Continuous observational recording over 57 hours evaluated behavior states of three adults with profound and multiple disabilities. Two independent observers also recorded for 22 hours. Although overall percentage agreement was satisfactory (above 80%), agreement on occurrence was unsatisfactory (mean of 65%). Agreement data were superimposed on…

Interviewed parents and staff of Stepping Stones, a project to transition severely disabled children from home-based intervention program to preschool, to identify concerns and information needs. Found that parents were unsure about educational objectives for non-disabled children at the preschool and were therefore uncertain about what to expect…

In Britain, further education funding is not yet fully extended to persons with profound and multiple learning difficulties. Progression is too narrowly defined as steps toward higher, more complex goals, which effectively excludes this population from postsecondary participation. (SK)

This article presents and discusses the position statement of the National Joint Committee for the Communication Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities, which addresses concerns about inappropriate eligibility criteria in providing access to necessary communication supports and services. It discusses elements of the position statement, its…

Interviews with 23 former or current consumers of vocational rehabilitation services found not all were employed but the majority lived independently. Employees were happy with their jobs. However, workplace accommodations were virtually nonexistent. Suggestions are provided on areas in which people who are deaf and low functioning may need…

Five elementary schools were studied to investigate the way teachers used peer interactions to facilitate the inclusion of a student with moderate or severe disabilities. Strategies included encouraging peers to work with students with disabilities, treating the student as "just another student;" encouraging age-appropriate interactions, and…

Structured interviews were conducted with 27 elementary school principals, general educators, and special educators concerning inclusive education for students with severe disabilities. Comments were categorized and compared by professional role and level of implementation. Analysis identified both agreement and some differences in perception of…

The paper discusses approaches designed to reduce, eliminate, or replace unconventional behavior in individuals with severe disabilities. Emphasis is placed on the need to analyze the communicative functions of behavior and to facilitate the development of an individual's communication system. A case example of a four-year-old nonverbal child is…

Curricular infusion is recommended as a method to promote integration of students with severe disabilities into regular schools. A case study is presented of the curricular infusion process as employed in middle school science and social studies, including examples of infused activities and outcomes of the effort. (Author/JDD)

This study with 54 teachers of the moderately to profoundly handicapped examined whether different trends on graphs, frequencies of data collection, and interaction of trend and frequency influence teacher judgments of student performance. Results found that unless graphs indicated systematic improvement, judgments tended to differ by frequency.…

Comparison of two groups of parents of children with severe disabilities found that the group receiving intensive intervention (including stress management and parenting skills training, support groups, and community-based respite care) showed less anxiety and depression, with large treatment effects observed for both fathers and mothers.…

Nine teachers in programs serving school-aged children or adults with severe disabilities received training on applying rules in data-based instructional decisions. After one-two years of implementation, the teachers' decision making and the effect of these decisions on student progress were evaluated. Some support was found for the benefit of…

By inserting a typical instructional trial into an ongoing sequence of behaviors, three students, aged six-seven, with severe disabilities were taught to request items or events within interrupted behavior chain contexts. The strategy was effective in establishing initial communicative responses in the three learners. Responses generalized to…

The study found that teachers of students with severe disabilities can be taught to use a time delay procedure within their normal classroom routine and that the use of delay may have beneficial effects on their students' speech, such as increased mean length of utterance, responsivity, and movement along a continuum of spontaneity. (Author/DB)