Discusses the benefit of creating access for impaired or immobile persons to ritualistic experiences. The practice of bringing the ritual experience to the individual unable to physically attend significant events is described. Case studies are included. (NRB)

Reviews advances made through research and application of behavior analytic technology for persons with severe disabilities over the past 10 years. The application of technology is discussed in light of ethical and political movements in the field of education. Advances are discussed categorically according to the components of the operant…

The article discusses the rationale for the provision of services to the severely handicapped and the characteristics of the services provided. Five concepts of essential service provision are described in the context of the following age groups: infancy, preschool and elementary years, secondary school years, and postschool years. (PHR)

Presents suggestions for severity of disability criteria and closure criteria for severely disabled clients being served by an independent living rehabilitation center. Suggestions are founded on experience from a three-year-old project. Measurements of physical, psychosocial, and environmental factors for inclusion in the two sets of criteria are…

An art teacher describes her experiences in teaching three classes of moderately/severely mentally retarded and multiply handicapped students (6-16 years old). Instruction focused on sensory experiences which involved a variety of materials and creative activities. Lesson plans were prepared based on information gathered in a questionnaire…

The system of least prompts, an instructional strategy used with moderately and severely handicapped students, is described. A literature review analyzes the populations for which the procedure has been used, the type of skills that have been taught, the results obtained, and describes specific system parameters used by each author. (Author/VW)

Holds that, despite their apparent divergence from the Reagan Administration's views, arguments for allowing the severely disabled to die actually share with that administration a "laissez-faire morality" and the belief that the government should not be responsible for providing for people unable to provide for themselves. (GC)

The paper points out the inappropriateness of the typical bottom-up or norm-referenced curricula offered to severely handicapped adolescents and young adults. As an alternative, it is proposed that curricula for this population teach chronological-age-appropriate functional skills in natural environments. (Author/PHR)

The exhibition of stereotypic and self-injurious behavior (SIB) combined with a lack of work engagement makes it very difficult to place a person with severe disabilities in an integrated work environment. The purpose of this research was to examine use of a positive procedure to increase engagement on-task and reduce self-injurious slapping and…

Examines developments related to people with disabilities, many of whom are realizing the goal of full participation in community life, moving away from special institutions and other more restrictive settings. Notes that social, political, and technological developments have sustained this movement. Advocates commitment to basic beliefs and…

This monograph addresses the assumptions underlying a resolution calling for a termination of the use of aversive procedures to modify the behavior of persons with severe disabilities that was passed in 1981 by the Executive Board of The Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps. It provides both data and arguments to support the original…

This "gray paper" asserts that the physical, emotional, and financial needs of unpaid caregivers--usually women--have been largely ignored in our national health care policy regarding care for the severely disabled elderly. It discusses the problem of the caregiving role for wives of severely incapacitated husbands, noting that the present health…

The 17 papers were originally presented at a 1977 series of workshops for personnel serving the deaf-blind and severely handicapped and are organized into the following workshop topics: programing and program development, the senses, cognition, communication, and behavior managment. The papers have the following titles and authors: "Education for…