This brief factsheet presents information on mental illness in mentally retarded persons. The most prevalent disorders found in this population are schizophrenia, organic brain syndrome, adjustment disorders, personality disorders, depression, and behavioral problems. Few standardized methods of assessment exist for the diagnosis of mental illness…

A manual for training the severely multiply handicapped to use communication boards is presented, based on the Functional Speech and Language Training Program. The target group are persons who need a mode of communication but who have poor speech, and poor hand and finger control. A description of the communication boards and symbols includes an…

The final report summarizes accomplishments of Project AEROBIC (Aerobic Exercise and Research Opportunities to Benefit Impaired Children), which provided a physical education exercise program for severely, profoundly, and multiply handicapped children aged 10-21. Activities are outlined for the 3 year period and include modification of exercise…

Intended for teachers and caregivers of severely handicapped individuals with impaired hearing, the manual provides information about hearing and audiological assessment. Section I presents an overview of the nature of sound and the structure of the ear. Section II describes a number of informal assessment procedures which can be carried out in…

Written by parents and intended for fellow parents of severely/multiply handicapped children, the booklet describes a series of awareness activities to enhance children's sensory experiences. Each section includes a brief rationale, background information, and a list of suggested activities for developing the senses of touch, taste, smell,…

The report describes a project examining computer-assisted instruction for severely/multiply handicapped students. An underlying thrust of the project was to provide multiply handicapped children with opportunities to learn to control events as part of their daily activities. The approach featured 26 pupils (5-21 years old) using three activities:…

Developmental Evaluation Services for Children (DESC) provides in-depth medical and educational diagnostic services for children in Montgomery County, Maryland, who are under 6 years of age and who are suspected of having handicapping conditions in two or more areas of development. This follow-up study was designed to determine the progress of…

Following a description of the proceedings of the conference (including sponsors and a 3-day program), 12 papers are presented on the communication problems of the mentally handicapped. The keynote address, by S. Segal, reviews trends in teaching communication to mentally retarded persons, including the impact on teaching of British legislation…

Reviewed are observational techniques for rating the communication of deaf-blind multihandicapped children, and reported is an initial study of the diagnostic observational competency of 75 speech pathologists at 5 levels of training and experience. (LC)

Reviewed are educational philosophy and learning strategies for children who have learning disabilities in addition to deafness. Definitions, prevalence figures, etiological and educational theories, characteristics of and terminology for learning disabled (LD) children are discussed in terms of their relevance to the deaf learning disabled. A…

The purpose of the study was to assist in developing a system of communication for six multiply handicapped hearing impaired children (2 1/2 to 5 years old). The Natural Gesture language system was employed to initiate communication between educator and child. The educational intervention consisted of daily 1/2-hour language lessons incorporating…