Parents, teachers, and paraeducators at three inclusive schools were interviewed as part of a qualitative study to investigate perceptions regarding a quality educational program for students with moderate-severe disabilities. Instead of looking at schools engaged in a systematic change process from separate to inclusive education for students…

Published articles about assistive technology (AT) from 1980 through 2004 were reviewed to identify those that focused on infants and young children. A total of 104 articles about AT with infants and toddlers were identified, and of these, 23 reported practices for teaching switch activation (12), computer use (6), power mobility skills (4), or…

A program was developed to improve auditory and visual stimulation and responsiveness for seven elementary school students (ages 6-7) who had severe/profound mental retardation and multiple disabilities. After initial observation, consultation, and assessment of the students, the 12-week intervention program involved auditory, tactile, and visual…

This guide describes the assistance that modern technology and microcomputers can provide for individuals with significant cognitive disabilities who frequently have secondary physical, communication, or sensory impairments. Applications of technology can be made to increase access to learning for these students in the areas of motor training,…

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is described as a genetically based, chronic constellation of neurobehavioral symptoms and associated features involving repetitive, simple, and/or complex motor and phonic tics. Treatment generally involves neuroleptic medication. Symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, learning…

Symbol shelves are tools for developing two-way communication with multihandicapped children who can anticipate events, but who do not respond to speech or sign language. The purpose of symbol shelves is to allow children to be expressive through symbols, to enable them to feel some sense of control, and to serve as a bridge to a more formal…

This literature review discusses cultural influences on individuals with disabilities and describes three historical models of disability--the moral model, medical model, and sociological/environmental/civil rights/minority group model. The use of alcohol and drugs by disabled persons is explored, focusing on individuals with orthopedic and…

Interactions between teachers and multiply disabled students were videotaped, and procedures were developed to analyze the interactions, in order to assist the teachers in evaluating the relationship between their own and their student's communicative behavior. Coding categories were prepared to identify characteristics of the student's…

One hundred interactions involving 4,231 communicative acts between classroom personnel and multiply disabled students were videotaped. The resulting data were coded and analyzed, and showed that: (1) conventional communicative forms (e.g., speech, manual signs, conventional nonverbal expressions) were selected to convey information to students…

A 9-week practicum was designed to integrate severely/profoundly handicapped (SPH) students with third-grade nonhandicapped peer tutors in Broward County, Florida. Additional Objectives were to promote greater understanding of handicaps by nonhandicapped peer tutors and to increase awareness by SPH teachers of the importance of interactions…

The paper addresses issues involved in the management of and curriculum for children with sensory impairments combined with cerebral palsy. The first part details typical deformities and their causes in children with cerebral palsy, and describes (with illustrations) techniques for therapeutic handling and positioning in daily living tasks at home…

The case study describes a family residential service for three people with profound and multiple disabilities in Burlington, Vermont. The disabled individuals live with a couple and their two children who are also provided support services in the form of weekend relief and helpers for the late afternoon and evening period. The house is owned by a…

The guidelines discuss appropriate educational services for children with special health problems. An initial chapter considers the range of common needs of this population, including modification of daily schedule and health related services. Five suggestions are offered to support families, among them understanding needs and rights and…

Intended for use with severely and profoundly multiply handicapped children within the 0-48 month developmental age range, the manual is designed for planning and implementing an educational treatment program in the areas of auditory discrimination, communication, gross motor, and visual/fine motor skills. The format of the Assessment/Curriculum…

Presented is the final report of a project to demonstrate educationally relevant approaches to assessment of and prescription for severely handicapped children (0 to 21 years old) within an existing multidisciplinary diagnostic facility, the Central Arizona Child Evaluation Center. Part I provides introductory information with a definition of…