Parents of 10 young students (ages 4-9) with disabilities were interviewed about their priorities for communication skill interventions for their child. Skills most important to parents were those of asking for objects, objecting to the actions of others, maintaining an interaction, and drawing attention to pain or discomfort. (Contains…

Reviews the research and theory supporting the potential utility of measures of nonverbal social communication skills (such as joint attention) for young children with autism. Examples relate these types of measures to current issues, including the "recovery hypothesis," the "pivotal skill hypothesis," and the relative effectiveness of discrete…

Describes using behavior maps to help students identify and change nonadaptive patterns of interaction with adults and peers. Strategies are presented for developing and using behavior maps, and three examples of behavior maps of differing complexity are provided. Evaluation of behavior mapping efforts is also discussed. (CR)

Strategies for curbing disruptions in the classroom include setting expectations, naming and defining behaviors students must learn, modeling appropriate and alternative behavior, setting up routines showing that self-control is important, settling on predictable consequences for blurting out, having children start over if communication breaks…

A study examined the effects of combining naturalistic teaching and peer-mediated tactics to address the developmental skills of 10 preschoolers with autism. Compared to naturalistic tactics only, the involvement of typical peers resulted in a substantial increase in the duration and rate of skills addressed during each teaching episode.…

A study involving two children (ages 7-8) with autism and eight typical peers investigated the efficacy of Pivotal Response Training implemented by multiple peers in enhancing social competency of children with autism. After treatment, the subjects engaged in high levels of interactions, initiations, varied toy play, and language use. (Author/CR)

Examined a teacher-led intervention that used interpersonal and intrapersonal variables to enhance social relationships and adjust behaviors of elementary and secondary regular and special needs students. Teacher surveys indicated that the intervention had a partial positive effect on classroom social life and a differential effect on elementary…

Investigated individual variation in child vocabulary competence, evaluating mothers' sociodemographics, personalities, and vocabulary and children's' gender, social competence, and vocabulary competence. Specific aspects of children and mothers accounted for variation in child vocabulary knowledge and use. Child's gender and social competence and…

A study involving 170 British Columbia students with autism found that the majority received technology for educational participation while a smaller number received voice output communication aids; some students received both types of technology. The primary goals for the technology use were related to writing, expressive communication, and…

Current views on leadership and leadership competencies overlook nonrational and unconscious aspects of human functioning. Six perspectives on group work leadership are presented, with suggestions for competencies derived from the fields of systems thinking and psychodynamic psychology. Outdoor leaders could benefit from developing their intuition…

Focuses on the nature of peer relationships of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children, including relationship problems that are commonly manifested in the areas of academic, conduct, and social problems. Finds that children with ADHD experience numerous peer difficulties and may benefit from specially designed intervention. (SD)

Twenty-six suggestions for setting up a class environment in which children with learning or behavior problems can develop friendships are presented, including integrating friendship into the curriculum, teaching necessary social skills, structuring successful recess and lunch periods, honoring children's friendships in placement decisions, and…

Factor analysis of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale found three factors: (1) social impairment, (2) negative emotionality, and (3) distorted sensory response. Subjects with autism were distinguished from subjects with either pervasive or nonpervasive developmental disorders by higher scores on social impairment. Negative emotionality was most…

The article presents advisory activities to help middle school students understand and strengthen relationships with peers and adults. The article also includes seven tips for setting up a sound advisory progrram. (SM)

Adaptations to the Candy Land board game to allow play by children with moderate or severe disabilities are suggested, such as attaching a small photograph of the student to the marker and using large heavily weighted markers. Ways to generalize new skills and gradually remove the adaptations are discussed. (DB)