Background: The improvement of engagement and involvement in communicative and socially centred exchanges for individuals with multiple and severe disability (MSD) presents complex and urgent challenges to educators. This paper reports the findings of an intervention study designed to enhance the interactive skills of students with MSD using an…

This report, one of a series of case studies on mainstreaming efforts, describes a self-contained class for nine severely mentally and multiply handicapped 16- to 21-year-olds in an urban middle school. Following a description of the physical and social environment is a review of the history of the program begun in 1978-79. The author observes…

The Special Opportunities Program (SOP) at the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School in Washington, DC, serves hearing impaired students (two to 14 years old) who have special learning problems on additional handicaps, including developmental disabilities. The SOP is also integrated with the regular program, which eases mainstreaming. (SEW)

Noted are problems such as the increased incidence of handicaps additional to the hearing impairment, the lack of homogeneity among the hearing impaired, and the poor language ability of most hearing impaired students. Current programs in Missouri, California, and New York are briefly described. (DB)

Presented is the final report of a 3-year (1970-1973) project, funded by Title III, to develop a model instructional and training program with 10 (five each year) 6- to 8-year-old, multiply handicapped, deaf children at the Indiana School for the Deaf. Described are use of a separate building at the school, experimental summer programs 1969-1972…

Nine emotionally disturbed deaf children (aged 10 to 16 years) were served by a day class which had as its main objective the successful return of each child to a regular class for deaf children. (Author/DB)

A self contained behavior management classroom, an intensive program for children with multiple behavior impairments, is described. The classroom is designed to transfer the student back to the special education classroom for severely and trainable mentally impaired and autistic children. Typical behavior problems are considered, along with…

Presented is the final report of a 1-year New York City program of 18 special classes for 133 doubly (physically and mentally) handicapped children, 5-20 years of age. Noted are criteria for student selection such as IQ below 75, the presence of one or more physical handicaps, and completion of toilet training. It is reported that most pupils…

The social participation patterns of 28 young children with visual impairments (some with additional disabilities) during free-play periods was compared across specialized and integrated settings. Although no significant differences were found between settings, there were significant differences between children with and without additional…

A special educator recounts lessons learned from her first year of teaching, in her case in a special class of students with multiple disabilities. Lessons include analysis of early mistakes and the importance of student file review, direct student observation, utilizing the advice of experienced educators, and planning for change. (DB)

This paper compares segregated, integrated, and community-based environments for instructing students with severe, multiple handicaps. Advantages and disadvantages are reviewed, recommendations for selection of suitable instructional environments are offered, and essential criteria for the evaluation of instruction in the various environments are…

The final report of the Garden Grove unified school district project for 1969 through 1972 (funded through Title III) involving six multiply handicapped, legally blind children, 7- to 10-years-old, who were previously excluded from special education (SE) classes is presented. Described as the main procedural objective is development of a…

Israeli elementary-level hearing-impaired students (N=188) were studied to determine the relation between background variables (family characteristics, student characteristics, and educational intervention) and educational placement (special schools, special classes, or regular classes). Placement was found to be related to socioeconomic status,…

Forty students with severe disabilities were evaluated across two years of either inclusive or self-contained educational programming. Comparison of child development and social competence found the inclusive group made statistically significant gains on the developmental measure and realized higher social competence scores in comparison to the…

Presented is an evaluation of a program in seven schools in New York City which provided 19 special classes for 174 doubly handicapped students--mentally retarded and severely physically handicapped--ranging in age from 5 to 21 years old. Among findings listed are that the 30 higher functioning Ss who were given the Wide Range Achievement Test did…