Vocational and language skill development of severely retarded and autistic adolescent Hispanics is a training focus at the University of Texas, El Paso. University students and parents of the handicapped are trained in the following areas: teaching grocery shopping and how to order from fast food restaurants, teaching use of public transportation; teaching vocational tasks needed for independent living; teaching the nonverbal to use language communication boards (Spanish only or Spanish and English) in order to purchase items in the community; and teaching a series of language activities in the context of the real world. Simulations and photographs are used as teaching aids, and clients are encouraged to communicate by signing, manual communication, and gesturing. Another important area is functional reading instruction which, when combined with vocational habilitation, involves teaching the client to read words that will be used in the vocational activities. Instruction may be provided in Spanish only, or a combination of English and Spanish. (SEW)