Managing one's dysphagia at the end-of-life is challenging for the patient and the medical care team. Decisions surrounding oral feeding safety and the use of artificially administered hydration and nutrition require the medical care team to provide its best advice, taking into consideration the patient's health-related goals and the impact the…

This article describes comprehensive, high-quality writing instruction for students with developmental disabilities. The Enriched Writers' Workshop combines differentiated writing process instruction with social communication instruction and cognitive strategy instruction for students with complex writing needs across a wide range of ages. It…

The article examines the use with physically disabled persons of technology as a tool for learning language and as a tool for conversation. Case studies illustrate both applications. (CL)

Communication prostheses are critical components of the nonvocal child's communication process, but are only one component. This article focuses on the steps involved in communicative interaction processes and the potential barriers to the development of effective interaction and analysis of nonvocal communicative interactions. A discussion of the…

Research on emergent literacy is applied to children with severe speech and physical impairments (SSPI). Factors shown to have the greatest influence on emerging literacy skills are identified, as are diverging experiences of young children with SSPI. Intervention strategies suggested for these children include increasing access to books and…

This article considers classroom instruction in reading and writing for children with severe speech and physical impairments (e.g., cerebral palsy). A model of classroom instruction (involving teacher characteristics, context, process, and product) is offered, effective instructional strategies are identified, and recommendations are made to…

Case studies are presented of three individuals with severe communication impairments who had been judged to be intellectually impaired but revealed unexpected achievements after training in nonspeech communication. The communication training used facilitation to circumvent hand function impairments. (JDD)

This article describes a conceptual model of the literacy learning process in individuals with severe congenital speech and motor impairments. The literature is reviewed on the relationship between spoken and written language development in both the nondisabled population and those with disabilities. Practical applications for instruction are…

This article explores the effect of augmentative and alternative communication systems on literacy acquisition by young children with severe speech and physical impairments. The possibility of a relationship between the type of graphic symbols used for communication as a preschooler and the child's early reading competency is considered. (DB)