This review of Prader-Willi Syndrome notes characteristics (mental retardation and excessive overeating). Educational interventions including weight management, cognitive and educational development, behavioral interventions, and transition to adulthood are discussed. (DB)

Interviews were conducted with three special and three general educators during the initial year of the return of students with moderate/severe disabilities to three rural schools. Teachers' perspectives were compared across the three schools, as well as to critical elements of successful inclusion identified in recent literature. Disparities…

Parents of 116 adult children with mental retardation were evaluated for family sense of coherence, social support, family adaptability, family cohesion, and family adaptation. Results indicated that family sense of coherence, social support, and family adaptability (but not family cohesion) made a significant contribution to family adaptation.…

This study used ethnographic methodology to examine the coping mechanisms of 34 parents of children (infancy to adulthood) with disabilities. Results indicated that families who were active in church appeared more able to cope with stress and maintain a positive outlook for their child. Service providers are urged to encourage the religious…

This study compared patterns of family adaptation to children with developmental delays of South Asian families living in California with similar Euro-American families. Analysis of parent interviews found differences in family support, spousal relations, gender roles, cultural identity, and spirituality. Similarities were found in hope for…

A survey completed by 69 special educators examined their perceptions of the benefits of self-determination for individuals with disabilities, the characteristics associated with self-determination, and the strategies used to achieve it. Results indicated strong support for self-determination instruction. However, few teachers included…

High school students in Taiwan with disabilities (N=1204) were compared with nonhandicapped adolescents (N=754) on their sexual knowledge, attitudes, and experiences. Although the nonhandicapped students were most knowledgeable and demonstrated the most positive attitudes toward sexuality, the hearing-impaired group were the most sexually…

Use of a token economy to encourage self-management and spontaneous sharing behaviors by three preschool boys with autism was effective in increasing the frequency of sharing behaviors. However, the accuracy of the self-management component was not high, suggesting that the contingent relationship between token and response may not have been the…

The effectiveness of simultaneous prompting, an instructional procedure which involves presenting the task direction and immediately providing the controlling prompt, was evaluated with four young adults with severe intellectual disabilities. Daily probe sessions assessed acquisition of the target behavior. Results indicated the procedure was…

This study examined the effectiveness of activities associated with transdisciplinary teaming and integrated therapy on targeted motor responses of three elementary age students with multiple disabilities during the general education classroom routine. All three students immediately increased and maintained their target motor responses under the…

Four secondary students with moderate/severe mental retardation were taught table cleaning skills using a system of least prompts (SLP) procedure and multiple exemplars. In addition, students were encouraged to acquire nontargeted behaviors through observational learning during instructional downtime. Results indicate the SLP strategy was…

Guidelines for the inclusion of students with severe disabilities in general education programs include (1) respecting parent and student preferences regarding programming; (2) fostering the general-education teacher's sense of empowerment, control, and support; (3) facilitating friendships among children; and (4) structuring classrooms to…

This study with a second-grade child with multiple disabilities in an inclusive setting applied (1) self-management instruction, (2) generalization methodologies (general case programming and multiple exemplars), and (3) a high level of teacher involvement in designing and monitoring the self-management plan. Implications for researchers and…

This study examined perceptions of 54 preservice general- and special-education teachers about assessment summaries presented in either a traditional or a profile format. The profile format was preferred for its ability to communicate between staff and parents, introduce the student to peers, and explain who the student was in a well-rounded…

This study used a constant time-delay procedure to teach three secondary students with moderate mental disabilities the community skills of mailing a letter, cashing a check, and crossing a street. Instruction involved community-based instruction plus either classroom simulation, videotape modeling, or both. The most efficient methodology was the…