Career development for youth with autism

Conclusion The perception of a person's value in society is, in large measure, determined by the individual's earning power and the status of the job which that person holds. Sadly, most autistic and other persons with severe handicaps are not only unemployed but also spend most of their lives in segregated settings, isolated from society's mainstream, and dependent upon others for their care.The employability of persons with severe handicaps, such as autism, is contingent on the adequacy of their career development programs. The READDY Program and other programs for persons with severe handicaps have clearly demonstrated that, with appropriate instruction, these students can become productively employed.Preparation of this article was supported in part by Grant No. G008430082 from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education.Dianne E. Berkell, Ph.D. is Associate Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Special Education and Reading, C. W. Post Campus, Long Island University. She is Director of Research for The Nassau Center for the Developmentally Disabled in Woodbury, New York, and is Director of Project READDY (Real Employment Alternatives for Developmentally Disabled Youth).     

Classification of the hearing impaired for independent living using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale

Training hearing-impaired persons in independent living skills has become a focus of education and rehabilitation programs for the hearing impaired. Yet, few programs and assessment instruments are designed to evaluate a person's potential for acquiring independent living skills. In this study, the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale was used to classify 118 hearing-impaired persons in groups based on their ability to be trained in independent living skills. Cluster analysis was used to group the subjects according to four domains: communication, daily living, socialization, and maladaptive behavior. The results indicate that the behavior scale can be used to classify hearing-impaired persons according to their ability to acquire independent living skills. The cluster analysis resulted in three groups. The persons in the lowest group did not have the most severe hearing losses, but they were more likely to have additional handicaps. This suggests that additional handicaps may be more important than degree of hearing loss in determining whether hearing-impaired persons can acquire independent living skills.     

Educational integration for persons with handicaps: a conceptual discussion

ABSTRACT

Presented is a discussion of the trend toward educational integration of persons with handicaps and a review of some of the concepts and definitions relevant to this pursuit. Persons with handicaps have systematically been denied their human rights and privileges throughout history. Today the main issue in education for persons with handicaps is integration, which is a means by which to forward the goals of normalization. Education for persons with handicaps, if we consider the philosophy of normalization, and adhere to the notion of educational integration, should reflect and be based upon extensive interaction among pupils with handicaps, their teachers, support staff, peers and families.     

The Vane Kindergarten Test: Temporal stability and ability to predict behavioral criteria

The present study contributed further information on the reliability and ability to predict behavior problems of the Vane Kindergarten Test (VKT), a relatively new test. The VKT is judged to have limited usefulness in early detection of learning handicaps for two reasons: (a) Its reliability is too low to allow discrimination between individuals, and (b) The ability of the VKT to predict problem behaviors is quite limited.     

The handicapped child and child abuse

For a group of children with handicaps, growth and development are also affected by abuse or neglect. Our understanding of the problems of the abused, handicapped child emerges from experience with 37 children with cerebral palsy who have been maltreated, coupled with a review of the literature in related areas. We identify the following four problems as crucial to the study of abuse and neglect to the child with handicaps: (1) abuse that causes handicaps, (2) abuse that occurs to the handicapped child, (3) compromises in care that can occur when the handicapped child becomes involved with the medical and legal systems, and (4) arrangements for foster care or other out-of-home placement for the child with handicaps. We conclude that the very systems designed to protect and care for the child often fail, leaving the handicapped child without opportunity to reach developmental potential. In light of our observations, we recommend that the pediatrician not only be aware of the existence of abuse and neglect in the population of handicapped children, but also serve in the dual role of coordinator of services and advocate for these children.     

Extended sociometric status of adolescents with mild handicaps: A cross‐categorical perspective

Abstract

We compared adolescents identified as having mild mental retardation, learning disabilities, behavioral disorders, and no known handicaps on regular classroom sociometric status extended to include measures of social impact and social preference. Students attended regular classroom physical education classes in six high schools from two adjacent school districts. We administered a rating scale sociometric in physical education classes where students with mild handicaps were enrolled. Results indicated that not all students with mild handicaps were similar in social acceptance, rejection, and preference. Students with mild handicaps also differed in composition of subgroups labeled popular, rejected, neglected, controversial, and average. We discuss implications concerning social standing differences across types of mild handicaps and the value of examining sociometric status in the manner employed here.     

Effects of childhood multiple maltreatment experiences on depression of socioeconomic disadvantaged elderly in Brazil

Childhood maltreatment is a risk factor for depression in nonelderly individuals. We investigated the effect of childhood abuse and neglect on the development of geriatric depression and its severity in socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals. A cross-sectional study investigated 449 individuals aged 60–103 years sorted by data using the enrollment list health coverage from the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil. The fifteen-item Geriatric Depression Scale was used to assess depression. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire was used to identify emotional and physical neglect, in addition to emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Geriatric depression was associated with emotional and physical abuse and neglect. Emotional abuse and neglect, as well as physical abuse, increased the odds of an individual developing severe depression. Correlations were observed for combined forms of maltreatment, with two to five maltreatment types producing mild to moderate symptoms. Similar trends were observed for severe symptoms in a limited number of cases. The cross-sectional design limit causal inference. Retrospective measurement of childhood maltreatment may increase recall and response bias. Late-life depression and its severity significantly correlated with the extent of childhood emotional and physical abuse and neglect. Thus, research should focus on supporting trauma survivors late in life, particularly when they come from low or middle income countries because these patients have higher rates of depression in elderly populations.     

Education for Persons with Handicaps in Japan,the USA and Sweden

Abstract

This paper deals with educational provision for persons with handicaps and the trend toward educational integration. The cases of Japan, the USA and Sweden are considered and compared. While the development of treatment for persons with handicaps is not very different among these three countries, there are obvious differences in the implementation and acceptance of integration among them. Sweden seems to have adapted best to the philosophy of normalization and the process of integration, while in Japan, and to a lesser extent the USA, the debate and conflict that arose with their introduction and development was much more intense and remains heated even today.     

Research on Language and Communication in Children who have Severe Handicaps: a review and some implications for intervention

Abstract This paper presents a critical discussion of some contemporary literature on the language development of, and problems in communication for, persons with severe handicaps. For meaning to be transmitted from one person to another requires a social interactive context. These transactional exchanges begin very early in a child's life and carry particular implications for caregivers and therapists. Some implications of this literature for intervention are suggested.     

A new chemotherapeutic investigation: Piracetam effects on dyslexia

Piracetam, a new drug which is thought to enhance learning and memory consolidation, was given in a 3300 mg daily dose to half of a group of fifty-five (55) dyslexic boys aged eight to thirteen years in a twelve week, double-blind, placebo controlled study. All subjects met stringent criteria, including: normal intelligence, normal educational opportunities, no severe emotional problems, no neurological handicaps, good physical health, not taking other psychotropic medication, and scoring at least 1 1/2 years below their mental age equivalent on the Gilmore Oral Reading Test. The children’s perceptual, language, and memory skills were examined and their reading, spelling, and writing abilities were measured using standardized instruments. Compared to the placebo control group, individuals treated with Piracetam showed statistically significant improvements above their baseline scores on measures of effective reading accuracy and comprehension, reading speed, and writing accuracy. The medication was extremely well tolerated, and all medical examinations showed no untoward effects. These results encourage further study of Piracetam’s potential as an adjunct for the clinical remediation of dyslexia.     

残疾人教育补偿的哲学思考

对残疾人缺陷的教育补偿是特殊教育领域的一个核心概念。从形上视域看,缺陷的意识性存在是残疾人缺陷的真正所在。教育补偿是缺陷补偿的重要方式。教育补偿主要通过培育超越信念、启发自我反思和体验式的精神关怀方式来实现。     

The Strategies Instructional Approach

OVER THE PAST ten years, various efforts to develop and validate instructional programs to train students in strategies and thinking skills have been initiated. These efforts have usually focused on either the benefits of specific strategy training or on the very general parameters of how strategy instruction should be implemented. As a result, the translation from research to practice has often resulted in educational applications that have either been removed from common academic and social tasks required for school success, or the applications have not been sufficiently intensive or specific to have a significant impact on the learning and performance of individuals with handicapping conditions. To be successful, strategies instruction must focus on both the general and specific elements of instruction within the context of a rich strategy environment Well designed strategy environments should promote, model, guide, and prompt efficient and effective learning and performance across settings for all students, not just those with learning disabilities or handicaps. This has been the primary goal of researchers involved in the creation of the Strategies Intervention Model developed at the University of Kansas Institute for Research in Learning Disabilities. The authors of this article describe how they define and view the use of strategies for instruction and explain how the basic concepts of strategies instruction have been operationalized for use in educational settings.     

The distracting effects of music on the cognitive test performance of creative and non-creative individuals

This study examined the effect of background music upon performance of creative and non-creative individuals on a reading comprehension task. In the presence of musical distraction and silence, 54 individuals (27 creative) carried out reading comprehension tasks in a repeated measures design. An interaction was predicted, such that musical distraction would have a greater negative effect on the performance of non-creative individuals compared to creative individuals. Further, it was predicted that creative individuals would be more inclined to study with music playing, and less distracted by it. No significant interactions were found although trends indicated that creative individuals performed better than did non-creative individuals in the music distraction condition. Correlations indicate that creative individuals tend to listen to more music while studying and they reported lower distraction levels. No main effect was found on performance for the mood of the participant and the perceived mood of the music. Methodological problems are discussed along with further suggestions for future research.     

Review of comparative studies in the instruction of students with moderate and severe handicaps

Systematic instructional strategies that investigators have used with students who display moderate to severe handicaps were identified and defined. The investigations which directly compared two or more strategies were analyzed, and summary statements/recommendations about the relative effectiveness and efficiency of the strategies were made. Analyzing the effectiveness of the procedures involved determining which strategies successfully taught skills to subjects. The efficiency of the strategies was analyzed on measures which indicated the skills were taught in a productive and timely manner (i.e., trials to criterion, sessions to criterion, errors to criterion, direct instruction time). Recommendations for future research and practice include (a) conduct more studies comparing the effectiveness and efficiency of instructional strategies, (b) conduct investigations of the specific variables of single strategies to identify the most efficient use of each procedure, (c) expand the efficiency measures to assess whether students learn information not directly targeted for instruction, and (d) conduct research to determine which strategy is best to use with given types of students and skills.     

Cooperative learning: does it improve the academic achievement of students with handicaps?

This article reviews the research on the effects of cooperative learning on the academic achievement of students with handicaps. Journal articles that included students with handicaps in the sample (achievement as a dependent variable and cooperative learning as an independent variable) were selected for inclusion. A limited number of studies (12) met the selection criteria, and the findings were inconsistent. More research is needed before teachers are encouraged to use cooperative learning methods to promote the academic achievement of mainstreamed special education students.     

The role of children in China: A perspective

There has been particular interest in Chinese child rearing practices since the Open Door Policy was established in 1975. The Chinese government's “one child family” policy has increased this interest. Indeed, speculation on the results of this policy has occurred in China as well, as reflected in an article inChina Daily, Friday, August 21, 1987, which asks, “Are We Spoiling Our Children?” Concerns raised in this article include children becoming undisciplined, self-centered, and even overweight. Another article in this newspaper discusses the necessity of allowing individuals with handicaps to enter colleges, hold jobs, and enjoy equal opportunity. Cohen and Rae (1987), in discussing educational considerations, state that Chinese parents dislike their children engaging in fingerpainting and playing in mud puddles. I did not encounter these parental characteristics, so I want to share my experiences regarding Chinese customs toward children and individuals with special needs.     

Conducting Preference Assessments and Reinforcer Testing for Individuals With Profound Multiple Disabilities: Issues and Procedures

The purpose of this article is to review the current research on preference assessment and reinforcer testing for individuals with profound multiple disabilities (PMD). It briefly reviews the literature that describes a subpopulation of individuals with PMD distinct from the general population of individuals labeled as having profound disabilities. The article describes the types of preference assessment procedures that have been used with individuals with PMD. Results from 13 published studies, which assessed preferences and tested reinforcers with individuals with PMD, suggest that preference procedures currently used with individuals at the higher levels of profound disabilities and individuals with severe disabilities are not always successful in identifying preferred stimuli that function as consistent reinforcers for individuals with PMD. Based on this review and other studies over a 3-year period, this article provides a rationale for conducting preference assessments to assist in curriculum development and describes a process for conducting preference assessments and targeting social, affective, and motor behaviors to increase with individuals with PMD.     

Sensory handicaps and the initial teaching alphabet

This review surveys published and unpublished reports of the use of the Initial Teaching Alphabet (i.t.a.) with several types of sensory handicaps. The evidence is slighter than in other areas of learning disability, but the subjective reports from teachers who have used i.t.a. with cerebral palsied children and partially‐sighted pupils is interesting and encourages further research on the use of this tool of reading improvement. The effectiveness of i.t.a. depends chiefly on its simplification of the relationships between spoken and printed language. This may facilitate the child's understanding of the learning task. This may help children with sensory handicaps by reducing their total burden of difficulties enough to allow them to cope with the learning situation.     

听力障碍与听力策略探析

在听力教学中,造成学生听力理解障碍的因素很多,如生词、复杂的句子结构、内容熟悉度、语速、背景杂音和语音语调的变化等.仔细分析学生英语听力理解普遍存在的一些问题,找到引起学生英语听力理解能力障碍的成因,采取正确的解决途径和教学策略是解决问题的关键.