The case study describes various treatments implemented over a three-year period to reduce and eliminate multiple and severe self-injurious behaviors in a 45-year-old retarded and psychotic institutionalized man. Nonaversive intervention and community involvement was associated with positive behavior change and eventual community placement. (DB)

A review of existing emotional disorder assessment techniques confirmed that they are inappropriate for most children and adolescents with developmental disabilities and pay inadequate attention to affective symptoms in these subjects. A new instrument designed to evaluate mood and affect which has shown good interrater agreement is described.…

The study compared attitudes toward independence of six disabled (all physically disabled and three with additional intellectual impairments) British adults, all of whom had lived in both institutional care and in the community. Interviewees all felt positively about the independence of community living. (Author/DB)

A systematic assessment procedure successfully identified stimulus preferences of seven profoundly and multiply handicapped individuals (ages 12-34). Preference rankings based on caregiver opinion did not consistently coincide with these results. Systematically assessed student preferences were a likely, though not certain, source of reinforcing…

A survey of parents of nine multiply handicapped blind young adults enrolled in a community living program in New Zealand and of the nine staff members working with the clients indicated both groups supported parent involvement and the program content, though parents rated the adult rehabilitation services less favorably than staff. (Author/DB)

The 1984-85 Venezuelan Survey of Deaf Children collected information on 804 deaf students between ages 3 and 14. Among findings were that 29% of the cases were caused by maternal rubella, that 36% had additional handicaps, and that meningitis was the most frequently reported after-birth cause of hearing losses. (Author/DB)

The article examines various philosophical and professional orientations of teachers of the visually impaired and appropriate service delivery for severely and profoundly retarded children with visual handicaps. Staff contact only, consultation and direct service, and direct services are three delivery models discussed. Frequency, motivation, and…

The article describes the community integration experiences and behaviors of nine long-term institutionalized adults who participated in a one-week summer vacation away from the institution. Among staff observations and conclusions was that behavior in an institutional setting cannot be used to predict behavior in a community environment.…

The effectiveness and efficiency of two instructional prompting procedures, progressive time delay and the system of least prompts, in teaching manual signs was evaluated with three moderately or severely retarded adolescents with additional handicaps. Results indicated both procedures were effective though the time delay method appeared to be…

Usher Syndrome is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by congenital hearing loss and gradually developing retinitis pigmentosa leading to the loss of vision. Approximately 25,000 people in the United States have some form of Usher Syndrome. Most of these individuals have either Type I (10,000) or Type II (15,000). Type I Usher…

This report describes a program designed to increase opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to lead good lives in places of their own, strengthen their communities, and enjoy a genuine sense of self-worth. In addition to offering independent services, the Training Toward Self-Reliance (TTSR) program staff have increased their…

Six children with multiple disabilities (ages 5 to 8) participated in this evaluation of the effect of sensory integration treatment on sensorimotor function and academic learning. The children had cognitive abilities ranging from sub-average to significantly sub-average, three were non-ambulatory, one had severe behavioral problems, and each…

This paper reports on a study that examined the co-morbidity of health and mental health problems in children and youth by investigating: (1) the prevalence of significant health and mental health problems among children with either a health or mental health disability; (2) how these prevalence rates compare to a general sample of children in…