Core vocabulary is defined as "lexical items that are accepted as being central and indispensable to language use" (Bell, 2012, p. 1). Use of core vocabulary is common amongst professionals who teach augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to individuals with disabilities. Although the use of AAC is often classified as an…

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities (ASD/DD) may engage in socially inappropriate masturbation that puts them or others at risk for harm. This may lead professionals, parents, and other stakeholders to intervene in ways that suppress safe, socially appropriate, and gratifying masturbation. Single case…

The purpose of this systematic review of literature was to synthesize research on interventions that used augmented reality (AR) to teach academic skills to students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Eight studies published between 2007 and 2020 were included in the synthesis. These studies…

Children and adults with developmental disabilities often experience oral health problems such as excessive plaque accumulation and dental restorations related to caries. Researchers have examined the efficacy of a variety of behavioral intervention packages to teach preventative strategies (brushing, flossing) and to decrease challenging…

Families face systemic barriers when deciding on educational services for their children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Further, caregiver health and well-being is critical for supporting children with IDD. In addition, research has shown a negative correlation between the quality…

For children with autism or intellectual and developmental disabilities who also have complex communication needs, communication is a necessary skill set to increase independence and quality of life. Understanding the how, where, and communication style being taught is important for identifying deficits in the field as well as which interventions…

The current meta-analytic review analyzed 43 studies published in English, Chinese, and Japanese to determine the effects of caregiver involvement for promoting communication skills of individuals with ASD and IDD. Tau-U effect sizes, the Kruskal-Wallis H test, and the Dunn post hoc test were employed to calculate for moderator analyses: child…

An increasing number of investigations have described various interventions to promote the emergence of derived responding within the relation of sameness for individuals with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. Systematic searches identified 53 studies published since 2013 that met inclusion criteria. These studies were…

In 2009, Kroeger and Sorensen-Burnworth published a comprehensive review of the literature on toilet training individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. Their review highlighted that the majority of toilet training programs were modelled after Azrin and Foxx's Rapid Toilet Training (RTT) method. The current…

Sensory processing abnormalities are frequently reported in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but few studies have evaluated the utility of the measures used to evaluate sensory responses. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify current trends in sensory processing assessments. Across the 93 studies included in this…

Treatments for individuals with developmental disabilities regularly include assessments of individual choice and preference. These procedures assist in the development, design, and maintenance of effective, evidence-based practices. Despite widespread use, these assessments may or may not accurately identify reinforcers that will be effective in…

This meta-analysis analyzed 39 studies that met the inclusion criteria for employment-related interventions for individuals with developmental disabilities. Each experiment included in this analysis either met or met with reservations all of the basic design standards (Kratochwill et al. 2010, 2013). Tau-U effect sizes were calculated for each…

Although many researchers have examined the prevalence of stereotypy in individuals with developmental disabilities, the results of previous studies have not been aggregated and analyzed methodically. Thus, we conducted a systematic review of studies reporting the prevalence of stereotypy in individuals with developmental disabilities. Our results…

Significant research exists on the benefits and potential challenges of employing individuals with developmental disabilities (DD), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Most of this research has focused on employment preparation and attainment practices targeted at persons with DD. There has been no knowledge synthesis related to building…

A systematic review was conducted to analyze the scope and breadth of the existing training protocols for establishing social and communicative behavior using high-tech, touchscreen devices. This review aimed to determine the degree to which studies evaluating high-tech communication aides have established procedures to extend, or completely…