This study evaluated the utility of structured descriptive assessment (SDA) to generate a hypothesis regarding the operant function of problem behavior when the analogue functional analysis (FA) failed to evoke problem behavior for an adult with developmental disabilities. The effectiveness of interventions based on that hypothesis was evaluated in the natural environment. The SDA succeeded in producing a relatively controlled baseline of problem behavior where the FA and direct observation could not. However, the extent to which treatment procedures affected problem behavior could not be determined due to confounding variables outside the control of the experimenter. The results provide cautionary evidence highlighting both the potential utility of SDA and challenges that may be encountered when conducting SDA and evaluating treatments in natural environments.

Cultural beliefs and practices affect factors associated with early diagnosis of developmental disorders, parents' understanding of the disorder, beliefs about causes, and choice of treatment procedures. Currently, most research regarding autism emanates from Western cultural perspectives. However, the notion that treatment methods are universal and that they can simply be developed in the West and exported elsewhere is inherently flawed. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the experience of parents from India now living in the US or other countries outside India who have a child with an autism spectrum disorder, and explore the unique contributions of the Indian culture in parents' understanding and acceptance of a childhood disability like autism. Specific cross-cultural variables measured in the study included what symptoms the parents first recognized in their child, parents' beliefs about causes, choice of treatment procedures, roles of grandparents in the child's life, availability of community resources, parent-professional interactions, and acculturation. Twenty seven parents of children with autism (24 mothers, 3 fathers) participated in the study; all but 3 of them now lived outside India. All 27 participants and their spouses were Indian in ethnicity and were born and raised in India. Most parents endorsed the western beliefs in a combination of genetics, environmental toxins, and biological factors; a substantial number also endorsed a belief that immunizations were a direct cause. A significant minority of our parents also called upon traditional Indian beliefs in karma, destiny or fate, and parental mistakes in present or past life. Most of these parents were far from their own parents and in-laws and thus removed from the high level of grandparental involvement that would be typical if they had stayed at home; however, despite the long distance separating them, a majority of the families consider their parents and in-laws as important sources of emotional support. Although a majority of parents reported that they currently do not use any treatment that came from their Indian culture, about half reported that they would prefer to use a combination of both western and Indian medicine and educational practices, if it is made available. A majority of parents in the study appear to be well integrated with their host culture. These parents have become bicultural by maintaining characteristics of their own natal culture, while selectively acquiring those of their host culture.

Background: Current literature on caregivers of children with chronic illnesses and developmental disabilities primarily focuses on negative aspects of adjustment, with maternal stress and depression as common outcome variables (Duvdevany & Abboud, 2003; Shin and Crittenden, 2003). While these pediatric caregivers have been shown to struggle more than caregivers of typically developing children, the possibility of positive psychological outcomes from such an experience is only beginning to be explored (Kim, Greenberg, Seltzer & Krauss, 2003; Scallan, Senior & Reilly, 2010). One such positive outcome is the idea of Posttraumatic Growth (PTG), a construct for which a widely accepted theoretical model exists (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004). This model has yet to be empirically validated and fails to provide an exhaustive picture of PTG. The current study aims to document this phenomenon among caregivers of children with Williams, empirically evaluate a portion of the proposed theoretical model, and explore possible extensions of the model in the form of health behaviors. Methods: Participants included 104 primary caregivers of children with Williams syndrome who were recruited through the Williams Syndrome Association List serve. Caregivers completed an online survey through SurveyMonkey software that included the posttraumatic growth inventory, the deliberate rumination scale, the MOS social support survey, and the taking care of yourself questionnaire. Results: The vast majority of caregivers reported some degree of growth following a diagnosis of Williams syndrome (M =55.91, SD =22.63), consistent with reports of other pediatric caregivers (Polantinsky & Esprey, 2000). Further, perceived social support was found to predict posttraumatic growth, F(2,73) = 2.488, p=.029, consistent with model predictions. However, perceived social support was not predictive of an increase in deliberate rumination, F(2,72) = 0.143, p=.867, failing to support the mediational model. Finally, posttraumatic growth was not found to predict health behaviors, although those caregivers who reported more posttraumatic growth also reported being less bothered by sleep-related caregiving burdens. Conclusion: Posttraumatic growth is prevalent among Williams syndrome caregivers, indicating the need for future research in facilitating this process among pediatric caregivers and patients alike. Further, a better understanding of the cognitive constructs involved in the posttraumatic growth process is essential. This improved understanding will facilitate more accurate measurement tools for evaluating these cognitive processes along with additional clarity with regards to the theoretical model. Finally, the identification of health behaviors and health belief constructs that are impacted by posttraumatic growth would improve the depth of the theoretical model and improve overall understanding of the construct.

Companion animals play a pivotal role in typical human development. It remains unknown how animals affect individuals with developmental disabilities. Based on the knowledge that companion animals help typically developing individuals, this research examined the effects of human-animal interactions on individuals with developmental disabilities. Human-animal interactions are based on the Biophilia hypothesis, an assertion that an emotional and beneficial relationship exists between humans and nature, in which there is an “innate tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes.” These are the shared, dynamic associations between people and animals, and the effects of those relationships on health and well-being. Sparse research exists, and the field and literature is scattered among various disciplines. In the first article in this work I examined and synthesized literature related to the effects of human-animal interaction on individuals with developmental disabilities, including companion animals and more formal animal-assisted therapy. In the second article in this work I examined, via direct observation, video recording, and Individualized Education Plan goal attainment, whether animal-assisted therapy (here, occupational therapy intervention incorporating a trained therapy dog) affected playfulness during routine occupational therapy sessions with children with developmental disabilities. Finally, in the third article I examined whether occupational therapy incorporating animal-assisted therapy changed participation during routine occupational therapy treatment sessions with children with developmental disabilities. Children with disabilities often exhibit impairments in play and participation, and enhancing these areas is likely to further their functional ability. The constructs of play and participation are significant in the lives of children with developmental disabilities, and a foundation of pediatric occupational therapy practice. Together they comprise two of the eight “Areas of Occupation” in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework. The effects of incorporating animal-assisted therapy into occupational therapy are not well documented, although other disciplines have found animal-assisted therapy to be an effectual intervention. Human-animal interaction scholars have called for evidence-based effectiveness studies. This research responded to that call, examining the effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy from a functional perspective not yet addressed in the literature.

Syftet med denna studie är att få en inblick i två grundsärskoleelevers erfarenheter av hur de har blivit bemötta i skolan. Studien är gjort utifrån forskningsansatsen livsberättelse för att på bästa sätt ge studiens informanters röster mest rättvisa. Informanterna går i årskurs nio i grundsärskolan och berättar om hur de har känt sig kränkta utav både elever som lärare genom åren, men det har även funnits många bra relationer under deras skoltid. De berättar om relationer med lärare som har förstått och hjälpt dem framåt. Även berättelser kring svårigheterna med att lära sig specifika ämneskunskaper och hur man kan bli bemött när svårigheter finns.  Studien visar också på hur den starka relationen som har skapats mellan Albin och Klara genom deras vänskap byggt en trygghet och känsla där de stöttar och hjälper varandra. Deras relation till sina hundar har även det en central del i deras berättelse om vänskap och förståelse. Albin och Klara har även ambitionen att föra fram konkreta tips till speciallärare som arbetar med elever i grundsärskolan, som exempelvis agerandet när man blir arg som elev eller pratar för mycket. Studien belyser även en del av den forskning som finns i det aktuella ämnet. / The purpose of this study is to listen to the experiences of two special school pupils regarding how they have been treated in school. The study is based on the research approach to life history in order to be most fair to study informants voices. Informants attend a ninth-grade class in special school and talk about how they have felt bullied by students and teachers over the years, but there have also been many good relationships over the years. They talk about relationships with teachers who have understood and helped them forward. There are also stories about the difficulties with learning specific subject knowledge and how one can be treated when those occur. The study also shows us the strong relationship that has been created between Albin and Klara. Through their friendship where they have found security and a feeling of being there and helping each other.  Their relationship with their dogs, which have a central part in their story, also speaks about friendship and understanding. They will also share concrete tips to all specialist teachers who work with pupils in the special school. Tips about what they want us to do when they become angry or talk too much. We will also read some of the research that’s found on the subject.

Thesis advisor: Penny Hauser-Cram / Parents of children with developmental disabilities (DD) face greater caregiving demands than other parents, which may lead to heightened levels of stress. The problematic behavior and functional limitations of the child with DD have been found to contribute to parenting stress (Baker et al., 2002; Beckman, 1991). Despite heightened demands, many parents successfully adapt to raising a child with DD. A goal of recent research has been to identify resources and supports that explain the considerable variability in parental adjustment (Neece & Baker, 2008). This dissertation examined trajectories of parenting stress among mothers (N=147) and fathers (N=110) of children with diverse developmental disabilities, from their child's early years (age 3) through adolescence (age 15). Using hierarchical linear modeling, stress was found to increase from early to middle childhood and subsequently decrease from middle childhood to adolescence. Characteristics of the child with DD were found to contribute to parents' stress, with higher behavior problems and lower functional skills predicting greater stress. Parent resources and supports were also found to relate to parenting stress. Greater social support, use of adaptive coping strategies, and more positive perceptions of the family climate predicted lower stress. An additional model was conducted using a modified hierarchical linear modeling approach to examine the role of child stressors and family resources and supports within parenting dyads. The findings of this study contribute to the limited literature on patterns of change in stress among parents, particularly fathers, of children with DD. Following these results, interventions for families of children with DD should aim to reduce child-related stressors and promote parent resources and supports. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2012. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology.

Thesis advisor: Penny Hauser-Cram / This study is a secondary data analysis of data from the Early Intervention Collaborative Study (EICS) (Hauser-Cram, Warfield, Shonkoff, & Krauss, 2001), a longitudinal investigation of families who have children with developmental disabilities (DD) (i.e. Down syndrome, motor impairment, and developmental delay). The study investigated a transactional relation between child problem behavior and parenting stress during the early (ages 3 to 5 years) and middle childhood (ages 5 to 10 years) years. Parental planful problem solving coping and positive reappraisal coping and the helpfulness of social support were examined as moderators of the relation between child problem behavior and parenting stress from the ages 3 to 5 years. Child problem behavior and parents' levels of stress, coping strategies, and ratings of social support were collected during home visits with the families when children were 3, 5, and 10 years. Using hierarchical regression techniques a transactional relation was found between child problem behavior and parenting stress from ages 3 to 5 years for both mother-child and father-child dyads. A transactional relation was again found between these constructs from ages 5 to 10 years for only mother-child dyads. Maternal positive reappraisal coping significantly moderated the relation between child problem behavior and maternal parenting stress. Maternal report of the helpfulness of social support significantly moderated the relation between child behavior and parenting stress at both the early and middle childhood levels. The findings support the design of familial interventions. Interventions that promote adaptive coping strategies may be particularly helpful for families of children with DD who exhibit high levels of problem behavior. Finally, improving the helpfulness of current support systems may positively impact parents' stress who have children with developmental disabilities. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2010. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology.

Introdução: O nascimento prematuro é considerado um fator de risco biológico que pode levar a alterações do desenvolvimento, principalmente da linguagem, pela vulnerabilidade à imaturidade do sistema nervoso central e aos eventos interferentes nos processos de aquisição de habilidades. Objetivo: verificar, comparar e correlacionar o desempenho de habilidades comunicativas - receptivas (Rec), expressivas (Exp) e visuais, em crianças nascidas pré-termo, submetidas à ultrassonografia transfontanelar considerando a idade cronológica (ICro) e corrigida (ICor); comparar desempenho de habilidades comunicativas com os fatores de risco e correlacionar e descrever os fatores de risco da prematuridade. Métodos: Trata-se de estudo transversal, composto por 101 crianças nascidas prematuras, na faixa etária de um a 24 meses. Os procedimentos experimentais foram: Análise de prontuário, anamnese com os familiares, aplicação do Critério de Classificação Econômica Brasil e Early Language Milestone Scale ELM. Foram elencados os fatores de risco e intercorrências da gestação e nascimento. A análise dos dados contou com estatística descritiva e aplicação do Teste t, Qui-Quadrado, Mann- Whitney, Correlação de Pearson e Correlação de Spearman, conforme a qualidade das variáveis. Nível de significância: p<0,05. Resultados: Houve diferença/correlação estatisticamente significante entre as habilidades expressivas, receptivas e visuais na comparação entre a ICro e ICor. Quanto aos fatores de risco, houve diferença estatisticamente significante na comparação do nível socioeconômico ICro e ICor. Na comparação das habilidades comunicativas com os fatores de riscos verificou-se diferença estatisticamente significante para as variáveis: expressão e recepção - ICro para infecção neonatal e Doença Hipertensiva Específica da Gestação e na expressão e recepção - ICor para Síndrome do Desconforto Respiratório e Doenças Hipertensiva Específica da Gestação. Quanto aos fatores de risco da prematuridade a idade gestacional, o peso, a estatura, o perímetro cefálico e o Apgar apresentaram correlação positiva e os dias de internação correlacionou-se negativamente com a idade gestacional, o peso, a estatura, o perímetro cefálico e o Apgar. Conclusão: Quando a idade cronológica foi considerada, o número de crianças que falhou foi maior nas três habilidades. O maior índice de falha ocorreu para a habilidade auditiva expressiva. Há necessidade de reflexões quanto ao uso da idade corrigida ou cronológica na avaliação do desenvolvimento de crianças nascidas prematuras. O manejo dos fatores de risco pode favorecer o desenvolvimento infantil. / Introduction: Premature birth is considered a biological risk factor that can lead to changes in development, especially language, due to the vulnerability to immaturity of the central nervous system, and to events which interfere in the process of skill acquisition. Objective: verify, compare and correlate the performance of communicative - receptive (Rec), expressive (Exp) and visual abilities in children born preterm, submitted to transfontanelar ultrasonography considering chronological age (ICro) and corrected age (ICor); compare performance of communicative abilities with risk factors and correlate and describe the risk factors for prematurity. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study composed of 101 prematurely born children, ranging from one to 24 months. The experimental procedures were: Analysis of medical records, anamnesis with relatives, application of the Brazilian Economic Classification Criteria and Early Language Milestone Scale - ELM. The risk factors and intercurrences of gestation and birth were listed. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and application of the t-Test, Qui-Square, Mann-Whitney, Pearson\'s Correlation and Spearman\'s Correlation, according to the quality of the variables. Significance level: p <0.05. Results: There was a statistically significant difference/correlation between expressive, receptive and visual abilities in the comparison between ICro and ICor. Regarding the risk factors, there was a statistically significant difference when comparing ICro and ICor socioeconomic level. In the comparison of the communicative abilities with the risk factors, there was also a statistically significant difference for the variables: expression and reception - ICro for neonatal infection and Hypertensive Diseases Specific to Gestation and on expression and reception - ICor for Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Specific Hypertensive Diseases of pregnancy. Regarding the risk factors of preterm gestational, the age, weight, height, head circumference and Apgar presented a positive correlation and the days of hospitalization were negatively correlated with gestational age, weight, height, cephalic perimeter and Apgar. Conclusion: When chronological age was considered, the number of children who failed was higher in all three abilities. The highest failure rate occurred for expressive auditory ability. Considerations should be made as to the use of corrected or chronological age in the evaluation of the development of children born premature. The management of risk factors may favor child development.

A prematuridade é considerada um fator de risco biológico para o desenvolvimento típico infantil. Este estudo foi delineado com o objetivo de comparar o desempenho de crianças nascidas prematuras (abaixo de 37 semanas gestacional) com crianças típicas de idade (acima de 38 semanas) entre quatro e cinco anos e onze meses quanto ao desempenho comunicativo e desempenho escolar. Após o cumprimento dos aspectos éticos, foram avaliadas 40 crianças prematuras (GE) e 40 crianças nascidas a termo com desenvolvimento típico (GC), pareadas quanto à idade cronológica, gênero, escolaridade e tipo de escola, 80 pais e 80 professores das respectivas crianças. Foi realizada entrevista com os responsáveis e aplicado o Inventário MacArthur de Desenvolvimento Comunicativo: Primeiras palavras e gestos, com os responsáveis e professores. Os professores responderam ao Protocolo de Avaliação do aluno. A avaliação foi composta, também por Observação do Comportamento Comunicativo; Teste de Vocabulário por Imagens Peabody, Teste de Linguagem Infantil ABFW Parte de Vocabulário e do Teste de Screening de Desenvolvimento Denver II. Os procedimentos de análise seguiram as normativas previstas nos manuais dos instrumentos. O tratamento estatístico constou de análise descritiva e aplicação dos seguintes testes: Teste t de Studant, Teste de Mann-Whitney, Teste Qui-Quadrado, com valores de significância p <0,005. Os resultados indicaram que na comparação entre GE e GC, quanto ao desempenho comunicativo houve diferença estatística significante. Na comparação entre GE e GC, quanto ao desempenho motor não houve diferença estatística significante. Quanto ao desempenho escolar foi verificado, pelos professores que as crianças prematuras apresentaram queixas relevantes de aprendizagem e comportamentais. Porém, o grupo de prematuros não se comportou de forma homogênea. Os resultados deste estudo podem reafirmar que a prematuridade pode interferir nas habilidades comunicativas e escolares. / Prematurity is considered a biological risk factor for the typical child development. This study was designed with the objective comparing the performance of children born prematurely (under 37 weeks) and typical of age (over 38 weeks) between four and five years eleven months, on the communicative performance and school performance. After meeting the ethical aspects were evaluated, 40 preterm and 40 term infants with typical development, matched for chronological age, gender, education and type of school, 80 parents and 80 children´s teachers were evaluated. An interview with their responsible and applied the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory: First words and gestures, to caregivers and teachers. Teachers responded to the Protocol of student assessment. The evaluation was made also by Observation of Communicative Behavior, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Child Language ABFW - Part Vocabulary and the Denver II Development Screening Test. For the analysis procedures were followed the regulations set out in the manuals of each instrument. Statistical consist of application of different tests, such as \"t\" Test of Studant, Mann-Whitney Test and Chi- squared, with significance values p <0.005. The results indicated that the comparison between experimental and control groups, on the communicative performance was statistically significant difference. In the comparison between GE and GC as the motor performance was no statistically significant difference. In the school performance was verified by teachers that preterm children showed significant learning and behavioral complaints. However, the preterm group did not behave homogeneously. The results of this study can reaffirm that prematurity can interfere with communication performance.

Adults with developmental disabilities may not learn the safety skills needed to maintain the safety of those within their communities. Basic life-saving skills are valued by community members and increase independent and integrated living and employment opportunities. This study used an instructional package consisting of modeling, task analysis, and simultaneous prompting to teach college students with developmental disabilities a basic life-saving skill, specifically how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). Phase 1 of the study used the instructional package to teach the students to perform CPR. Once mastered, Phase 2 of the study taught students to use an AED, incorporating it into the CPR chain. Results showed that the students’ accuracy with the tasks increased after the introduction of the instructional package, generalized to a novel environment, and maintained once the instructional package was removed. Implications and future research are discussed. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection