This commentary uses self-injurious behavior to illustrate the approach of the functional analysis of behavior as a guide to rational treatment strategies for individuals with autism, and to show that the characteristics of the clinical presentations can provide clues for underlying mechanisms that can be used for research and treatment. (Contains…

This review evaluates evidence for metabolic etiologies in autism spectrum disorders, as well as for the efficacy of dietary and vitamin treatments. The relationship between gastrointestinal abnormalities and autism spectrum disorders is also considered, and the need for more research on larger populations of individuals with autism is stressed.…

This commentary on research findings that indicate immunological abnormalities in children with autism, discusses the lack of evidence indicating autoantibodies specifically affect the vulnerable neuronal networks or synaptic functions of individuals with autism to account for the cognitive and behavioral symptoms of the disorder. (Contains…

This article describes relational and situational vulnerabilities that emerged from interviews with 28 women (7 Black and 21 White) who were victims of chronic abuse suffered at the hands of male dating partners. Based on a qualitative content analysis, we explore how these vulnerabilities relate to women's decisions to stay in their abusive…

This article describes the relationship between learning disabilities (LD) and homelessness. Research describing the connection between disabilities and homelessness has focused on individuals presenting with disabilities such as mental illness, physical disabilities, medical disabilities, or substance abuse. At this time, the presence of LD in…

Violent conduct by youths ranks among the types of inappropriate behavior generally originating in difficult family and social contexts. A proper understanding of the development of violent conduct must consider the situation taken as a whole. This article documents the results of a qualitative study which aimed to determine the psychosocial…

In this study, the authors tested a social ecological model of illness management in high-risk, urban adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. It was hypothesized that management behaviors would be associated with individual adolescent characteristics as well as family, peer, and provider relationships. Questionnaires were collected from 96 adolescents…

The first national toll free suicide crisis line for South Africa was launched in October 2003 with the aim of providing a service dedicated to the prevention of suicide in this country. The intervention was motivated by South Africa's suicide rate which had risen higher than the global suicide rate, with the majority of attempted suicides…

The literature review considers characteristics of autism in three general areas of impairment: communication; cognition; and social behavior. Briefly noted are incidence and etiology facts. A variety of definitions are presented including a psychiatric definition, Leo Kanner's definition, and the definition of the Autism Study Committee of Iowa.…

This paper describes the goals, model, programs and organization of the National Laboratory on Early Childhood Education, which was established in 1967 as the first national research and development program focused on early childhood education. The central goal is the development of specifications for the best learning environments of children…

This document includes three papers on long-term investigations of the population characteristics of disadvantaged preschool children. Myles I. Friedman, et.al., approached the problem of curriculum construction by describing and identifying readiness behaviors in children. Twenty-two tests were administered to 1600 4- to 6-year-old advantaged and…

The article reviews child abuse and neglect issues of concern to early childhood professionals, focusing on: incidence and prevalence; factors associated with maltreatment, including child and parent characteristics; mediating factors, including social support; cognitive, emotional, and social sequelae; and policy directions and recommendations.…

Coping style and effects of counseling intervention on pain tolerance was studied for 61 elementary school students through immersion of hands in cold water. Bayesian predictive inference tools are able to distinguish between subject characteristics and manipulable treatments. Sensitivity analysis strengthens the certainty of conclusions about…

This paper examines the characteristics and behaviors which may exacerbate the vulnerability of children with an intellectual disability toward sexually abusive relationships. It focuses on incidence, characteristics of offenders, characteristics of children, consequences of sexual abuse, and challenges for intervention and prevention. (JDD)

This article examines trends in autism in the context of parental problems and decisions. It compares autism in America in the 1960s with autism today, considers the roles of the Autism Society of America, and discusses the experience of parenting with emphasis on the individuality of each person with autism, challenges, and the probability of…