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Service Delivery in Developmental Disabilities II |
Monday, May 26, 2008 |
3:00 PM–4:20 PM |
Stevens 1 |
Area: DDA |
Chair: Merrill Winston (Professional Crisis Management, Inc.) |
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The Prone Holding Controversy: Is it Dangerous? |
Domain: Applied Research |
MERRILL WINSTON (Professional Crisis Management, Inc.), Neal N. Fleisig (Professional Crisis Management, Inc.) |
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Abstract: Many states are moving towards the banning of all prone immobilization for persons with developmental disabilities. These decisions are not based on a risk/benefit analysis of using these types of procedures. There has been no in-depth analysis of the conditions under which individuals have died, but their deaths have been primarily attributed to a prone position with little attention to other variables such as staff training, restraint procedures, clinical oversight, or psychotropic medication usage. The authors will provide an analysis of the variables that have led to the banning of these procedures and the consequences of an inability to stop severe aggressive and destructive behavior. |
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The Differential Effects of Synthesized and Digitized Voice Output in an Augmentative Communication Device Used to Establish Vocal Tacts. |
Domain: Applied Research |
NICHOLAS HAMMOND (The Chicago School of Professional Psychology), David A. Pyles (The Chicago School of Professional Psychology) |
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Abstract: Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices have often been instrumental in allowing those with autism as well as other developmental disabilities to learn functional communication skills. These devices have been used to teach tacts as part of the communication learning process. Two voice output options available in AAC devices are those that use synthesized speech and those that allow human voice to be digitized. This study compares the two voice output options in AAC devices when establishing vocal tacts. This paper discusses the results of these comparisons, along with implications for applied practice, and future research. |
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The Effects of Paraprofessional Proximity on the Social Interaction of Children With and Without Disabilities. |
Domain: Applied Research |
JOANIE GARRO (Private Consultant) |
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Abstract: The proximity of an adult may affect the social interactions of children with and without disabilities in inclusive education settings (Werts, Zigmond, & Leeper, 2001;Young, Simpson, Myles, & Kamps, 1997). In the current study, a multielement design was used to examine the relationship between the location of a paraprofessional and the frequency of social interactions between children with and without disabilities. Participants were two children diagnosed with autism and mental retardation, along with their typically developing peers. The amount of distance between the paraprofessional and the child with disabilities was manipulated in two conditions. In the proximal condition, the paraprofessional remained at arm’s length from the student with disabilities. In the distal condition, the paraprofessional remained at least 10 feet from the student. Total social initiations and responses of all participants were examined under the two conditions. The children with and without disabilities interacted more frequently when the paraprofessional was in the distal position. The general education teacher also generally directed more social initiations to the child with disabilities when the paraprofessional was in the distal condition. The paraprofessional interacted more frequently with the child with disabilities when positioned within arm’s length of the student. |
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