Discusses education of multiply handicapped children, especially those with visual impairments. Reviews literature relative to previous studies in this area, focusing on participant observation as a suitable and useful means of assessing multiply disabled populations. Provides a basis for advocating qualitative measures over quantitative ones in…

A study examined suicidality in 223 children with developmental disorders (ages 4 to 18) and comorbid psychiatric disorders. Twenty percent experienced either suicidal ideation, threats of, or attempts at suicide, with hanging being most frequently considered. Suicidality was most often encountered in individuals with oppositional defiant…

Suggests the need for a new profession called sign pathology to help deaf children who experience difficulty in acquiring a signed language. It offers a framework for the development of professional sign language pathologists, while differentiating between disorders related to signed language acquisition and bilingual language pedagogy for deaf…

A case study is presented of an 11-year-old boy with multiple disabilities who uses DynaVox, a voice-output communication device with a touch screen display, in an inclusive classroom. The article discusses how to find the right technology for children with disabilities by evaluating the level of the text, instruction, and classroom. (CR)

The initial psychometric properties of the Assessment for Dual Diagnosis (ADD), a new scale designed to screen for psychopathology in individuals with mild and moderate mental retardation, was examined. The ADD was found to have high stability across raters, high stability over time, and good internal consistency. (Author/DB)

The communication patterns of a 3-year-old boy who is blind were observed during 35 videotaped classroom sessions to determine if his echolalic responses varied according to school activity and message category. Analysis revealed that, although the child was expressive with adults, he had difficulty communicating with his peers and in producing…

A study used a progressive delay procedure to teach self-control to six adults with mental retardation. At baseline, participants chose an immediate smaller reinforcer rather than a larger delayed reinforcer. Progressive increases in work requirements for gaining access to a larger reinforcer resulted in participants selecting larger delayed…

This article reviews the studies that used microswitches and speech output systems with people with severe/profound intellectual or multiple disabilities during the 1986-1999 period and discusses the encouraging research findings and the economic practicality of these two forms of technology. Research needs are addressed. (Contains references.)…

A study investigated electroencephalographic (EEG) differences between children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder with reading disabilities (ADHD + RD) (n=20) or without (n=20), and 20 controls. Results indicate differences found in the ADHD + RD group represent an electrophysiological component associated with the reading disability…

A study investigated the effects of the Mobility Opportunities Via Education (MOVE) curriculum on the functional walking skills of five elementary students with severe, multiple disabilities. Repeated measures were taken during baseline, intervention, and maintenance phases. All students demonstrated progress in taking reciprocal steps during…

This article reports on the outcomes of a study that used functional communication training (FCT) with two students, (ages 6 and 15) with autism and severe mental retardation, to add information to a database assessing the potential generalized effects of FCT and to examine the role that contingencies for appropriate and problem behaviors play in…

This study surveyed the states concerning discrepancies between federal and state counts of the number of students identified as visually impaired. States overwhelmingly reported higher state counts than federal counts. Major reasons suggested for the discrepancy are federal count exclusion of students with additional disabilities and of students…

This article describes a process for customizing instruction for students with profound multiple disabilities that has been used to design instructional programs and maximize attainment of functional outcomes. The process focuses on collaborative teamwork and problem solving to design and implement instructional programs and includes five major…

This study provided a quantitative analysis of a random sample of 167 National Disability Law Reporter-published letters of findings by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights in response to higher education student complaints under Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Inasmuch as each letter of findings…

Background: Assessing and measuring subjective quality of life (QOL) for individuals with profound multiple disabilities (PMD) remain amongst the most difficult challenges for theorists and practitioners in the field. The usual approaches using proxy reporting by familiar others have been demonstrated to be of questionable reliability and validity…