Measuring sensory sensitivity is important in studying development and developmental disorders. However, with children, there is a need to balance reliable but lengthy sensory tasks with the child's ability to maintain motivation and vigilance. We used simulations to explore the problems associated with shortening adaptive psychophysical procedures, and suggest how these problems might be addre...

The purpose of this study was to determine whether an interview protocol, based on the Friendship Quality Questionnaire, could be adapted to examine the close relationships of children with developmental disabilities in an inclusive school setting. Twenty-five children with developmental disabilities aged between approximately 5 and 12 years participated and their relationships with 74 peers we...

We compared results from two preference assessments with data on extended performance of vocational tasks by 4 participants with developmental disabilities. All participants engaged in one task exclusively when seven tasks were available concurrently during a 5-min multiple-stimulus assessment. By contrast, all participants exhibited high levels of engagement in most tasks when the tasks were p...

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to validate the Pediatric Physical Therapy Intervention Activities (PPTIA) data form when used by pediatric physical therapists to describe interventions used in the treatment of children with developmental disabilities. The form is based on use of the clinical practice improvement approach. METHODS A panel of 9 experts was assembled to establish face val...

Visualize cars loaded down with the trappings for a college dorm, the student seeing their college housing complexes, parents carrying all those boxes in, and the newly minted freshmen surveying the landscape nervously but with happy anticipation. A student sees possibilities at every turn, but the parent is conflicted about the “launch.” Sons and daughters convince moms and dads that it is tim...

This study aimed to identify strengths and resources associated with the adaptation of families from previously disadvantaged backgrounds in South Africa following the diagnosis of a child with a developmental disability. Data was collected from parents (N = 40), as family representatives, using 7 self-report questionnaires and an open-ended question. The results showed positive correlations be...

Identification of reinforcers for individuals with developmental disabilities is often based on the outcome of preference assessments in which participants make selections from among a variety of items. We determined the extent to which individuals might show a general preference for food items over leisure items during such assessments and whether leisure items that are "displaced" by food ite...

BACKGROUND There is a growing focus in the United States on preserving cognitive functioning. However, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) are not provided with opportunities to prevent cognitive decline. To investigate whether participants with ID/DD would improve in cognitive function after cognitive training, a cognitive training group (N = 11) was compared t...

This study examined factors influencing involvement of siblings of individuals with developmental disabilities in future planning and their expectation of future caregiving. The sample consisted of 139 adult siblings recruited from an online sibling list and a sibling conference. Results indicated that few families made plans or involved siblings in the planning. Siblings who were most involved...