This report describes an intervention to establish independent eating behaviours in a 3 % year old developmentally handicapped boy with autistic-like behaviours who at the point of referral showed signs of dehydration and malwurishment resulting h chronic food rehal. A first intervention reduced screaming, food r e f w l and related disruptive mealtime behaviours and established appropriate eating msponses in a hospital-based daycare centre. Although the boy's mother received some instruction in the teaching procedures treatment effects did not generalize to the home. A second intervention successfully taught the mother to implement the teaching strategies, and independent mealtime behaviours were established at home, with maintenance reported at a 4-month and 3% year follow-up.The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Shirley Holdaway and her staff at the Vera Hayward Clinic.