Four multiply handicapped students (aged 5-11) received skill instruction under four experimental conditions, involving differing teacher wait-times and intertrial interval durations. Student performance was superior under the long wait-time conditions irrespective of the length of the intertrial interval. (Author/JDD)

A backward chaining procedure was used to train a 6-year-old blind, nonverbal, severely mentally retarded boy to dress himself. Trainers performed three types of procedures: no help, verbal instructions, and physical guidance and instructions. Results indicated that the procedure was successful in teaching the skills necessary for dressing, that…

This study found six students (ages 5-7) with multiple disabilities correctly used a choice card to set goals, assign worksheets, complete work, and evaluate results more frequently during independent work sessions that followed a student choice condition than in independent work sessions that followed a teacher choice condition. (Contains 8…

A study investigated the effects of the Mobility Opportunities Via Education (MOVE) curriculum on the functional walking skills of five elementary students with severe, multiple disabilities. Repeated measures were taken during baseline, intervention, and maintenance phases. All students demonstrated progress in taking reciprocal steps during…

Contained in this teaching guide are two units that offer teaching strategies and activities for use with severely and multiply mentally impaired elementary aged students. The with severely and multiply mentally impaired elementary aged students. The guide is intended to provide structured experiences to foster the use of augmentative and…

This article explains a movement-based approach to the development of language in children with deaf-blindness. This approach uses the salient features of individuals or objects to stimulate use of language in the immediate environment, and later to refer to persons or concepts in a more abstract fashion. It stresses the use of structure and a…

This article describes challenges and solutions to the integration of children with multiple disabilities into supported regular elementary classes: (1) providing a functional curriculum in a regular class; (2) providing community-based instruction; (3) scheduling staff coverage; and (4) promoting social integration. Solutions are illustrated with…

This article compares approaches to teaching children with special learning needs, especially those with severe multiple disabilities. It suggests that behavioral methods result in undesirable instructor control of learning and compares these methods with approaches of effective teachers which encourage student initiative and pupil control.…

This brief paper offers suggestions for parents and teachers working together to develop meaningful communication skills in deaf multihandicapped children. An intervention program developed by Jan VanDijk is described. This program involves the use of environmental engineering to teach language concepts with materials such as a calendar box with…

The article recommends assessment techniques and teaching strategies in the area of reading and language arts for the visually impaired student with learning disabilities. Appropriate reading and language tests are cited. Reading approaches, practical strategies for teaching reading comprehension and spelling, and suggestions for organizing the…

This paper describes the planning and implementation of an instructional unit to teach the basics of American Sign Language to a class of nine elementary-aged male students with serious emotional disturbances (including one with a severe hearing impairment) in a laboratory school. The systematic instructional approach, direct instruction, was…

The booklet describes a program designed to improve the play skills of seriously disturbed, multiply handicapped children (5 to 13 years old) through gross motor skill development. A six step process is described for the adaptive physical education program: assessment, development of interdisciplinary goals, interventions, development of goals for…

This study examined the teaching practices of Maria, a special education teacher who worked with students who had multiple disabilities, were nonverbal, and used augmentative and alternative communication. The study focused on the complex, interdependent, and dynamic nature of teacher knowledge, beliefs, and practices, illuminating the connection…

This study examined the teaching practices of Maria, a special educator who worked with students who had multiple disabilities, were nonverbal, and used augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). It highlighted the complex, interdependent, and dynamic nature of teacher knowledge, beliefs, and practices and evaluated what Maria knew and…