The ability to make choices, plan, and self-evaluate are among the primary skills included in the development of self-determination. This study was designed to determine if a teaching paradigm, which incorporates key elements of self-determination, is as effective and more efficient in teaching syntax than a traditional, clinician-directed…

In this report, the authors look at the freshman year course performance of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students who receive special education services and ask whether grades, course failures, absences, and on-track status are useful for identifying students who are at risk of dropping out. They also examine how academic behaviors, such as…

Background: Figurative language, such as metaphor and metonymy, is very common in daily language use. Its underlying cognitive processes are sometimes viewed as lying at the interface of language and thought. Williams syndrome, which is a rare genetic developmental disorder, provides an opportunity to study this interface because individuals with…

This is the latest edition of the "State of the States in Developmental Disabilities" study--a thorough and the only one of its kind investigation on public spending, revenues, and programmatic trends of intellectual and developmental programs and services within the United States since 1977. Directed by leading researcher, Dr. David…

Like other developmental disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, specific language impairment and dyslexia, there is no shortage of debate surrounding the condition of Developmental Coordination Disorder. The present article takes a global view of many of these debatable issues, starting with definition and terminology, moving…

Problem behavior is a major barrier to successful community integration for people with developmental disabilities. Recently, there has been increased interest in identifying contextual factors involving setting events and discriminative stimuli that impact the display of problem behavior. The authors previously developed the "Contextual…

Emotion recognition is a basic skill that is thought to facilitate development of social and emotional competence. There is little research available examining whether therapeutic or instructional interventions can improve the emotion recognition skill of young children with various developmental disabilities. Sixteen preschool children with…

The present study was designed to determine whether parents (three mothers and one grandmother) could implement CBI with SP reliably for teaching community skills to their children and the effects of parent-delivered intervention on teaching the community skills. Maintenance and generalization effects of the intervention were also analyzed in the…

Fertility rates have fallen dramatically around the world. In some countries, there are no longer enough children being born to replace adult populations. The disappearance of children is a matter of concern matched only by fears that childhood is becoming too structured or not structured enough, too short or too long, or just simply too different…

The booklet examines approaches in public awareness that may be used by Developmental Disabilities (DD) Councils. The eight chapters are explained to be an outgrowth of a national meeting of DD Councils. L. Wiseman, in "Beyond the Sixty-Second Solution," suggests that political action should be thought of as a public awareness resource,…

The presentation addresses the meaning of normalization and the dilemmas and challenges that confront social service professionals involved in attempting to incorporate the normalization principle into day treatment programs for mentally retarded and developmentally disabled persons. Effects of the current conservatism in governmental and social…

Five adults with developmental disabilities participated in a keyboard skills training program employing color coded keys and typing drills. Through typing skills, the subjects were taught basic computer operations such as taking disk directories, loading programs and executing the programs. Repetitious learning was the model used. Data collected…

Written primarily for founders and coordinators of citizen advocacy (CA) programs for the developmentally disabled, the manual provides practical tips on how to establish and administer a CA program. Part 1 (six chapters) gives an overview of citizen advocacy and tells how to start a CA program--how to assess community support, find a sponsor,…

The handbook is designed to assist parents of handicapped children with their estate planning and to provide relevant information for other interested persons such as attorneys and advocates. Considered are various ways of providing for handicapped individuals when parents can no longer care for them because of death or long term illness. Major…

The manual considers the development of a respite care program for families of developmentally disabled children. The development of a respite program in the Archdiocese of Denver (CO) is reviewed in terms of policy development, a pilot phase, and problem areas (lack of consumer interest and funding). The rationale for respite care is described…