Contingency Awareness in Infants and Children with Severe and Profound Learning Disabilities

Seven infants and children with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties (CA 3 months to 4 years, MA 2 months to 12 months, mean MA 4.5 months) were presented with a contingency situation where they could control the onset of a visually and auditorily attractive toy. In this situation their responding increased and some positive emotional effects were seen. When they were subsequently unable to control stimulation, negative effects were seen on a range of emotional, motivational and self‐stimulation measures. These results suggest that from a mental age level of 2 months children are equipped to detect cause and effect relationships and build up a picture of their world based on expectancies about such relationships; and that violations of these expectancies can lead to negative effects.     

Assessing the Effectiveness of the Cognitive Interview for Children with Severe Intellectual Disabilities

We examined whether the cognitive interview (CI) procedure increased event recall in children with severe intellectual disabilities (ID) compared with children with no ID. Forty-six children with and without ID watched a videotaped event; they were aged between eight and 11 years. The next day they were individually interviewed using the CI or a structured interview (SI). Interviews consisted of free recall and specific questions, some of which contained leading or misleading information. The leading and misleading questions determined children’s susceptibility to information presented after the event. Overall, children without ID reported more correct information than children with ID. For all children, the CI led to more correct recall than the SI without increases in incorrect details or confabulations. Although the CI did not decrease children’s susceptibility to the misleading questions compared with the SI, children without ID disagreed with more of the misleading suggestions than children with ID. These results suggest that the CI may indeed be a valuable tool to elicit information from very vulnerable witnesses.     

Children and Youth with Intellectual Disabilities: Targets for Sexual Abuse

A disproportionate number of children and youth with an intellectual disability are victims of sexual abuse. This paper examines the characteristics and behaviours which may exacerbate the vulnerability of persons with an intellectual disability toward abusive relationships. Recognition is given to the important roles educators can play in die identification, referral, intervention, and prevention of sexual abuse.     

Integration of Students with Severe and Profound Intellectual Disabilities into the Comprehensive School System: Teachers' perceptions of the education reform in Finland

In Finland compulsory education has been organised within the comprehensive school system since 1970. However, until August 1997, the students with the most severe intellectual disabilities were educated by social welfare authorities outside the school system. This study evaluates the transition from the social service system into the comprehensive school system one year after the reform. Nationally representative data was gathered in 1998 from 125 teachers who taught 591 (65%) of all school age children with severe and profound intellectual disabilities in Finland. The results of the study indicated that while physical integration had increased, individual integration into the full-time mainstream classroom occurred only seldom. Further, only a few teachers thought that the best placement for children with severe and profound intellectual disabilities was in full-time general education classes. About 80% of the respondents thought that the best placement was in full- or part-time special classes located in mainstream schools.     

智力障碍儿童对数字符号辨认与理解的发展研究

本研究对105名智力障碍儿童进行数字符号辨认、实物-符号以及符号-实物测查,考察儿童对数字符号的辨认与理解能力的发展特点。结果表明:智力障碍儿童对数字符号的辨认能力优于理解能力;对数字符号的辨认能力随着学段的升高而逐渐增强;对数字符号的理解能力在中年级迅速发展,到高年级时趋于稳定。     

Self-Esteem of Greek Mothers of Children with Intellectual Disabilities

The present study assessed the impact that children with intellectual disabilities have on their mothers' self-esteem. It also examined the differences in self-esteem between mothers of children with intellectual disabilities and mothers of non-disabled children. The study sample consisted of 50 mothers of children with intellectual disabilities living in Central Greece and a comparison group of 50 mothers of non-disabled children. Two instruments were used for the data collection: (a) a questionnaire for biographic information and (b) an adaptation of the Culture-Free Self-Esteem Inventory. Results indicated significantly lower self-esteem for the mothers of children with intellectual disabilities. Moreover, the best predictor of maternal self-esteem in the disabled group was the size of the family.     

Children with Intellectual Disabilities and Special School Education in Ghana

Even though Ghana has embraced international calls for mainstream education, many children with intellectual disabilities still receive education in segregated special schools. This article discusses the views of seven informants on the importance of special schools in Ghana. After securing the consent of our informants, we conducted in-depth qualitative interviews, transcribed and subjected the data to thematic analysis. The following views on the education of children with intellectual disabilities in special schools emerged; availability of dedicated teachers, variations in learning activities, playing the preparatory role, inclusion on their premises, discrimination and cultural stereotypes. The findings indicate that special schools still play important roles in the education of children with intellectual disabilities in Ghana.     

Assessing the Occurrence of Learning in Children with Profound Intellectual Disability: A Conditioning Approach

Although children with the most profound forms of intellectual disability are clearly capable of learning, they are frequently unable to acquire skills and knowledge through the familiar social learning processes of modelling and verbal instruction. Instead, they rely on more basic learning processes, such as habituation, classical conditioning, and operant conditioning. This paper defines these basic processes and indicates their importance in allowing behaviour to adapt flexibly to changing environmental circumstances. Research on basic learning processes in which children and young adults with profound intellectual disability have acted as participants is then evaluated. The literature indicates that work of this kind is of clear relevance to those involved in facilitating the development and education of children with intellectual disability. This is because research and theory in the area of learning suggests effective ways of assessing non‐verbal children's cognitive capabilities and preferences and indicates ways of changing behaviour to produce educational outcomes and remediation of problem behaviours. Work of this kind thus provides the basis for intervention programs that can enhance the quality of life for this most disadvantaged group of children.     

中重度智力落后学生对不同句类理解的研究

对133名中重度智力落后学生陈述、祈使和反问三种句类指令的理解和反应进行实验研究,结果表明:随着年龄的增长,智力落后学生对不同句类的理解能力和反应能力都有显著提高;智力落后学生对陈述句和祈使句指令的理解和反应能力都显著优于反问句;在三个句类中,智力落后学生的反应能力都显著优于理解能力.教育者应提高学生对各种句类的理解水平,并在日常用语中多使用反问句.     

Implementation of Educational Provision for Children with Severe to Profound Intellectual Disability in the Western Cape: From Rights to Reality

Children with severe to profound intellectual disability have been excluded from education on the basis that their impairment makes them ‘ineducable’. The Western Cape Forum for Intellectual Disability challenged this notion through litigation against the South African Government. The ensuing judgement asserts the right to education of these children and outlines action steps for government to this end. We describe the actions taken by the Western Cape Education Department in responding to the requirements of the court by means of a document review. We then reflect on the implementation process, highlighting key learning points of relevance for others engaged in implementation. We note critical factors to be considered for the child, their families, special care centres, and the broader educational and legal systems. We conclude by outlining important considerations for the inclusion of these children within the education system in South Africa.     

Dickens for All: Inclusive Approaches to Literature and Communication with People with Severe and Profound Learning Disabilities

Keith Park, a teacher of children with visual impairment and learning disabilities with the Greenwich Visual Impairment Service, describes a series of multisensory interactive drama games re-telling the story of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, following a discussion of the potential uses of literature with people with severe and profound learning disabilities.     

智障儿童青少年基本运动技能干预研究系统综述

智障儿童青少年的健康问题越来越被社会所关注.采用针对性的干预措施,提高智障儿童青少年基本运动技能,对于促进其体力、心理、认知发展及提升其社会参与度等具有重要意义.研究利用Web of Science、EBSCO、Pub Med等8个数据库,搜索了国内外1990-2020年间发表的有关智障儿童青少年基本运动技能干预的文献...     

The ‘Play’ Focus in Early Intervention: Children with Intellectual Disabilities

This paper examines the characteristics of ‘play’ within the conceptual framework of early education for intellectually disabled children, suggesting that early intervention programs and strategies may have transformed ‘play’ for these children into ‘work’.     

Play in Children with Severe Multiple Disabilities: Play with toys - a review

Play in children with severe and profound disabilities is discussed. The focus is on toys and play material and the role of adults, such as parents, caregivers, and teachers. In this review article theoretical aspects on children's play are briefly described.     

Unresponsiveness in Children with Severe Disabilities: Potential Effects on Parent‐Child Interactions

This paper examines the potential effects on parent‐child interactions when children, because of severe mental and physical impairments, are unable to exhibit most social responses. A model is proposed to explain why a child is perceived to be responsive or unresponsive by parents and caregivers; the former applies only if the child's behaviour is recognized and valued by the observer. It is also proposed that: (a) perceived unresponsiveness may be more critical than the disability per se;(b) intense interactions early in the disabled child's development, commonly described by observers as controlling, intrusive behaviour, may be due to high levels of caregiver motivation and extinction burst effects; and (c) reductions in the amount of some caregiver‐child interactions may be the outcome of previously unrewarded interaction attempts and decreased expectancy levels.     

培智学校校本课程开发实践研究

近些年来,随着随班就读工作的深入开展,培智学校的教育对象从招收轻度智力障碍学生为主逐渐转变为招收中、重度智力障碍学生为主,且学校中同时伴有情绪行为障碍及自闭症的学生越来越多。良好的教育训练可以改善与提高中、重度智力障碍儿童的适应能力,其中,学校的课程设置与开发尤为重要。学校在个别化教育、生存教育与生活教育等理念的指导下,以智障学生生活适应能力培养为核心,进行了课程开发实践研究,取得了一定成效。     

Teachers and Speech and Language Therapists Working with Children with Physical Disabilities: Implications for Inclusive Education

Jannet A. Wright and Myra Kersner, senior lecturers in the Department of Human Communication Science, University College London, consider the practical implications of recent policies for teachers and speech and language therapists working together in inclusive settings. Their conclusions complement McCartney's ideas in the previous article.     

智障儿童体育游戏教学法及其编排原则简析

为了解决体育教学中智障儿童学习的困难,文章根据智障儿童的身心特点,提出了体育游戏教学法及其编排原则。     

智障儿童情绪识别特征的理论解释与具身干预

智障儿童的情绪识别能力存在基本情绪识别困难、各类识别任务表现不同、情绪加工方式偏好和特定性综合征差异四个主要特征.在解释智障儿童情绪识别主要特征时,传统认知理论的认知-智力局限假说和情绪特异性假说均孤立地看待身体与大脑,属于身心二元论.具身认知理论则强调身体及所处环境在情绪识别中的重要作用,从情绪体验、情绪刺激和加工方...     

四川省智障儿童学习活动支持程度调查研究

本研究主要通过问卷调查分析智障儿童学习活动支持程度的特点。通过研究发现,不同性别、年龄、家庭所在地、父母受教育水平、家庭序列的智障学生在基本学习活动、自我决定活动、健康与安全活动所需支持程度差异不显著;不同家庭社经水平的智障儿童在自我决定活动、健康与安全活动所需支持程度差异不显著,但在基本学习活动上差异显著;不同智力水平在基本学习活动、自我决定活动所需支持程度差异显著,但在健康与安全活动方面差异不显著;不同适应行为水平的智障儿童在自我决定活动、健康与安全活动所需支持程度差异显著。