Strategic pooling of assistive technology, human resources and funding options has made meaningful employment possible for the 25-year-old man with cerebral palsy who is the subject of this paper. Since graduating from high school four years ago, he has held a part-time job at the warehouse of a bookseller. To perform his job, which involves…

Two single subject multiple probes across subjects research studies were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of two instructional writing programs. The objective of the first study was to determine the effect of an instructional program on the selection of initial letters of words by 3 children with developmental disabilities (ages 7-10) who…

This paper explores three different language representation methods used to access vocabulary in augmentative alternative communication (AAC) and identifies which are most effective for core and extended vocabulary. The benefits and drawbacks of using spelling, single meaning pictures, and semantic compaction (Minspeak) are described. The paper…

Examines modern and postmodern concepts of hope as applied to services for persons having mental retardation. Contrasts modernist theories of special education, based on interventionist social science, with postmodernist views, which critique modern social science as perpetuating stigmatized "mentally retarded" identities defined by…

Effects of the Picture Exchange Communication System on the spontaneous communication skills and social interactions of a 6-year-old girl with autism across her home and school environments were evaluated. Results indicated increases in spontaneous language, increases in intelligible verbalizations in two of three settings, and changes in peer…

This study investigated effects of a positive behavior support plan accompanied by an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) intervention on the reduction of challenging behaviors in four children with moderate and severe mental retardation. Functional assessment was followed by a positive AAC support plan designed by the school team to…

A study involving 58 parents of children with disabilities investigated how professionals could help families learn how to use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices. Sensitivity toward child specific issues of ethnicity and disability, and parental involvement in parent-professional partnerships were stressed. (Contains…

Facilitated communication (FC) as an augmentative or alternative communication system was evaluated with 14 students having autism. At the end of 10 weeks of instruction, no participants were able to produce functional, typed communication, thereby failing to support the cause-effect relationship proposed by FC proponents. (DB)

Twelve nonambulatory adults with severe speech impairments associated with cerebral palsy were studied to examine the effects of aided-message length (single-word vs. phrase-generated messages) and partner feedback on perceptions of communicative competence while using an adult augmentative and alternative communication system. Results indicated…

A study involving an adult with severe mental retardation and other disabilities found that the addition of a communication device, job coach social facilitation training, and eliciting co-worker support for social integration increased the social interactions of the employee in a supported employment setting. (Contains references.) (CR)

Purpose: Research comparing the intelligibility of human and synthesized speech among both young children and adults has indicated that synthesized speech results in a degrading of intelligibility. The purpose of this study was to compare speech intelligibility of high-probability sentences produced using DECtalk[R] "Perfect Paul" and live speech…

This study investigated the effectiveness of the CD, Families, Culture and AAC, as a culturally sensitive teaching tool for students enrolled in a speech-language pathology AAC course. Students enrolled in the course were divided into three learning format groups that (a) viewed the CD and engaged in learning challenges independently, (b) viewed…

This paper presents Skinner's (1957) analysis of verbal behavior as a framework for understanding language acquisition in children with autism. We describe Skinner's analysis of pure and impure verbal operants and illustrate how this analysis may be applied to the design of communication training programs. The picture exchange communication system…

Autism is a life-long, complex developmental disorder that causes impairment in the way individuals process information. Autism belongs to heterogeneous categories of developmental disabilities where neurological disorders lead to deficits in a child's ability to communicate, understand language, play, develop social skills, and relate to others.…

This study asked whether nine adolescent and adult facilitated communication users with autism could, in a facilitator-blind condition, respond accurately to stimuli presented on a computer screen, thus demonstrating that they are the sole authors of their communication. A time and task sampling method was used, in which various communication…