The paper reviews research on the choice discrimination program, a method of teaching receptive language to severely handicapped children. The writer's own work using this method is compared to previous research, and he suggests that the approach may be useful with other groups. (CL)

The paper describes a domestic training environment created through a joint agreement among 10 rural public school districts to teach severely handicapped students domestic skills in a natural and future community environment. Skills checklists and schedules are discussed along with the logisitics and costs of providing the training environment.…

The article examines two common rationalizations for euthanasia of persons with severe handicaps and presents arguments to refute them. The article calls for parents, professionals, and friends of persons with severe handicaps to be vocal in refuting euthanasia and its rationales. (Author/CL)

Effects of a movement suppression time-out, which involved punishing any movements or verbalization while a client is in the time-out area, were evaluated in four experiments. The procedure produced a larger reduction in the target behavior in all three children and effectiveness was explained in terms of suppression of self-stimulation during…

A teacher training and supervision program for increasing the involvement of severely handicapped adolescents and adults in functional educational tasks was accompanied by large increases in functional tasks in three classrooms. In two subsequent experiments, surveys provided social validation for the criteria for functional versus nonfunctional…

A decision-making process for the appropriate use of microswitches in educational programs serving students with severe handicaps and physical disabilities charts six steps on such aspects as nature of the activity, feasibility of direct instruction, safety, and program implementation. (CL)

Two norm-referenced tests--Test for Auditory Comprehension of Language (TACL) and Preschool Language Scale (PLS) and one criterion-referenced task, the Basic Two-Choice Object Discrimination Task--were administered to nine severely handicapped preschoolers. Overall, performance and behavioral ratings tended to be best for the Two-Choice Task and…

Results showed no consistent trends toward acquisition when training for severely disabled autistic Ss (5-7 years old) was provided in only some settings. However, the continuity approach which coordinated all of the children's daily activities produced immediate and steady gains in successful toileting. (Author)

Competencies required by paraprofessional personnel who are responsible for transportation of severely handicapped students are discussed in terms of behavior management strategies, safety, medical considerations, and five other aspects such as use of a functional radio and a telephone chain for emergencies. (MC)

Parents of severely disabled or chronically ill children need to find competent baby-sitters for respite as well as opportunities to spend time with other family members. Baby-sitters, who may be found among supportive professionals, community groups, and college sutdents, may be trained to deal with specific child care concerns. (CL)

Principles, processes, and information that can be used in selecting an initial lexicon for severely handicapped persons are discussed. Two strategies for lexicon selection, one based upon functional-remedial logic and the other upon developmental considerations, are presented together with guidelines for selecting lexical items derived from each.…

The paper presents a model for organizing in formation about severely handicapped learners by categorizing educational advances into what-to-teach variables (goal selection), instruction variables, and curriculum modification. (Author/CL)

A six-phase process for transferring classroom skills taught to moderately and severely handicapped students to the home environment is described. Steps center on cooperative goal planning, curriculum, cooperative evaluation, teaching for transfer, parent-professional cooperation, and evaluation. (CL)

The author describes the difficulties her family of 12 has faced with finding the best programs for their multiply handicapped, severely physically disabled preschoolers. (CL)

A transdisciplinary approach to serving severely handicapped students offers benefits (including increased specialists' consultation time) as well as problems (such as impeded communication due to specialized terminology). Twenty suggestion for implementing a transdisciplinary model are listed, and implications for teacher education briefly…