Suggestions of writers such as A. Holland and M. Lahey and L. Bloom are examined regarding their appropriateness for visual-manual communication and are applied to approximately 50 signs most frequently taught to retarded and autistic persons to aid in lexicon planning. Additional signs are proposed for extending this basic list. (Author/DLS)

The study investigated the meaning of communication to 23 deaf college students. Analysis of the ethnographic interviews led to organization of informants' comments into 4 dimensions of communication: language-modality, affective, situational, and sociopolitical. Implications of a multidimensional perspective on communication for comprehensive…

The use of communication boards with teachers by seven nonspeaking, nonambulatory, severely mentally retarded students in a residential classroom setting was studied. Analysis of videotaped nonspeaking student-teacher interactions revealed that these students rarely used their communication boards despite their severe inability to convey messages…