The article reviews the problem of following up high-risk inner city infants. Only 26 percent of infants discharged from urban neonatal intensive care units are followed developmentally. The high incidence (20 percent) of developmental delay identified during developmental screening in inner city community health clinics suggests the importance of…

The social work practice arena and professional preparation are described as they relate to infants and young children vulnerable to developmental problems and problems of psychosocial dysfunction. Curriculum structure of accredited Master's degree programs and the model curriculum project of the National Catholic School of Social Service are…

Responses to interview questions regarding self-determination opportunities, outcomes, and importance were compared across 21 adults with developmental disabilities and 20 advocates. Self-determination skills in the areas of problem solving, assertiveness, decision making, and goal setting were also addressed. Areas of agreement and disagreement…

This study investigated effects of social interactive strategies (such as, contingent imitation, natural reinforcement contingency, and time delay) in promoting early social-communicative skills of a preschool child with developmental disabilities during daily classroom activities. Results indicated that the child's eye contact, joint attention,…

National and state data are presented on places of residence of recipients of Medicaid Home and Community Based (Waiver) Services, a program supporting long-term care for persons with developmental disabilities. The following types of residences are covered: agency home, foster home, own home, and family home. (SW)

Analysis of 7 classrooms for children (ages 3-17) with developmental disabilities and a day-care center with nondisabled preschoolers revealed that less than 14% of the 6,000 observation intervals contained an opportunity for communication. Most opportunities involved naming an object or event, followed in frequency by opportunities to request,…

This paper explores the reasonableness of expecting conventional experimental methodologies and research reports on behavioral interventions for persons with developmental disabilities to both support the validity of promising practices and guide the efforts of practitioners to implement those practices. New directions for research and practice…

Language standards of 26 disability organizations in 4 English-speaking countries (United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and United States) were surveyed for similarities and differences. Usage of terminology such as "mental handicap,""learning disability,""mental retardation,""developmental disability," and…

This paper summarizes brief functional assessments of 79 cases of people with developmental disabilities and self-injurious, aggressive, stereotypic, or other aberrant behavior. Outcomes were evaluated across three variables: (1) referring topography, (2) control over behavior, and (3) the identified maintaining conditions for aberrant behavior.…

Six students with developmental delays and low levels of social interaction in preschool settings were followed during kindergarten to assess one-year maintenance effects of a peer-mediated social skills intervention program. Results indicated students continued to interact with peers at higher than baseline levels and were rated as within the…

Analysis of 150 case records of children identified to child protective services indicated the poor quality of health and developmental information provided for these children, information that would be useful in determining developmental status. A screening protocol is presented for use by child protective services workers to pinpoint indicators…

Study examined the impact of decision-making instruction which incorporated self-control techniques and instruction which provided only encouragement and verbal praise on decision making in leisure (DML) on adolescents with mild mental retardation. Results support the efficacy of the DML model in facilitating thoughtful DML for study subjects. (SM)

Data are presented which show changes in the size of residential programs serving people with mental retardation/developmental disabilities. Trends from 1982 through 1992 are summarized and statistics are given for each state showing the average number of residents per setting and the percent of residents in settings with less than 16 or less than…

Thirty-nine individuals with developmental disabilities received individualized rehabilitation programs based on client choice and implemented in client-approved home/community environments, and received training in residential, leisure, and personal skills. The intervention resulted in improved self-awareness, self-confidence, independence, and…

Preschool children (n=128) at risk for development of a developmental disability were assessed using the Scales of Independent Behavior and the revised Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Survey Form. The summary scores of both tests were found to correlate moderately with IQ and with the extent of integration children achieved in their subsequent…