The Autism Diagnostic Interview was used to assess the difference between a group of 21 males and 21 females (ages 6-36) with autism with equivalent chronological nonverbal intelligence quotients greater than 60. Males were rated more severely autistic than females on several measures of early social development but not in other areas such as…

Examined the influence of changes in child-care teachers and changes in teacher-child relationships on children's social competence with peers. Both changes in primary teachers and changes in teacher-child relationships were associated with changes in children's social competence with peers. (Author/BB)

Five adults with developmental disabilities were trained on six interactional skill areas using the "Sorry" game format. The study involved natural environment training, role playing, and modeling of correct responses only as an error correction procedure during training. All participants increased their use of trained behaviors during…

Analysis of the social exchanges of 33 toddlers with developmental disabilities showed that more of the observation time was spent socially with mothers than with peers, and the number of turns per exchange was longer with mothers. However, toddlers initiated more social exchanges with peers than with mothers. Few changes were exhibited over time.…

Argues that adult education must be concerned with coordination of adult development and social development. Suggests that the functions of adult education are adjustment to social needs, economic growth, enriched intellectual content, and enhancement of individualization. (SK)

Differences were examined in parent ratings of social-emotional behavior among 64 preschool-aged children referred for child find screening and assessment and 64 preschool-aged typical children. The children who had been referred were found to have greater social skills deficits and problem behavior excesses than the comparison group. (Author/CR)

Maintains that the mental "playground" of young people, the field of opportunities where they learn to grow into the person they are uniquely destined to become, has shrunk dramatically. Reflects on three models for youth ministry and religious education that can respond to this phenomenon. (MJP)

This study compared a group of nine children (ages 3 to 8) with congenital blindness and an autism-like syndrome with nine sighted children. Children with autism had more severe abnormalities in terms of their relationships with people and emotional expressions, and were more impaired in the area of pretend play. (CR)

Ten children (ages 5 to 16) with autism, 10 with Down syndrome, and 10 controls were tested on a task that required matching faces on the basis of emotion and on a task that required judging pleasantness of a face. Children with autism performed worse on both facial-expression-of-emotion subtasks. (Author/CR)

Describes and provides contact information for different competitions for students with disabilities in the arts, service learning and leadership, and academics. Discusses the benefits of competitions, including enhancement of learning skills, development of social skills, and development of lifelong interests. (CR)

Presents a qualitative analysis of cognitive and emotional functioning in intellectually borderline adolescents and the consequences for personality and social development. Psychopathological risk is analyzed. Describes conceptualizations that intellectually borderline adolescents have of their own mental functioning. Discusses the implication for…

A study analyzed the acquisition of communicative functions and means in 15 children and youth with autism over a one-year period. Participants made advances in skills development in both functions and means. Functions appeared to follow a developmental sequence from behavior regulation to social integration to joint attention. (Author/CR)

Examined differences in reactions to children's aggressive play of mothers with aggressive or nonaggressive preschoolers. Found that mothers of aggressive preschoolers were more likely than other mothers to stop aggressive play, make value judgments, withdraw when aggressive play occurred, and make no effort to join or modulate the play. Findings…

A study compared two approaches for teaching cooperative play to six children (ages 4-12) with autism. In one approach, children observed cooperative play before participating. In the second approach, participants verbally described the modeled play episode before participating. Participants failed to acquire cooperative play until the verbal…

Argues that the individualistic-collectivistic dichotomy results in mislabeling both cultures and individuals. Discusses ways in which individualistic concerns with independence and collectivistic concerns with interdependence coexist in Western and non-Western cultures. Outlines a theoretical framework explaining the coexistence of diverse social…