The study showed the effective use of omission training (reinforcing the S only when s/he fails to make the target response) in controlling stereotyped acts and in producing multiple effects. (Author/SB)

The Children's Developmental Play Program at Jacksonville State University (Alabama) encourages fine and gross motor skills in developmentally disabled children while simultaneously improving self-concept and optimizing risk taking behaviors. (SB)

Among the issues rated most highly by 67 professionals in the field of mental retardation were two clusters: first, vocational, career education, and postschool adjustment; and second, long term effects and generalization of effects of programs. (Author/CL)

The incidence of obesity was determined to be over 22 percent of 337 mentally retarded children attending a large urban school system. Presence of obesity was not related significantly to sex, age, mental retardation level or race. Based on available comparative data, obesity does show a higher incidence among retarded than among nonretarded…

Two strategies in teaching mentally retarded employees to maintain their work behavior are described: one incorporates cues produced and managed by change agents and the other actively enjoins the subject to ultimately rely upon management of his/her own behavior. The value of each approach is discussed. (Author/CL)

No differential effects were revealed between minimal and relatively lengthy intervals in simulated and in vivo training of two students (8 and 13 years old) with severe handicaps. Performance in community fast food restaurants was measured. (CL)

A system of supervisory feedback of appropriate interactions with clients was instituted in a cottage for 31 mentally retarded children. Both staff and client behavior improved following the implementation of the feedback system but was not demonstrated because performance did not deteriorate when the feedback contingency was withdrawn. (Author/CL)

An examination of interpersonal antecedents for self-injurious behavior was conducted with eight retarded children. Initial analyses indicated no systematic differences in self-injurious behavior or antecedents across settings. Further analyses indicated that, relative to total occurrence, self-injurious behavior occurred significantly less…

The development of a microcomputer assessment system is described with respect to establishing its reliability, validity, utility, and cost-effectiveness. Using the system, nonprofessionals, in less than an hour, generated an in-depth inexpensive comprehensive individualized 5-10 page behavior assessment which was judged superior in quality by…

Thirteen mildly retarded secondary students were interviewed to discover their knowledge level about sexual topics and their attitudes toward various aspects of sexuality. Results indicated that none could really be classified as "well-informed." Students held a number of attitudes about sexuality, marriage, and parenting that, unless modified,…

Two peer trainers, one moderately and one severely mentally retarded, each taught three severely disabled peers to perform separate steps of a complex assembly line task. Peer trainers were taught to demonstrate correct performance and to praise or correct trainees' performance contingently. Trainers were successful in training and monitoring the…

Fifteen mentally retarded adults living in group home and intermediate group residences (IGR) were interviewed. All participants spent majority of their time in their homes. Men played a more active role in their integration than did women. IGR men and women went less often into the community and rarely (IGR men) or never (IGR women) went out…

The "Utilization of Community Resources Schedule" was given to the residence administrators of the 155 participating community facilities during on-site interviews. Results indicated that the community was the major source of most of the resources examined. The exceptions, however, comprised critical areas of day-to-day existence: socializing,…

The paper considers issues regarding behavior modification practices that are addressed by a human rights committee which advocates databased methodology for all behavior modification interventions. Such an approach delineates a hierarchy of punishment procedures which places ethical safeguards on the procedures. (CL)

A 20-year-old institutionalized nonverbal male with Down's Syndrome was trained via total task chain training, verbal prompts, and self-reinforcements to acquire skills of a busperson at a community restaurant. The S acquired and performed skills at a situationally appropriate rate. (CL)