This article describes a method for identifying test items as disability neutral for children with vision and motor disabilities. Graduate students rated 130 items of the Preschool Language Scale and obtained inter-rater correlation coefficients of 0.58 for ratings of items as disability neutral for children with vision disability, and 0.77 for…

The paper reports on a case study of the language environments of two severely involved, non-oral cerebral palsied preschoolers. Observation of interactions, comprehension development, acquisition of productive signals and of use of supplementary communicative devices revealed deviances in language directed to severely multiply physically…

This study investigated the semantic and syntactic knowledge of a child (age 12) with severe multiple disabilities who could read, write, and comprehend 2 languages but did not initiate conversation. The study demonstrates that high levels of language comprehension and ability to read and write do not automatically transfer to conversational…

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 INTRODUCTORY TEXT ON CEREBRAL PALSY IS DIVIDED INTO TWO SECTIONS. THE FIRST SECTION OF THE BOOK CONTAINS INFORMATION ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THE MEANING OF CEREBRAL PALSY, PROGRAMS FOR THOSE WITH CEREBRAL PALSY, THE NEUROLOGICAL BASES, ETIOLOGY, AND DIAGNOSIS, AND THE CLASSIFICATION OF CEREBRAL PALSY. PROBLEMS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH CEREBRAL PALSY…

The ability of at-risk and handicapped infants and toddlers to interact with microcomputers was studied. One research phase focused on the parameters (motor, language, and cognitive developmental levels) for using the microcomputer. The overall project examines eight levels of use culminating in using a menu driven program for making choices to…

A case study is presented of a nine-year-old boy with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and vision impairment, chronicling his development of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and literacy skills from birth to second grade. Development and use of his AAC system is described, along with activities for language and literacy development.…

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)

The guide lists and summarizes publications designed to help parents of children with disabilities. In the first section, publications covering general aspects of handicaps--including personal accounts of parents, early home intervention, schooling, adulthood, and additional information resources--are described. Section II presents information…

In a cerebral palsy-blind experimental school unit for day and residential care, a staff of 13 served 30 children in 6 years with 12 to 17 children each year. All but six children who were found to be nontrainable progressed: eight became trainable, eight trainable and partly educable, and eight educable. Variable progress was found characteristic…

Directed to parents, the text discusses normal and delayed speech development and considers the causes of delay. Suggestions are given for helping deaf, emotionally disturbed, brain damaged, and physically handicapped children. Additional suggestions are provided for parents of twins, of stutterers, and of mongoloid or multiply handicapped…