Danquah Communication System (DanCS) symbol boards were developed to provide an inexpensive augmented communication device with a computerized voice interface to help nonverbal individuals with severe mental retardation or other severe disabilities to more easily communicate their needs and reduce aggressive behaviors. Evaluation with 30 subjects…

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (9-11), terrorism poses a continuous threat to those living in the United States. A substantial number of people may have experienced behavioral and life changes since the attacks, with possible implications for public health. This study investigated behavioral and life changes American people have…

Researchers define learning in many different ways, but all agree learning causes a permanent change in human behavior. The purpose of this DETC Occasional Paper is to illustrate how the principles of learning can facilitate the design of effective instruction. The authors first describe the principles of learning (contiguity, repetition,…

This paper begins by outlining four aims of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, namely: (1) to create developmental environments which facilitate interaction between adults and children; (2) to develop adults' sensitivity for children and to increase their level of knowledge of the young child's needs; (3) to give adults the ability to…

Twenty papers on positive behavioral support for people with difficult behavior are grouped into four sections: (1) family issues and family support; (2) education issues; (3) social inclusion; and (4) community inclusion. Papers include: "Parent Education for Prevention and Reduction of Severe Problem Behaviors" (Lynn Kern Koegel et…

This Master's project was designed to implement and evaluate classroom intervention and training in conflict resolution for elementary school students. Subjects were first and third graders from a rural community in north central Illinois. To document the extent of existing student conflict, a teacher survey and journal, playground behavior…

In making the transition to preschool, some children exhibit behaviors that demonstrate an inability to function independently during parts of the school day. One such behavior is clinging, or the need for unusually frequent physical contact with the teacher. This study evaluated the efficacy of a social skills package and Premack contingency…

Weapons violence is a major public health problem that especially impacts minority youth. Interventions designed to reduce weapon use by youth are categorized as educational/behavioral change, legal, and technological/environmental. Few educational programs currently exist, but those that do largely concern firearm safety courses, public…

This paper reports the findings of the first annual evaluation of the Full Service Schools Grant of the Family Services Center in Gainesville, Florida. The Family Services Center is a coordinated effort among local, state, and federal agencies to provide integrated health, education, and social services to qualified families who may require a…

This study investigated the effectiveness of a preventive multimodal school-based program designed for the development of prosocial behavior in kindergarten children. Because the theoretical orientation was preventative and ecologically based, the Kindergarten Intervention Project (KIP) involved components for teacher support, parent involvement,…

This study sought to answer the question of how people with learning disabilities have become highly successful in various fields. It sought to identify alterable variables, that is, the behaviors that can be cultivated and shaped, that contribute to high levels of vocational success. A group of 46 highly successful adults with a history of…

A study was done that compared the parental involvement of three generations of Japanese Americans in their children's education, particularly their involvement in academic work and extracurricular activities and perceived barriers to involvement. First generation Japanese American immigrants are called "Isseis" in Japanese; second…

Three elementary students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities and aberrant behaviors were taught to initiate and maintain a conversation with nondisabled peers (who were not classmates) utilizing a communication book adaptation. Additionally, all members of their regular education classes were given the information they needed to…

The effectiveness of a peer leadership program connecting senior high school students with at-risk, new eighth-graders in seven Atlanta (Georgia) high schools is evaluated. The program trains the peer leaders in leadership and group dynamics and then places pairs of leaders with 10 or 12 advisees for weekly meetings. The study population includes…

The Teachers Achieving Success with Kids (TASK) mentorship program was designed to improve the attendance, discipline, academic achievement and attitudes of at-risk students attending an urban middle school. In order to develop positive relationships, 25 teacher-student pairs met each day away from the classroom setting and engaged in one hour…