An orientation and mobility curriculum for multiply handicapped deaf students incorporates instruction in environmental awareness concepts, orientation reference systems, route planning, and auditory training. Instruction frequently includes a solo travel experience. The roles of the classroom teacher and of the mobility instructor are noted. (CL)

Two experiments investigated the effects of a behavioral intervention on the self-injurious behaviors of two profoundly retarded and/or multiply handicapped girls (ages 15 and 16). Treatments resulted in near zero levels of self-injury in both cases. (Author/PHR)

A one day brainstorming session focused on job skills needed by deaf blind multiply handicapped individuals. (DB)

Describes the work of the South Dakota Very Special Arts Festivals project to select creative media production activities and modify them to meet the needs of the mentally retarded or multiply handicapped festival participants. (CMV)

Describes current child-count systems that count students with visual impairments and additional disabilities in only one disability area. This results in an undercount of the incidence of visual impairment. Discusses the need for children to be initially counted by the disability of the lowest incidence. (CR)

This article suggests ways to use tactile teaching strategies with students who have severe and multiple disabilities including blindness. Guidelines address tactile modeling, tactile mutual attention, presenting tactile information, providing effective tactile representation, hypersensitivity to touch, and a team approach. (Contains references.)…

Investigation of the use of music in the education of students at British schools for students with severe/profound or multiple difficulties found music was a significant component of students' lives and education. The article urges research on this population's musical behavior and needs and development of musical education guidelines and…

The cytogenetic survey of 67 individuals previously identified as having mental retardation and autistic behaviors revealed only 1.5 percent with the fragile X chromosome. The finding suggests that most persons with fragile X syndrome do not have autistic behaviors severe enough to be identified as a secondary psychiatric diagnosis. (Author/DB)

Four multiply handicapped students (aged 5-11) received skill instruction under four experimental conditions, involving differing teacher wait-times and intertrial interval durations. Student performance was superior under the long wait-time conditions irrespective of the length of the intertrial interval. (Author/JDD)

Carisbrooke Day Centre was established in Scotland to provide full-time day care for 12 adults with profound and multiple impairments. This paper describes staff selection, admission criteria, student assessment, and the Carisbrooke Wheel, which outlines a coordinated strategy for the delivery of services. (Author/JDD)

Eight cases of early onset bipolar affective disorder in adolescents with mental impairment are described, focusing on age of onset; common characteristics such as rapid cycling, mixed affective states, and lithium resistance; and the likelihood that cerebral dysfunction might cause a secondary form of bipolar disorder. (JDD)

Describes a school-based curriculum for children with profound and multiple learning difficulties in community schools. Considers issues which schools will face as the children are integrated into the community. (RJC)

A parent talks of his family's experience in choosing to keep a severely retarded epileptic 20-year-old son at home. Costs such as loss of the image of a perfect family and benefits such as increased personal growth are identified. (DB)

In a population of 425 individuals with Down's syndrome, 5 persons (1.2%) were identified as having Tourette's disorder. The lack of interrelationship between Down's syndrome and Tourette's disorder argues against an atypical Tourette's disorder. Diagnoses of tardive Tourette's disorder were based on absence of family history of Tourette's, late…