This article begins by discussing requirements for functional behavioral assessment under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and then describes a comprehensive model for the application of behavior analysis in the schools. The model includes descriptive assessment, functional analysis, and intervention and involves the participation…

This article provides a brief overview of general outcome measurement and its potential for assessment of continuous progress in early childhood education. It describes an eight-step research and development process for the generating and evaluating of individual growth and development indicators. These indicators are adaptable across children,…

Given the limited use of social competence assessments by teachers, this article briefly reviews three assessment strategies for preschool children, developmental and curriculum-based assessment, direct observation, and peer relations and friendship assessment. A modified performance-based assessment of peer-related social competence is…

Of 52 children (ages 9-19) with visual impairments who attended a sports camp, 15 demonstrated stereotypic rocking currently or in the past. Children most likely to rock were those with retinopathy of prematurity who underwent lengthy hospital stays and multiple surgeries early in life and who were blind from birth. (Contains references.)…

Seventeen children (ages 8-10) with hearing loss were tested on four types of tasks (speech perception, phonetic awareness, recall of word strings, and comprehension of sentences with complex syntax) and results were compared to controls. Subjects showed evidence of restricted access to acoustic information in the speech signal. (Contains…

A study evaluated a person-centered counseling intervention on the self-concept of four children (ages 6-12) with moderate mental retardation. The study used person-centered art therapy as an adjunct to counseling. Three of the children indicated an improved self-concept. However, only one teacher indicated a positive movement within the child.…

Notes that research shows that neither grade retention nor social promotion improves educational success. Suggests that familiarity with this research is essential when seeking intervention strategies. Considers how it is possible to strengthen the connection between research and practice by recognizing that educational professionals who know…

A study analyzed reading level and readability of 20 behavior treatment plans developed by certified behavior analysts. Those with higher readability levels had somewhat better treatment outcomes. A second study involving four individuals found that manipulations of reading grade level and readability of behavior treatment plans greatly enhanced…

Describes activities of the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP), which aims to increase the number of middle school and high school minority (Black, Hispanic, and Native American) students who are motivated and prepared academically to choose careers in science, engineering, and other technical fields. Summarizes program…

This paper reviews the developing merger of behavior analytic and other environmental approaches to child behavior development, and identifies critical issues confronting this area of research and intervention, including a profusion of terms, a need for more precise descriptive and experimental analyses, and conceptual integration of findings of…

Subjects at risk for specific learning disabilities were assessed on standardized measures throughout elementary and middle school, following an intervention based on task analysis of kindergarten curricula and team teaching. All results were significant for the treatment group in relation to an at-risk cohort. (Author/DB)

The Committee for Economic Development notes, America must invest in tomorrow's "world class" work force. Society must increase its financial investment in children because those born into poverty and neglect often have deprivations impairing learning ability. Investment in early childhood programs is a way to increase children's chances…

The paper outlines risk factors for the development of both communication disorders and emotional/behavioral disorders in young children, outlines communication assessment considerations, offers a transactional approach to early intervention which emphasizes the interplay between young children and their caregiving environments, describes…

Reviews a systems theory approach to the development of community-based suicide prevention programs. Describes the Lifelines model of youth suicide prevention, and discusses the feasibility of implementing this model in rural and isolated areas. Contains 19 references and an outline of procedures for crisis intervention and aftercare. (SV)

This literature review examines the effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction for developing the communication skills of individuals with mental retardation. It discusses the usefulness of computers in view of specific characteristics and special needs of learners, and discusses potential uses of computers in communication intervention,…