Research is cited to corroborate the lack of conceptual models for building a functional psychological evaluation system for developmentally disabled persons. A model is proposed for individualized evaluation/assessment using a functional approach and based on the cognitive-behavioral perspective. The model can be used to determine directions in…

Research in assessment and intervention with developmentally disabled children has led to important advances in recent years. This article identifies conceptual and practical issues important to the process of behavioral assessment, and presents a framework for the behavioral assessment of the developmentally disabled, with special emphasis on…

The two documents describe California's efforts to collect information on the needs of Spanish speaking parents of developmentally disabled children. Fiesta Educativa was the name of a conference offering workshops and exhibits to more than 1,000 parents and professionals. During the Third Annual Fiesta, information was collected via…

This article proposes assessment targets and protocols for children with profound developmental disabilities who are nonsymbolic communicators. Targets include children's actual or perceived communicative behaviors, their communicative partners, and their communicative environments. Protocols consist of interviews, observations, structured…

This article describes an approach to evaluating and managing feeding disorders in children with developmental disabilities and examines effects of these management strategies on growth and clinical outcomes. A structured approach is stressed and a diagnostic and treatment algorithm is presented. Use with 79 children found that diagnostic-specific…

This guide to helping children with motor-skill problems (dyspraxia or developmental coordination disorder [DCD]) examines the motor learning difficulties and their social implications and suggests some strategies to support children through key learning stages. The first chapter discusses terminology, summarizes research on sensory input and…

Self-injurious behavior is a serious concern for individuals who must provide educational services to developmentally disabled children. This article discusses research related to the motivation of self-injury; provides guidelines for designing treatment programs for self-injurious behavior; and introduces a new nonaversive treatment, differential…

Presented are abstracts and general information on 28 instruments useful for educational assessment of severely developmentally impaired students. An introductory section provides brief discussions on the limitations of the instruments, general rules for administering standardized tests, norm referenced tests, criterion referenced tests,…

This article provides an assessment tool and guidelines for creating instructional programing in aquatic skills development for children with disabilities functioning below levels required for most adapted beginning aquatics programs. It covers individualized goals and objectives, adjustment to the water, and specific aquatic skills. (DB)

The Cayuga-Onondaga Assessment for Children with Handicaps (COACH) is an assessment and planning tool designed to assist in the development of relevant educational programs delivered in integrated settings. The tool provides methods to determine a student's top learning priorities from a family-focused perspective, translate priorities into goals,…

The "Education for All Handicapped Children Act" (1975) requires that all children with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education. Determining who has a disability and who is eligible for special services, however, is not an exact science. While practices differ greatly both across and within states, screening is an…

A longitudinal study was designed to develop and evaluate a screening instrument of developmental delay based on parental assessment of 18-month-old children. The reliability and validity of a parental screening instrument based on the Griffiths Mental Developmental Scale was investigated with a sample of 2,783 Swedish children out of a population…

This document presents a collection of materials on school performance in Maryland, especially as demonstrated in the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program (MSPAP) and the Independence Mastery Assessment Program (IMAP) for some special needs students. The MSPAP is a testing program administered to third, fifth, and eighth grade students…

These guidelines were prepared to provide direction toward implementing a functional instruction curriculum that leads to independence and occupational skills for Ohio's developmentally handicapped and multihandicapped students. The curriculum uses a three-part definition of adaptive behavior, involving independent functioning, personal…