This study assessed the impact of choice making on the serious problem behaviors of 3 students with severe autism and/or mental retardation. In the context of within-subject reversal designs, the results showed consistently reduced levels of problem behaviors (e.g., aggression) when the students were given opportunities to make choices among instructional tasks and reinforcers. Additional data showed no systematic differences in the rate of correct responding between the two conditions. The results are discussed in relation to the continuing search for effective, nonintrusive

Teaching students with disabilities to respond appropriately to potentially dangerous situations is a useful skill that has received little research attention. This investigation taught 3 students with moderate mental retardation to remove and discard broken materials (plates, glasses) safely from (a) a sink containing dishwater, (b) a countertop, and (c) a floor. A 4th student was instructed on the sink task only. A multicomponent treatment package was used to teach the skills. Simulated materials were used initially and were replaced with broken plates and glasses. A multiple probe design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment package. The results indicated that the treatment package was effective in teaching the skills. Data were collected 1 week and 1 month following the completion of training, and indicated mixed results. No student was injured during any phase of training. Issues pertinent to teaching safety skills to students with moderate disabilities are discussed.

The present investigation examined the effectiveness of teaching sight-word reading in a small-group instructional arrangement to two groups of elementary-aged students with mild mental retardation. A multiple probe design across word sets was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the progressive time delay procedure and students’ acquisition of other students’ words (observational learning). In addition, students were assessed on their spelling of all sight words as well as their acquisition of word definitions although neither was taught directly (incidental learning). Results showed that (a) the delay procedure was effective in teaching all students their target words in near-errorless fashion, (b) all students learned other student’s words through observation, and (c) all students learned some incidental information by providing practice in spelling and by placing word definitions in feedback statements. Issues pertinent to small group instruction are discussed.

The role of a treatment package consisting of constant time delay, practice in writing or spelling target words, and token reinforcement in teaching sight word recognition to a small group of three students in a learning and behavior disorders resource room was evaluated in this investigation. In the context of a multiple probe analysis, it was demonstrated that all students acquired the target sight words only after training. Additionally, two students showed modest increases in writing or spelling the target words on which they received practice, and all three students learned some words through observation of their peers. The limitations of the present investigation are discussed, and directions for future research are provided.