The Special Peer Action Network (SPAN) program in Jackson County (Florida) schools brings together gifted students and students with developmental disabilities. Gifted students received background information and training in how to serve as models, helpers, and friends of students with disabilities and then participated in structured interactions…

This study investigated the amount, quality, and persistence of spontaneous repetitive play and alternative types of play with 28 children (half with Down syndrome). Down-syndrome children engaged in more repetitive activity, though the quality of play was similar for both groups. Results suggest that repetitive play may serve the same…

Reviews the literature on "safe" levels of lead in children and their association with developmental disabilities. It concludes that lead pollution in Australia, especially the Lake Macquarie area of New South Wales, continues to be a problem, that the current standard "safe" level should be reexamined, and that a…

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…