Testing for spontaneous use of requests after sign language training with two severely handicapped adults

Abstract

A variety of procedures have been used to promote spontaneous requesting in persons with developmental disabilities. However, effective use of such procedures depends in part on identifying the stimuli that gained control of requests during intervention. In the present study, two adults with severe disabilities were taught to request a preferred food item with a modified gesture for “eat.” After learning to respond when the trainer held up an item, an assessment of stimulus control was conducted to determine if requests would occur spontaneously, that is, without the trainer having to offer the item. One learner displayed a number of spontaneous requests during the assessment. Natural maintaining contingencies were then introduced to maintain his spontaneous requests. The other learner made no spontaneous requests during the initial assessment, but subsequent tests revealed that he sometimes requested as the trainer was about to display the item. It thus appeared that both learners were responding at an earlier point in the trial sequence. The results suggest that an assessment of stimulus control may be helpful when selecting strategies to promote spontaneous requesting.

Retention of signs following a one‐day key word sign training

“…In a recent UK‐based study, 44% of teachers working in a special school reported that they have received training in Makaton whilst 99% reported using Makaton in their daily routine (Norburn, Levin, Morgan, & Harding, ). KWS has been used in practice with adults with intellectual disabilities (Meuris, Maes, & Zink, , ), and children with developmental disabilities alongside aided modes of AAC for many years (Launonen, ; Pattison & Robertson, ; Sigafoos, ). The term Makaton was used in Australia, until the term KWS was adopted in 2009 (Tan, Trembath, Bloomberg, Iacono, & Caithness, ).…”