Discusses methodological problems of Sigman and Ruskin's longitudinal study. Questions whether determination of specificity, universality, and uniqueness is appropriately addressed by between-syndrome comparisons. Describes problems with group matching, offers a method of partially correcting them, and argues that group designs have limited…

Addresses questions about group comparisons and the extent to which the original Sigman and Ruskin study identified specific, unique, and universal deficits in autism. Considers the alternate methodology for measuring improvements in the performance of children with Down syndrome and autism. (JPB)

Effective systems for moving individuals with autism through a continuum of services, applicable across various educational settings, are described, including specific examples of implementation strategies used in a large treatment center for individuals with developmental and neurological disabilities. Implementation strategies focus on providing…

This paper discusses paradigm shifts in the fields of mental retardation and developmental disabilities--toward facilities-based, services-based, supports-based, and empowering services. The nature of each paradigm shift and forces for change are highlighted. Discussion focuses on recommendations for professional practice in education and services…

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…

A study investigated the effects of using videotaped self-modeling on the acquisition of new linguistic structures used for requesting in three preschoolers with developmental disabilities. Participants were able to learn through self-modeling; however, initial difficulties with generalization to the classroom setting were found. (CR)

Uses ethnographic methods in a self-contained classroom. Finds that the room as a text-rich environment; latitude given to students to govern their own literate behavior; regularly conducted storyreading sessions; and the constructive use of computers facilitated literacy learning, while restriction of instructional time; overreliance on…

A comparison of the adaptation of 16 Korean and 16 Korean American parents to their children with developmental disabilities found both groups experienced a process of transformation in regard to their feelings about their children. Differences in public policy, social services, and available resources suffused parental accounts of their…

Supported-employment employees participated in an adventure-therapy program designed to enhance self-esteem and facilitate an internal locus of control. Results indicated that persons assigned to the experimental treatment group gained greater self-esteem and a larger shift toward internality than did the control group. Effects dissipated over a…

Two boys, ages 7 and 9, with severe developmental disabilities were taught to use requests conditionally (when desired items were proximally distant) to obtain desired snack items. Results suggest that the conditioned discriminations were established quickly and both learners generalized their conditional discriminations to other contexts.…

Background: Parents with children with developmental disabilities (DD) encounter a variety of stressors associated with rearing their children and must develop effective coping mechanisms in order to adapt successfully to these challenges. Previous research has failed to establish the role of parental individual differences in the reported use of…

A peer support intervention was developed to support aging caregivers and adults with developmental disabilities in planning for the future. The intervention consisted of a legal/financial training session followed by five additional small-group workshops. Pretest and 1-year follow-up surveys were conducted with 29 families participating in the…

The framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) was applied to examine the factors associated with childhood impairment and leisure activity. Information on leisure activity was obtained using a structured questionnaire from a population-based cohort of young adults with childhood impairment. The…

Overselective stimulus control was assessed in 29 students at residential schools for individuals with developmental disabilities. Overselectivity testing included three different delayed identity matching-to-sample tasks. Sample stimuli for the Form/Color Test were nine possible combinations of three colors and three forms. On each trial, the S+…

The possible mechanisms involved in continuities and discontinuities in psychopathology between childhood and adult life are considered in relation to the findings from systematic, prospective, long-term longitudinal studies. Findings on schizophrenia, neurodevelopmental disorders, emotional disturbances, antisocial behaviour and substance abuse…