Experiences working with nonverbal severely and profoundly retarded and multiply handicapped children are discussed in this paper. Alternative communication systems are reviewed, including use of manual signs, pictures and symbols, photographs, realistic drawings, pictograms, and Bliss Symbols. A model for teaching basic understanding of…

Students with the dual handicaps of hearing impairment and mental retardation display special problems in language acquisition. These problems do not appear to have been addressed by curricula that have been designed for either of the single handicap groups. Since specially designed curricula for this population are virtually nonexistent, a…

The paper describes the Makaton Vocabulary as an alternative communication mode for children and adults with communication and language difficulties. The language program comprises the following components: a core vocabulary based on concepts/items needed to express essential needs and experiences; the use of signs and/or symbols always associated…

Conversational Spanish is taught to hearing-impaired adolescents at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD) through the use of cued speech. This paper provides an explanation of this mode of instruction and a description of the Spanish program at MSSD. The students learn the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Cued…

Research indicates that using the manual alphabet in classes of non-deaf students is effective both for spelling and vocabulary instruction. Teachers appreciate the way signing physically involves the students, acts as a self-cueing system, is inexpensive, and helps with writing problems like "b" and "d" reversals. Other advantages are: (1) it is…