The purpose of this study was to examine the behavioral states of individual children for evidence of responsiveness within and without a multisensory environment (MSE). Three children in the age range of 3-10 years with severe multiple disabilities participated in the study. A single-system ABAB design was used. Participants' behavioral states,…

Background: People with profound and multiple disabilities often display aberrant behaviours (such as stereotypical movements) which can inhibit learning and lead to social stigmatisation. This study was designed to help a man with multiple disabilities increase his object-contact responses and reduce hand stereotypy (in this case, hand/wrist…

Background: This study addresses the question to what extent visual impairment leads to additional disability in adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). Method: In a multi-centre cross-sectional study of 269 adults with mild to profound ID, social and behavioural functioning was assessed with observant-based questionnaires, prior to expert…

Three groups of visually impaired children--10 with rubella, 7 with retrolental fibroplasia (RLF), and 9 with blindness other than rubella or RLF--were observed for stereotypic behaviors. Ss were observed in four different environmental settings: classroom/instruction; mealtime activity/breakfast, lunch, or supper; physical education/movement…

An observational study is reported in which social interactions and on-task behavior were investigated in a mainstreaming program for 20 severely multihandicapped children. It was concluded that severely multihandicapped students in this program experienced many interactions with nonhandicapped children and that their educational activities were…

Three studies were undertaken to examine ways in which profoundly disabled infants and children interact with the environment. Findings suggested that the Ss were active responders and processors of environmental stimuli and that automated equipment under their control was highly motivating for them. (CL)

This study assessed the validity of idiosyncratic choice-making behaviors of three children with multiple disabilities. Children were given either their "choice" of food or drink or were given the opposite. Direct observations of children's acceptance or refusal revealed the children consistently indicated choices during both conditions.…

Four experiments with six students with multiple profound disabilities examined the function of behavioral stereotypies and sensory modalities maintaining them. Findings are discussed in terms of the sensory and social reinforcers that maintain stereotypy, assessment procedures used to identify reinforcers, and the interpretation of assessment…

This study observed ten students with profound and multiple disabilities, with particular attention paid to social and communicative variables operating in educational settings. Comparisons are made with other published studies of behavior state assessment and socio-communicative processes observed in special education programs. (Contains…

Three experiments were conducted involving five people with profound multiple disabilities, to determine whether variations in alertness affected subsequent responsiveness to training programs. Findings suggest that existing levels of alertness do not indicate how individuals will respond during training and that alertness actually can be…

Mentally retarded emotionally disturbed children (N=31) were compared on the Child Depression Inventory and the Child Behavior Profile with 31 children in a normal school setting. Correlational data showed a strong relationship between the cut-off scores for both measures suggesting that similarities exist between depression in mentally retarded…

The effects of an overcorrection procedure on stereotypic behavior of two students (ages 11 and 12) with severe multiple handicaps were investigated in a cooperative school/home program. Results indicated successful implementation of overcorrection by professionals, paraprofessionals, and parents in both school and home settings. (Author/DB)

A study of the sleep patterns of 28 people with severe or profound mental retardation and epilepsy found atypical sleep stages with significant depletion of REM sleep and a predominance of indiscriminate non-REM sleep. Sleep diaries completed by caregivers reveal lengthy sleep periods, especially among those with profound mental retardation.…

Findings from two studies of 42 children with profound developmental delays (26 males and 15 females) using systematic and intense response-contingent learning opportunities interventions are reported. Response-contingent learning games were used to promote the participants' use of behavior that either produced environmental consequences or…

Stereotypic behavior was examined in a group of five multiply handicapped children (4-10 years old) over a 2-year span. Observational data were collected at 6-month intervals in the form of 2-minute running descriptions of the child's behavior and the general setting, or condition, of the behavior (e.g., unattended, or stressed). Results revealed…