Evaluation of the sixth and final year of operation for a preplacement program for 13 severely multiply handicapped deaf blind children, located in the Industrial Home for the Blind, is reported. The program is explained to prepare students for entrance into their existing special education programs. Qualitative findings on the physical setting,…

The paper reviews cognitive development during the sensorimotor period (approximately the first two years of life) and considers approaches to assessing multihandicapped, deaf-blind, or severely/profoundly retarded students functioning at this level. Evaluation and training of basic sensorimotor schemes (visual fixation and tracking, sucking, and…

The paper addresses the assessment of sensorimotor and communication skills in profoundly/multiply handicapped children. The problems inherent in assessing this population are described, including lack of validity of developmental norms established on children with intact sensory systems. Factors affecting sensory organization are reviewed,…

The paper reviews court decisions mandating extended-year programs for students with severe and multiple handicaps for whom regression during the summer break threatens the development of independence and addresses considerations in developing such extended year programs. Guidelines center on eligibility, funding, program focus, program length,…

The paper reviews research on the development of communication in visually and mentally handicapped persons. Communication difficulties are traced from the preverbal stage, through imitation and turn-taking, visual co-orientation and objects, and the effects of visual loss on early development. The added impact on a mentally handicapped person of…

The report examines accomplishments of project UPSTART, an intervention approach for young severely multihandicapped infants and their families. The project's outreach provided assistance at six sites, three of which were new. Outreach accomplishments are evaluated according to six objectives, including stimulation of program development,…

Two introductory manuals, written as part of a practicum to meet the staff needs in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania School District's severely/profoundly impaired (SPI) programs, focus on selecting goals and activities that are age appropriate for SPI students. Introductory materials review judicial rulings regarding Philadelphia's services for SPI…

Article focused on the demands presented by the multiply handicapped child and the educational policies that attempted to satisfy their needs. (RK)

Reported were the cases of two of 25 Ss with Turner's syndrome (usually characterized by dwarfism and sexual infantilism) who were also mentally retarded. (Author/DB)

Of 173 children with myelodysplsia (a congenital anomaly with probable paralysis and mental retardation) who were followed between 1968 and 1972, 30 (17 percent) have been placed outside their natural families for temporary or long-term care. (Author/DB)

Described is the parent involvement model at the Home for Crippled Children in Pittsburgh, a center for multiply handicapped urban preschoolers. It is explained that the model is comprised of three components: Parents as Partners (parent training), Community Liaison (home visitation), and the educational and Home Prescription Plan (individualized…

Evaluation of 222 infants with imperforate anus found an incidence of cardiovascular malformations 20 times greater than would be expected. (DB)

The manual describes a procedure to assess to what extent a deaf-blind multiply handicapped student uses his residual hearing in the classroom. Six levels of auditory functioning (awareness/reflexive, attention/alerting, localization, auditory discrimination, recognition, and comprehension) are analyzed, and assessment activities are detailed for…

The document presents the final report of the Sensory Multihandicapped Project, which planned a comprehensive program for the education of children who were sensory multihandicapped (deaf blind, deaf with other handicaps, or blind with other handicaps) in Alberta, Canada. Project activities included reviewing the literature, visiting sites serving…

The communicative behavior of nine severely and multiply handicapped children (5-9 years old) was analyzed over a 6-month period. Videotapes and photographs of Ss' behavior in differing situations indicated that they could communicate some of their wants and needs. When introduced to large photographs of the items which had prompted responses,…