This case-control study explores the underlying mechanisms of imitation problems in boys with autism by manipulating imitation task variables and by correlating imitation performance with competence on general motor tests (Movement Assessment Battery for Children and Peabody Developmental Motor Scales). Fifty-five boys participated in this study:…

The final report documents the Greater Cleveland Mental Retardation Development Project, a 5-year demonstration project concerned with solving such problems as how a community can provide all the services and programs needed by the retarded and their families, ensure successful and appropriate employment, and staff and finance such programs.…

The purpose of this study is to explore the value of a perceptual-motor program using predominantly gross motor activities for children with developmental apraxia and deficits in tactile perception. (Author)

Six strategies for teaching handwriting skills to learning disabled elementary students are presented, along with a rationale and illustrated step-by-step teaching procedures for each. Skills addressed include the following: (1) improving eye-hand coordination through dot-to-dot alphabet letter tracing; (2) teaching basic strokes in manuscript…

THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY WAS TO FIND OUT IF INFANTS WOULD EXHIBIT BEHAVIORS CONSISTENT WITH PIAGET'S OBSERVATIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF RECIPROCAL COORDINATIONS AMONG THE LOOKING, SUCKING AND GRASPING SCHEMAS. A SECOND PURPOSE WAS TO SEE IF INCREASED LOOKING AT AND TOUCHING OF NEARBY OBJECTS BY INFANTS WOULD RESULT IN ACCELERATION OF THE…

This guide is being used in the Individualized Motor-Perceptual Study to determine whether working directly with kindergarten children to improve performance on motor-perceptual tasks will affect reading ability at the end of grades one, two, and three. The 5-year project involves six schools. In this guide, there are tips for teaching, suggested…

A general working model of cognitive development assumes that there are sets of orthogonal cognitive abilities, which remain fairly stable after age 7. This paper examines the long term predictive and diagnostic value of assessing specific cognitive abilities among preschool children. This model by empirical studies was defendable on the grounds…

Examples of diagnostic formulations of the "Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt" are outlined and their instructional implications are delineated. The difficulties in paper and pencil copying of geometric designs focus primarily on: separation and overlapping of figures, repetition of design elements, pencil grip, visual perceptions, pattern…

Case studies of three students with spina bifida (ages 8-11) illustrate an individualized six-week handwriting intervention program which stressed assessment, monitoring, and measurement of changes in writing performance. Appropriate changes in physical support (sitting position, writing surface, and choice of writing tool) are recommended. (JW)

A survey was conducted of 193 directors of agencies providing home visits as part of early intervention programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities. The survey indicated that a major function of home visits was to assist families in coordinating and integrating additional services needed from other agencies and resources. (CR)

EPIC (Executive Process-Interactive Control) is a human information-processing architecture that is especially suited for modeling multiple-task performance. The EPIC architecture includes peripheral sensory-motor processors surrounding a production-rule cognitive processor, and is being used to construct precise computational models for basic…

The programing role of the conference coordinator is analyzed in terms of his input as an adult educator (administrator, change agent, or evaluator); the input will vary due to the different types of program planning situations and to the variety of the coordinator's work. (BP)

This article discusses the advantages of interagency cooperation in recreational programming. (PD)