The paper reports three investigations devoted to enhancing the language and/or motor-gestural repertoires of developmentally delayed and severely handicapped young children (n=8). Briefly discussed is research relating to each of the investigations, as well as methodological issues central to modifying social interaction. Noted among study…

To identify trends in institutional reform and deinstitutionalization of the developmentally disabled, 34 administrative documents emanating from a federally funded planning grant program were examined. Documents were gathered in response to a survey letter to state Developmental Disabilities Councils, and fact sheets summarizing the documents…

Presented is Michigan's plan for improving services to the developmentally disabled who are institutionalized or at risk for unnecessary institutionalization. Such planning principles as accountability and normalization are said to be the basis for recommendations at the state, regional, and local levels, as well as for state home and training…

Described is the program of the Georgetown Adolescent Intervention Team (Washington, D.C.), which provides interdisciplinary evaluations and diagnoses, and identifies appropriate alternative placements for developmentally disabled juvenile offenders (10-16 years old and older). The program is discussed in terms of a review of procedures for…

Included are edited transcripts of three presentations by P. Ackerman, Jr. ("A National Perspective on Prevention in the Year 2001"), A. Eaton ("Ohio Prevention Strategies"), and G. Calvert ("The Lost Continent of Prevention"). Abstracted are workshops on the following topics: parent preventive strategies, genetic…

Flexibility and creativity are essential skills for aiding learning-disabled students. In addition, specialized knowledge of specific learning disabilities is essential and will enhance the overall skills of the counselor. The counselor's personal warmth, empathy, and understanding will enhance relationships with the students as well as their…

Interdisciplinary collaboration with other professionals was the theme of a preservice training activity in England in which 18 students enrolled in a teacher training program for learning difficulties were paired with students of speech and language pathology to observe, discuss, and assess a severely disabled child in the school setting. (JW)

Reports a case study of the reading and spelling processes of a developmentally disabled child indicating that there was almost a complete lack of alphabetic functions, that reading appeared to be based on a "logographic lexicon," and that spelling was based on a letter sequence generator. (RS)

Interviews with 59 Chinese parents of children with developmental disabilities uncovered some of the problems these parents experienced because service providers did not speak their language. The lack of language-appropriate information concerning the nature of the handicap and the course of interventive actions seriously affected both parents and…

Part of a special issue on the national network of University Affiliated Facilities, the article defines independent living (IL) and discusses the development and application for the IL concept. An IL model is presented that focuses on improving the community environment and offering assistive devices to persons with severe disabilities.…

Data from 43 states on policies and procedures for training direct-care staff in public and private residential programs for the mentally retarded or developmentally disabled were analyzed to evaluate state training standards, examine curriculum content and training priorities, identify program implementation problems, and identify outstanding…

This report describes the outcomes of a federally funded project that was designed to train master's degree students as early interventionists with skills and abilities to work with infants and toddlers with low incidence disabilities and their families. The low incidence disabilities that were the focus of the training were multisystem…

This paper describes Camp Ramah, a residential summer camp in Central Ontario that offers a one month program for adolescents with developmental disabilities. Up to 15 special needs campers, ages 12-25, participate with up to 400 campers and 150 staff in a residential camping experience. Most campers have mild to moderate mental retardation, some…

This paper addresses the need to create relationships and supports that offer people with substantial disabilities the assistance they require to increase effective control of their lives ("power sharing"). The paper is based on experience and research in North American and British services to people with intellectual disabilities, autism, and…

The construction and validation of the Early Language Milestone Scale for children at risk for developmental disability are described. It is concluded that delayed achievement of early language milestones strongly suggests the presence of a significant underlying developmental disability. Journal Availability: See EC 152 486. (Author/SEW)