Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities

Although the last decade has welcomed evidence that individuals with Rett syndrome (RTT) can communicate using alternative and augmentative communication (AAC), less is known about effective procedures for teaching various component skills required for expressive communication of individuals with complex communication needs. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effects of systematic individualized instruction procedures on the page-linking skills of individuals with RTT. A nonconcurrent multiple baseline design across participants was used to evaluate independent and accurate responding utilizing both a high-tech and low-tech AAC device for three participants...

Rett syndrome is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder that results in both motor and language skill regression with a wide range of severity in symptom presentation. Communication intervention may be particularly challenging for this population due to the decline in speech, motor skills, and motor planning difficulties that characterize the disorder (Townend et al., 2020), often resulting in the need for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology. Very limited research has evaluated communication interventions for individuals with Rett syndrome and even fewer have targeted expressive communication, an important skill required for improved autonomy and quality of life (Sigafoos et al...

UNLABELLED: Women with Tourette's syndrome (TS) continue to be under-researched, despite female sex being associated with increased tic-related impairment in adulthood. Existing literature indicates that individuals with TS are more likely than the general population to report self-stigma, but little is known about the subjective identities of women with TS and how this relates to psychological wellbeing. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom with a purposive sample of 11 females...

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by executive dysfunction. Physical activity (PA) may improve executive dysfunction; however, specific barriers and facilitators to PA participation for adults with ADHD have not been formally documented, which was the aim of the present study. Thirty adults with ADHD completed virtual semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed thematically and guided by the Theoretical Domains Framework. Expressions of both barriers and facilitators to PA were identified...

Graduate Records Examinations (GRE) remain an important criterion for admission to the graduate program. This study explored the predictive role of the GRE for college success among deaf students because most deaf and hard-of-hearing students experience lifelong difficulties in English language and literacy because of their different language acquisition processes. Additionally, the study examined the students' undergraduate grade point average (UGPA), first-semester grade point average (FSGPA), and graduating graduate grade point average (GGPA) to understand D/HH students' performance in a graduate program...

The vast majority of individuals with Rett syndrome do not utilize natural speech and therefore require alternative and augmentative communication (AAC). The purpose of the current study was to investigate the use of high- and low-tech AAC modalities by three individuals with Rett syndrome given similar instruction for using both modalities. For all participants, the number of sessions to criterion and cumulative number of trials with independent requests during simultaneous or alternating instruction in the use of a high- and low-tech AAC modality were investigated...

Mothers of school-aged children ages 3 to 17 years with developmental disabilities (DDs) commonly report sleep problems in their children associated with impaired maternal sleep. However, existing research relies heavily on mothers' self-reported sleep. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of objectively measuring child and mother sleep-wake patterns using actigraphy and videosomnography. This was an observational pilot study. Mothers wore actigraphy watches and video-recorded their child's sleep for 7 nights...

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant changes across society. This Delphi study aimed to gain expert consensus on challenges faced and resource needs for autistic children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Round 1 of the Delphi method employed semi-structured interviews with experts (N = 24) which were thematically analysed in order to identify needs, resource targets and resource development. In a follow-up Round 2 survey participants rated emergent need and resource in order of priority...

As interest in derived relational responding has increased, so have the number of investigations evaluating interventions to promote the emergence of derived responding for individuals with autism, as well as other intellectual and developmental disabilities. However, much of the literature has focused on the relation of sameness, and less is known about interventions to facilitate derived responding in other relations. Systematic searches identified 38 studies contained in 30 articles that met inclusion criteria...

BACKGROUND: To investigate the safety and feasibility of six sessions of Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) integrated into an inpatient therapy concept and their influence on walking speed and gait parameters in adult CP patients. METHODS: Eleven subjects (male = 8, female = 3, mean age: 23 years and 2 months, ± 4.5 years) with spastic CP underwent six 20-minute RAGT sessions with the HAL during an 11-day hospital stay...

Recognizing the crisis the COVID-19 pandemic represents to the Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) service system and the health, safety, and quality of life of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), states temporarily amended their HCBS programs to strengthen service delivery. States are able to temporarily amend their HCBS 1915(c) waiver programs by submitting Appendix K: Emergency Preparedness and Response Waivers to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The aim of this study was to examine if, and how, states increased their reimbursement rates for HCBS IDD waiver services during the COVID-19 pandemic...

Our main purpose in this study was to investigate the levels of and the relationship between familiarity, confidence, training, and use of problem behavior interventions by special education teachers working with learners with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in school settings. A total of 80 special education teachers in South Carolina and Virginia completed an online survey. Results indicate a positive correlation between teachers' familiarity, confidence, training, and use of problem behavior interventions...

Recent research has begun to explore the specific social challenges experienced by persons with Tourette syndrome (TS); however, it does not specifically address the challenges that often arise interpersonally as part of people's communicative interactions and these interactions socially construct the individual and collective well-being of all involved. This study conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 adults who identified as having TS in order to investigate the ways in which others respond behaviorally to TS behaviors and the ways TS behaviors are misinterpreted within interpersonal interactions...

We designed and distributed a survey that assessed safety concerns experienced by direct service providers (DSPs) (N = 59) of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in community-based group homes at a single human services organization. Results indicated relatively few safety concerns among the respondents from a list of 25 survey statements. Possible influences on the findings are presented such as safety training of the DSPs, comprehensive safety guidelines in place at the group homes, and conditions occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic...

The study was aimed to define swallowing related problems of toddlers with Down syndrome (DS) by comparing toddlers with typically developing children (TDC). A total of 127 children (96 DS, 31 TDC), and their mothers included in the study. The presence of chewing disorders, food selectivity, drooling, coughing during swallowing was scored as ' absent' or 'present'. The Pediatric version of the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (PEDI EAT-10) was used to determine dysphagia symptom severity, and the Turkish version of the Feeding/Swallowing Impact Survey (T-FS-IS) was used to measure the impact of swallowing disorders on caregivers...

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s10882-022-09859-4.].

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a brief functional analysis and functional communication training conducted via telehealth. Three interventionist-child dyads took part in the study including one speech and language pathologist and two school teaching assistants, each working with one child with autism spectrum disorder. Interventionists were trained using didactic training to implement a brief functional analysis as well as synchronous coaching from a BCBA® to implement functional communication training...

There is a growing body of evidence supporting the use of telehealth to provide parent training in behaviour analytic interventions and researchers have begun to focus on international demonstrations of this model. The current study assessed the efficacy of a training package focused on naturalistic teaching strategies designed to upskill parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and provide them with ready to use strategies to increase social communication behaviours across verbal operants. Two parent-child dyads were trained to increase mand, tact and intraverbals during play...

Using telehealth as a mode of service delivery has the potential to address some long-standing challenges in early intervention (EI) services such as waiting lists to access services. Yet, little is known about parent perceptions of telehealth in EI based on their lived experiences partnering with EI practitioners. The purpose of this study was to explore parent perceptions on using telehealth, especially on family-professional partnerships and coaching. Interviews were conducted with 15 parents of children receiving EI services via telehealth from June to August of 2021...

This study examined how students with orthopedic impairments experienced strategies identified in the literature to support 'inclusion'. An interpretative phenomenological analysis research approach was used, and six students with orthopedic impairments (age 10-14 years) served as participants. Data sources were written prompts, semi-structured, audiotaped interviews, and reflective interview notes. Based on thematic data analysis, four themes were constructed: "It's kind of embarrassing": experiences with support; "I don't want to be different": equipment, activity, and rule modifications; "I like to be a part of the conversation": autonomy and choice in PE; and "I would rather be like the other students": discussing disability...