The engineering technique of motion study was evaluated as a means to identify efficient movements and improve the productivity rates for three severely retarded adults performing a mailing task. After receiving training on the most efficient movements, subjects improved production rates and maintained the improved rates. (DB)

To investigate the concept of sports training, a survey was conducted of 170 Special Olympics coaches in Ohio. The survey sought to determine who was responsible for training Special Olympians, their qualifications, and their specific needs and interests concerning preparation for coaching responsibilities. (Author/JDD)

Four students (ages 10-14) with moderate mental retardation learned chained tasks with constant time delay and with the system of least prompts. Both strategies produced criterion-level performance; however, constant time delay was more efficient than least prompts in terms of number of sessions, percent of errors, and direct instructional time to…

A home safety assessment and training methodology for mothers with mental retardation was evaluated. Although the overall number of implemented safety precautions increased, the variability of results among the four mothers suggests additional training or support services are needed. (Author/DB)

Four interdisciplinary staff teams at a public residential facility for persons with mental retardation improved the timeliness of submitting evaluation reports during a period when timeliness was reinforced. Performance deteriorated during the nonreinforcement phase. (Author/DB)

The study taught three moderately mentally retarded adolescents to: (1) communicate an emergency (dial 911), (2) apply first aid for minor injuries, (3) apply a plastic bandage to a minor injury, (4) apply first aid for choking. The maintenance of skills rarely practiced is discussed. (DB)

The acceptability of two different training methods (simulation training using a doll and simulation training on self) for teaching menstrual hygiene skills to young women with developmental disabilities was evaluated in two experiments. Results suggested that opinions about treatment acceptability should be obtained from both professional and…

The study's results showed that the self-instruction procedure used by four severely retarded adults led to improved vocational skills as indicated by increased work production rates and a concomitant decrease in the number of errors. (Author/DB)

The study with three elementary-level moderately retarded students and peer mentors from the regular education program demonstrated that peer mediation was effective in facilitating cooperative play between regular class students and retarded students. Treatment effects were maintained for at least three months. (Author/DB)

The effectiveness of a cognitive-process approach for teaching appropriate responses to criticism were assessed across three young adults with moderate mental retardation who were receiving vocational training. Results indicated that two participants learned this approach and successfully generalized their behavior across untrained stimuli.…

Three adolescents with moderate mental handicaps were taught bedmaking skills through a technique which involved dividing the entire chain into sections, teaching the first section in a total cycle fashion, and adding instruction on subsequent sections in a forward chaining manner. The technique promoted skill acquisition and substantial…

The intelligibility of three synthesized voices was evaluated by unfamiliar listeners (total n=120 secondary students) with or without listener training, using a 2 X 3 design. Results indicated that intelligibility for all three voices significantly improved following listener training. (Author/DB)

The staff of an apartment-based residential support program was taught to use behavior interruption strategies to elicit requesting functions from two women with deaf-blindness and developmental disabilities. Results found the strategies to be both quickly assimilated by the staff and effective in increasing request rates from the subjects.…

A self-management training package used in conjunction with a changing performance criterion was effective in increasing the number of steps a profoundly retarded student in a community employment setting was able to perform independently. A four-step model for teaching the severely disabled to manage their own behavior is suggested. (Author/DB)

This study found both constant time delay and a most-to-least prompting strategy were effective in teaching 4 moderately mentally retarded 18-year-olds to operate a washing machine and dryer.The constant time delay procedure, however, was more efficient in terms of instructional time and number of instructional errors. (Author/DB)