate behavior and praise (plus access to food) for appropriate napkin and utensil use, once desired sitting posture had been…

Examines differences in habituation in a visual attention task as a function of chronological age, mental age, and handicapping condition. Subjects were 102 children who ranged in age from 3 to 36 months and who were classified as Down Syndrome, cerebral palsied, developmentally delayed, or multiply handicapped. (Author/RH)

The article offers four assumptions as a philosophical basis for improved parent professional relations in the education of severely/multiply handicapped preschool students. Assumptions focus on family uniqueness, role in multidisciplinary teams, child management, and provision of support. Implications for practice and relevant research are cited.…

A seven-year-old nonvocal blind child with cerebral palsy and possible mental retardation learned basic cause-and-effect tasks via a speech synthesizer and microcomputer. The author speculates on future communication development for the child. (CL)

This digest discusses various types of communication disorders, their incidence, the learning difficulties associated with them, the special case of English language learners, and the educational significance of communication disorders. Communication disorders may result from many different conditions such as oral-motor difficulties or…

This paper focuses on the difficulties faced by rural school districts in their efforts to serve children with severe multiple disabilities. Both historic and contemporary views on mainstreaming and inclusion of students with multiple disabilities are presented. Concerns of educators about the inclusion of such students center around the amount of…