The study with 135 children (3-12 years of age) with Down Syndrome or other developmental disabilities found no significant differences in rate of gain across 6 domains when the amount of time in mainstreamed environments was varied. Down Syndrome subjects improved expressive language skills most at sites with no integration. (Author/DB)

The acceptability of two different training methods (simulation training using a doll and simulation training on self) for teaching menstrual hygiene skills to young women with developmental disabilities was evaluated in two experiments. Results suggested that opinions about treatment acceptability should be obtained from both professional and…

The paper proposes teaching travel skills to developmentally disabled persons based upon the principles used to teach orientation and mobility to blind people. The approach emphasizes success orientation, sequencing, fading, individualized instruction, and in vivo instruction. Content includes environmental concepts, recovery techniques,…

Followup 8 years after reduction of antiepileptic drugs in 50 institutionalized developmentally disabled epileptic patients found recurrence of seizures in 26 patients. Predictors for a seizure-free state off medication included few documented seizures in lifetime, no gross neurological abnormalities, and persistently normal electroencephalograms.…

Fourteen students, aged 7-24, with severe developmental disabilities who exhibited frequent aggression, self-injury, and/or tantrums were assessed to engage in problem behavior maintained by social attention or by escape from unpleasant situations. The differential effectiveness of praise and time-out was measured, indicating the importance of…

The study with four pairs of developmentally delayed preschoolers found a slight but discernible advantage of using the time delay procedure rather than the increasing assistance procedure to teach complex, chained-response self-help skills. Considerable learning also resulted solely from the observation of instruction. (Author/DB)

Discusses findings from two studies of coping and adaptation in families who adopted children with developmental disabilities. Focuses on two sets of factors that emerged from both studies as central influences on parents' management of their children and adoption outcomes, specifically, the availability of resources and supports, and…

Targeted the frequent noncompliant behaviors and negative parent-child interactions each weekday morning in a 12-year-old boy with developmental disabilities and multiple handicaps. "Beat-the-Buzzer" involved setting time limits for the child to get ready for school in the morning and decreasing maternal attention. Data indicated a substantial…

This commentary on EC 608 302, which discusses behavioral research methodology involving individuals with developmental disabilities, argues that a clear distinction must be made between methods and models, there is a need for more broadly focused intervention studies considering the body of applied practical knowledge, and differences in research…

This commentary on EC 608 301, a paper on behavioral research methodology used with individuals with developmental disabilities, argues that the paper does not portray behavior analysis accurately, advances arguments that may not be reliably enough agreed upon, and seeks to modify reader behavior without sufficiently addressing the variables of…

This response to four commentaries (EC 608 302-305) on these authors' earlier paper discussing behavioral research methodology used with individuals with developmental disabilities (EC 608 301) contends that the original paper does not denigrate behaviorism and that practice needs to be informed by a variety of inputs regarding treatment decisions…

Families (n=223) enrolled in Michigan's Cash Subsidy Program for families of children with developmental disabilities were surveyed about their resources, use of services, and helpfulness of social supports. Parents saw their basic resources for daily life as adequate but viewed their time, discretionary money, and child care resources as…

This article recounts the words and deeds of Burton Blatt, a writer, educator, and exposer of abuses of human rights in institutions housing people with mental retardation. His life is seen as an inspiration for those now providing moral leadership in the continuing fight against indifference to human rights abuses and social darwinism. (DB)

The controversy regarding the use of facilitated communication with individuals having developmental disabilities is addressed, and an oversight procedure for the use of this methodology is recommended, which includes informed consent from all involved, the inclusion of a validation protocol, and the inclusion of other potential means of…

Review of the records of 209 institutionalized individuals with developmental disabilities who had died during a 10-year period found that the 29 individuals who exhibited severe self-injury did not live significantly shorter lives, though they did have a significantly higher incidence of vision and hearing impairments when compared to matched…