With more children and young adults with severe disabilities in today's general education classrooms, SLPs and other professionals must be ready to support their students' communication skills with effective AAC. They'll get the proven strategies they need with this intervention guide from top AAC experts, ideal for use as an in-service…

This manual, the first of a two-part study, describes an assessment and planning approach which school psychologists may employ in working with low incidence, severely handicapped students. Past assessment approaches are criticized for being nonfunctional and largely irrelevant; the proposed approach is directed to helping students achieve the…

The paper examines decisionmaking guidelines for devising a microcomputer-aided augmentative communication device for non-vocal severely handicapped students. Four considerations are addressed: (1) candidates for microcomputer-based augmentative communication devices (motor development, sensory abilities, cognitive development); (2) instruction…

This paper discusses strategies for the evaluation of severely handicapped students. The shortcomings of standardized assessment techniques are reviewed, and the appropriateness of normative comparison and the developmental model with this population is discussed. The role of the school psychologist in student assessment is described, and the need…

Discussion of the impact of a severely communication disabled child on the family focuses on ways professionals can involve parents in their child's use of augmentative and alternative communication devices. Specific strategies presented include providing information, using a systems approach, creating support networks, and advocating teamwork.…

This book deals with the promotion of body awareness through use of educational gymnastics, with handicapped or non-handicapped but poorly coordinated children of all age levels. The method provides an analytical approach to movement, encourages children to listen to language, and assists them in creating their own activities. The activities and…

This manual describes a program for training direct service staff to teach adaptive skills to people who have severe disabilities. Research has demonstrated that the Teaching-Skills Training Program improves on-the-job work performance of staff while teaching clients, requires a small amount of trainer and trainee time (typically less than one…