The learning modules contained in this document are designed to permit instructors in many settings to deliver high quality training to caregivers of Alzheimers' disease patients. Instructors can prepare by reviewing the Instructor's Guide which outlines the behavioral objectives each learner will be expected to achieve to complete the module as…

The paper stresses that, in teaching language handicapped children, the natural reinforcement of language as means of communication, of obtaining wants, is of more value than reinforcers (such as candy) often used in clinical settings. (PHR)

Factors in selecting a nonvocal mode for language training with individual children are described, along with the results of this selection procedure as applied to five autistic children (5 to 8 yeas old). Attention is also directed to the rationale for, and the specific steps involved in, four techniques that parents can be trained to use to…

A water mist was employed as a punisher to reduce head hitting in a 10-year-old multiply handicapped, visually impaired child. Results indicated that water mist alone was effective in reducing the frequency of head hits during meals, but other situations required the addition of primary reinforcers, stimulus control, or both. (Author/JDD)

This article discusses social skills training for students with emotional or behavioral disorders who have difficulty building social relationships. It addresses problems with current social skills instruction program, the lack of generalization data, and strategies to program systematically for generalization and maintenance of trained skills.…

This paper reviews the rationale and behavioral interventions commonly used for teaching compliance to individuals with mental retardation and the role of ethics in the use of such interventions. The paper examines issues in deciding whether compliance is an appropriate objective for an individual and whether interventions designed to achieve…

The monograph is intended to help parents or professionals teach severely handicapped children eating and drinking skills through the problem-oriented approach. The approach focuses on identification of the problem which restricts development of the skill, and selection of an alternative strategy for sequential teaching. The first section, on…

The effects of social interaction skill interventions on the social behavior of four preschool children with behavioral handicaps were evaluated. Findings indicated unique effects for social skills training and contingency management intervention. Results are discussed in relation to the role of reciprocal interaction and behavioral trapping for…

Proposes that the repetitive and stereotyped behavior displayed by many children with severe disabilities may be used as part of the child's educational program. Discussion is on recent research into stereotyped behavior, functionally equivalent behaviors, the relevance of early normal development, the social context of learning, and ways to use…

Ten learning-disabled elementary students experiencing peer rejection participated in a 20-week intervention with a contextualist training model. Five of the 10 students' social status was classified as unrejected at the postintervention measure, and there were significant increases in positive peer nominations for males at posttest and 6-month…

This study, involving four severely handicapped adults in a community residence, compared two interventions for improving quality of household cleaning. A graduated prompting system showed moderate improvements in three subjects, whereas a self-management package (including sequential picture cues, self-monitoring, feedback, and public posting of…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to measure the effectiveness and practical utility of an organizational learning intervention for an organization that was not progressive, was not specifically chartered as a learning organization, and was situated in an urban, culturally diverse, and under-privileged community. Design/methodology/approach:…

This article introduces the use of nonaversive behavior management with persons exhibiting undesirable behaviors. Definitions are suggested and three fundamental elements are explained: (1) a nonaversive set of procedures; (2) social validation criteria emphasizing personal dignity; and (3) the prohibition or restriction of certain aversive or…

Three severely mentally retarded adolescents who exhibited repetitive hand movements were assessed during baseline (reinforcement for on-task behavior) and sensory change (rings on fingers of both hands, rings and reinforcement, and faded rings) conditions. Sensory change effectively reduced the target responses for up to four hours. (Author/JDD)

Three mentally handicapped students (aged 13, 36, and 40) with maladaptive speech received training to answer questions with verbal labels. The results of their cues-pause-point training showed that the students replaced their maladaptive speech with correct labels (answers) to questions in the training setting and three generalization settings.…