This study compared parent reports of sleep behaviors of 38 children with autism or pervasive developmental disabilities with those of children with mental retardation alone, in special education but not retarded, or typically developing children. Findings indicated that parent perception of children's sleep difficulties and sleep quality was…

Reviews characteristics of pervasive developmental disorder and Asperger's disorder in the context of social work. The current literature and the roles of the social worker are discussed relative to education, case management, family therapy, individual therapy, and group work. (DB)

Compares programs of the Southwark Consortium in London and Denver Options, Inc. in Colorado in the delivery of services to individuals with developmental disabilities. Identifies cross-cultural implications. (SK)

Evaluation of a Michigan program to integrate persons with developmental disabilities into the community evaluated variables including involvement of allies in planning futures, number of people with disabilities residing in each home, proportion of earned income, level of disability, and level of mobility. Earned income was the variable that most…

Social workers' awareness of and formal involvement in family-centered early intervention for infants and toddlers who are at risk or who have developmental disabilities is very important. Social workers do not always receive formal preparation in this area. This article provides an overview of the definition and identification of developmental…

Explores the ideals associated with reform in systems of support for people with developmental disabilities. In particular the ways in which these ideals are fueling initiatives around the country, the challenges that constraint their full realization, and the steps that must be taken to keep the developmental disabilities system moving in a…

Describes how a group of adults with autism, mental retardation, and other disabilities has accessed a means of communication and formed a bridge to the community through poetry. (SR)

This study evaluated cytogenetic and molecular parameters in 30 Brazilian youths with autism or other pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). The high frequency of chromosomopathies found support the hypothesis that PDDs may develop as a consequence to chromosomal abnormalities and justify the cytogenetic and molecular assessment during diagnosis…

Explores developmental disabilities using a post-disciplinary approach through social construction and metaphors drawn from social cartography. Considers how the cartographies drawn by special education and other human services practices provide a rationale for continued dehumanization and oppression. (Contains 178 references.) (Author/SLD)

This article criticizes the term "comorbidity" used to describe the overlap of developmental syndromes or disorders. Data from 179 school-age children are evaluated for criteria of seven disorders. Since fully 50 percent of the sample met the criteria for at least two diagnoses, the premise that these disorders are discrete categories on…

In this paper, we review definitional issues related to stereotypy, behavioral interpretations of stereotypy, procedures for determining operant function(s) of stereotypy, and behavioral interventions for stereotypy. In general, a preponderance of the assessment literature suggests that most forms of stereotypy are maintained by automatic…

There is currently debate among professionals in the area of mental retardation/developmental disabilities regarding the use of, and a possible replacement for, the term mental retardation. Using the semantic differential technique, 284 participants drawn from various Midwestern populations completed assessments of several terms used to describe…

We evaluated an outcome management program for working with staff to improve the performance of adults with severe disabilities in a congregate day-treatment setting. Initially, observations were conducted of student task involvement and staff distribution of teaching interactions across students in four program sites. Using recent normative data…

Jack Eldon Baker was born, lived, and died in Gilbert, Arkansas. The story of his life is retold in excerpts from a memorial publication published by the people of the town. This article also makes the case that his story is an example of community inclusion. Through the voices of those who knew him, we see Jack as a person who gave to the…

Researchers associate an insistence on sameness or lack of behavioral flexibility with autism and Asperger syndrome, but few studies have sought to identify specific situations in which individuals insist on sameness. Along these lines, we developed the "Behavioral Flexibility Rating Scale" (BFRS) and conducted an Internet survey of parents of…