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Highlights: [•] To present the information of ADL profile and its associated factors in adults with ID. [•] The results revealed that 2.3% of adults with ID were in total dependence, 11.9% were in severe dependence. [•] Education level, with comorbid Down's syndrome, and disability level related to ADL scores. [•] It is needed to support mobility in older adults with ID to optimize independence in this group. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Williams syndrome (WS) is associated with atypical face attention and social drive. [•] Results show that anxiety influences attention away from eye regions of faces in WS. [•] This suggests anxiety may mediate the allocation of attention to faces in WS. [•] Intervention should focus on anxiety reduction to improve atypical gaze behaviour. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] We explored the relationship between antecedents and behavioral function using the QABF and the CAI. [•] Data from the validation of these instruments for the Spanish population were used. [•] The study involved 300 participants with intellectual disabilities and 328 challenging behavior. [•] Results identify social/cultural variables as the best predictors of challenging behavior. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] The impact of visual impairments in self-esteem and LOC of adults were examined. [•] Sighted adults showed a higher score on the self-esteem. [•] Predictors of self-esteem were age at loss of sight and severity of visual impairment. [•] Predictors of LOC were the ability to move independent and severity of visual impairment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] We reviewed 28 studies comparing different AAC systems for individuals with developmental disabilities. [•] Comparisons included non-electronic picture systems to speech generating devices, aided AAC to unaided, and AAC to vocal speech. [•] Consistent differences across all variables were not typical, but there were differences across individuals and outcomes. [•] When differences were present, learner characteristics such as motor imitation ability may have played a role. [•] In addition to effectiveness and efficiency, outcomes such as preference or maintenance should be considered based upon intervention goals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Body fat negatively affected the MABC-2 score for balance, while manual dexterity and aiming/catching were not influenced. [•] Three individual balance items (2-board balance, walking toe-heel, zig-zag hopping) were significantly influenced by relative body fat. [•] After adjusting for activity level and DCD status, only 2-board balance and zig-zag hopping were significant influenced by relative body fat. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] The overall quality of research addressing this use of beta blockers is poor. [•] Research suggests that a symptom based approach is used by clinicians in prescribing of beta blockers. [•] There is some evidence for positive outcomes for a range of problem behaviours. [•] Beta blockers appear to be well tolerated in the populations studied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The latest researches use software technology (OLDP, object location detection programs) to turn a commercial high-technology product, i.e. a battery-free wireless mouse, into a high performance/precise object location detector to detect whether or not an object has been placed in the designated location. The preferred environmental stimulation is also incorporated to assist those patients in need of occupational activities in performing simple occupational activities to acquire their preferred environmental stimulation. The result of the experiment shows that both participants have been able to control their preferred environmental stimulation by actively performing occupational activities. This study is going to extend the aforementioned researches by using battery-free wireless mice to assist patients in performing more complicated occupational activities. The ABAB design has been adopted for experiments, and the result shows that during intervention phrases, the occupational activities of both participants are significantly improved. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Individuals diagnosed with an intellectual disability (ID) share overlapping traits with those diagnosed with both ID and an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if caregivers’ reports of symptoms of ASD are of value (i.e., when comparing them to clinical diagnoses of ASD) and to determine which symptoms of ASD best differentiate those with ASD from those with ID only. It was hypothesized that a subset of items would emerge using the Autism Spectrum Disorders-Diagnostic for Adults (ASD-DA) which would differentiate the two groups utilize in this study. One hundred eighty-six adults diagnosed with ID with and without diagnosis of ASD were assessed for core symptoms and other behavioral differences using the ASD-DA. Most of the individuals in the ID group (n =93) and the ID plus ASD group (n =93) were in the profound range of ID. The items which were most likely to distinguish individuals with ASD were in socialization domain. Furthermore, adults with ASD were more likely to be male and to be non-verbal. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study provided that people with multiple disabilities can have a collaborative working chance in computer operations through an Enhanced Multiple Cursor Dynamic Pointing Assistive Program (EMCDPAP, a new kind of software that replaces the standard mouse driver, changes a mouse wheel into a thumb/finger poke detector, and manages mouse actions). The study used an ABAB design to evaluate whether four people (two pairs) with multiple disabilities, who have very limited voluntary muscle control and cannot use a standard mouse, would be able to improve their collaborative pointing performance using their finger poke ability with a mouse wheel through EMCDPAP software. The data showed that both pairs of participants improved their collaborative pointing efficiency through the use of the EMCDPAP software during the intervention phase. The practical and developmental implications of the findings are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

People suffering from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) hypermobility type present a severe ligament laxity that results in difficulties in muscle force transmission. The same condition is present in people suffering from Down syndrome (DS) even if their clumsy movements are due to cerebral and cognitive impairments. The aim of this study was to quantify the gait patterns of subjects with EDS and with DS using Gait Analysis (GA). We quantified the gait strategy in 12 EDS individuals and in 16 participants with DS. Both pathological groups were compared to 20 age-matched healthy controls in terms of kinematics and kinetics. Results showed that DS individuals are characterized by a more compromised gait pattern than EDS participants, even if both groups are characterized by joint hypermobility. All the patients showed significant decreased of ankle stiffness probably due to congenital hypotonia and ligament laxity, while different values of hip stiffness. These findings help to elucidate the complex biomechanical changes due to joint hypermobility and may have a major role in the multidimensional evaluation and tailored management of these patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study used a standard keyboard with a newly developed finger-pressing position detection program (FPPDP), i.e. a new software program, which turns a standard keyboard into a finger-pressing position detector, to evaluate whether two people with developmental disabilities would be able to actively perform fine motor activities to control their preferred environmental stimulation. An ABAB design was adopted in this study. The data showed that both participants’ target responses (i.e. fine motor activities) significantly increased (i.e. they performed more fine motor activities to activate the environmental stimulation) during the intervention phases. The practical and developmental implications of the findings are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aim: To analyse static-standing-balance of adolescents with Down syndrome (DS). Methods: Thirty-two adolescents with DS aged 10–19 years (DSG); 33 adolescents, age/sex-matched, without DS (CG). Static-standing-balance under four conditions (C1: open-eyes/fixed-foot-support; C2: closed-eyes/fixed-foot-support; C3: open-eyes/compliant-foot-support; closed-eyes/compliant-foot-support) was examined by means of time and frequency Postural-Parameters (PPs). To evaluate the contribution of each sensory system influencing postural control ratios among the four conditions were calculated. Mean values of all PPs were higher in the DSG than in the CG. Mean values of time PPs were higher in both groups on compliant-foot-support (with open and closed eyes) than on fixed-foot-support. Ratios C2/C1 were significantly lower in DSG than in CG; ratios C3/C1 presented higher values in DSG than in CG, with significant differences in length path and RMS-velocity; there were no differences in ratios C4/C1. Conclusions: In our group of DS adolescents the shift from visual to multimodal control of stance had occurred and they showed similar postural control patterns than non-DS. Even though, they presented worse static balance than their peers without DS and they had more problems with altered somasosensory input. An adequate rehabilitation program insisting on somatosensory input could be a useful measure to improve balance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Individuals with disabilities are a growing population that confronts multiple disadvantages from social and environmental determinants of health. In particular, the 7–8 million people in the U.S. with an intellectual disability (ID) suffer disproportionately from substance use problems, largely because of a lack of empirical evidence to inform prevention and treatment efforts for them. Although available research could inform future research efforts, studies are scattered across disciplines with the last review synthesizing findings written more than five years ago. To consider more recent findings with earlier works, PubMed, PsychINFO, and Google Scholar were searched and produced 37 peer-reviewed texts across multiple disciplines, 15 from 2006 or later. While the prevalence of alcohol and illicit drug use in this population are low, the risk of having a substance-related problem among ID substance users is comparatively high. Gaps in the research and population subgroups that warrant special attention are identified, such as individuals with borderline and mild ID, individuals with co-occurring mental illness, and individuals who are incarcerated. Compared with substance abusers without ID, ID substance abusers are less likely to receive substance abuse treatment or remain in treatment. Research is needed to better gauge the magnitude of substance use problems, identify prevention strategies, and specify treatment components that meet the unique needs of individuals with ID. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Identifying emotions in people with severe and profound intellectual disabilities is a difficult challenge. Since self-reports are not available, behaviour is the most used source of information. Given the limitations and caveats associated with using behaviour as the sole source of information about their emotions, it is important to supplement behavioural information with information from another source. As it is accepted that emotions consist of language, behaviour and physiology, in this article we investigated if physiology could give information about the emotions of people with severe and profound intellectual disabilities. To this aim we tested hypotheses derived from the motivational model of about the relation between heart rate and the valence of emotions and between heart rate, skin conductance and skin temperature and behavioural expressions of emotions of people with severe and profound intellectual disability. We presented 27 participants with 4 staff-selected negative and 4 staff-selected positive stimuli. The situations were videotaped and their heart rate, skin conductance and skin temperature was measured. Each behaviour of the participant was coded using the observational method developed by . As hypothesized, we found a lower heart rate when participants were presented with negative stimuli than when they were presented with positive stimuli in the first 6s of stimuli presentation. Their skin temperature was higher for the expression of low intensity negative emotions compared to the expression of low intensity positive emotions. The results suggest that, as with people without disability, heart rate and skin temperature can give information about the emotions of persons with severe and profound ID. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Video modeling with other as model (VMO) is a more practical method for implementing video-based modeling techniques, such as video self-modeling, which requires significantly more editing. Despite this, identification of contextual factors such as participant characteristics and targeted outcomes that moderate the effectiveness of VMO has not previously been explored. The purpose of this study was to meta-analytically evaluate the evidence base of VMO with individuals with disabilities to determine if participant characteristics and targeted outcomes moderate the effectiveness of the intervention. Findings indicate that VMO is highly effective for participants with autism spectrum disorder (IRD=.83) and moderately effective for participants with developmental disabilities (IRD=.68). However, differential effects are indicated across levels of moderators for diagnoses and targeted outcomes. Implications for practice and future research are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The current research aimed to clarify the influence of age, intelligence and executive control function on the central tendency and intraindividual variability of saccadic reaction time in persons with intellectual disabilities. Participants were 44 persons with intellectual disabilities aged between 13 and 57 years whose IQs were between 14 and 70. Executive control function was evaluated by a test of sustained simple motor action. To elicit saccades, a predictive visually guided saccade paradigm was used. Intelligence and executive control function were significantly associated with saccadic reaction time. The central tendency of saccadic reaction time was negatively correlated with intelligence. The more serious the degree of executive control dysfunction was, the larger the intraindividual variability of saccadic reaction time. It is thought that intelligence and executive control function have relatively independent influences on saccadic reaction time. However, there is a possibility that the increase of intraindividual variability in saccadic reaction time due to the problem of executive control function extends the central tendency of saccadic reaction time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: People with intellectual disabilities are exposed to a high number of adverse life events, and evidence supports a link between the experience of adverse life events and trauma. Interventions for trauma have been found to be efficacious if case recognition can be facilitated. However to date there are no psychometrically validated measures of trauma for people with intellectual disabilities. This study describes the development of the Lancaster and Northgate Trauma Scales (LANTS), which comprise a self-report and an informant measure of the effects of traumatic life events on people with intellectual disabilities. The pool of items for the measures was created via a systematic review, and consultation with key stakeholders. 99 service users and 88 staff completed the LANTS measures during a pilot. The 29-item self-report LANTS and the 43-item informant LANTS were found to have good psychometric properties, including internal and test retest reliability, plus convergent and construct validity. The findings suggest the LANTS are promising trauma screening tools for use in clinical and research settings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study was aimed at replicating and extending early research on technology-aided stimulus choice with two adults with multiple disabilities. The technology-aided program involved (a) a computer-aided system presenting the participants samples of different environmental stimuli and (b) a microswitch device allowing them to choose among those samples and to access the related stimuli for preset periods of time. The system also allowed the participants opportunities to request the continuation/repetition of any stimulus. The program was successful in promoting the participants’ selection of preferred stimuli and their requests for continuation/repetition of those stimuli. Data also showed that the intervention sessions largely improved the participants’ mood (i.e., increased their indices of happiness). Theoretical and practical relevance of the findings were discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We replicated and extended previous research on microswitch facilitated choice making by individuals with profound multiple disabilities. Following an assessment of stimulus preferences, we taught 6 adults with profound multiple disabilities to emit 2 different responses to activate highly preferred stimuli. All participants learnt to activate both microswitches. Five participants showed a higher overall level of responding when both switches activating preferred stimuli were available concurrently. After completion of microswitch training, a choice assessment was conducted in which participants had access to 2 microswitches concurrently, with 1 connected to the most highly preferred stimulus and the other to a least preferred stimulus. Choice making behavior was shown in 3 participants and provided support for the preference assessment results. The results of the 3 remaining participants showed that both the most highly preferred and the least preferred stimuli may serve as reinforcers for microswitch activation responses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Seizures are more common in individuals with intellectual disabilities than in the general population. As a result, differences in functioning for individuals with intellectual disability with and without seizures have been evaluated. Research on differences in psychopathology for individuals with intellectual disability with and without seizures has been mixed. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in subscale scores on the Diagnostic Assessment for the Severely Handicapped-II (DASH-II) between individuals with intellectual disability with and without seizures. In this study, 321 individuals from two large developmental centers in the southeastern United States were administered the DASH-II. Researchers found that the seizure group endorsed significantly more symptoms on the mood subscale than the group without seizures. No other group differences were found to be significant. Implications of these results are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The general public''s responses to people with intellectual disabilities influence the likely success or failure of policies aimed at increasing their social inclusion. The present paper provides a review of general population based research into awareness, attitudes and beliefs regarding intellectual disability published in English between 1990 and mid-2011. An electronic search using PsycINFO and Web of Science plus a hand search of the literature was completed. Most of the 75 studies identified consisted of descriptive surveys of attitudes. They tend to conclude that age, educational attainment and prior contact with someone with an intellectual disability predict attitudes, while the effect of gender is inconsistent. Eight studies examined lay knowledge about intellectual disability and beliefs about its causation in a range of cultural contexts. The impact of interventions designed to improve attitudes or awareness was examined by 12 studies. The evidence is limited by the fact that it is mostly based on relatively small unrepresentative samples and cross-sectional designs. It is concluded that overall, high quality research into general population attitudes to intellectual disability is limited. Public knowledge of intellectual disability and causal beliefs are particularly under-researched areas. There is a notable absence of well designed evaluations of efforts to reduce misconceptions about intellectual disability and tackle negative attitudes. Areas for future research are noted, including the need for well designed studies that consider awareness, attitudes and beliefs in relation to stigma theory. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: Aim was to examine whether a new cognitive-behavioral self-help intervention program was effective in improving depressed mood in people with acquired chronic physical impairments. Methods: Participants were 32 persons with acquired chronic physical impairments and depressive symptoms, who were randomly allocated to the Cognitive-Behavioral Self-help program (CBS) or the Waiting List Control group (WLC). Depression scores were assessed at three measurement moments: at pretest, immediately after completion of the intervention (posttest), and again two months later (follow-up). To evaluate changes in depression scores, Repeated Measures ANCOVA''s were performed. Results: It was shown that respondents who followed the CBS significantly improved compared to the WLC after completion of the program, and that this positive effect remained at 2-months follow-up. Conclusion: A cognitive-behavioral self-help intervention can be an effective tool to reduce depressive symptoms in people with physical impairments. Practice implications: A self-help program may prove to be more cost-effective for individuals and for the health care system as a whole. In addition, because a self-help intervention program can be delivered through mail or internet, a high number of people could be reached while overcoming geographical and social barriers to treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Developmental disabilities are a heterogeneous group of chronic conditions that may result in substantial activity limitations. The type and number of limitations may vary by impairment characteristics. Economic and social constraints may impact activity limitations beyond those attributable to their impairment. Using the International Classification of Functioning (ICF), Disability, and Health conceptual framework, this study tests the hypothesis that activity limitations in young adulthood are not inevitable consequences of childhood impairment. The Metropolitan Atlanta Developmental Disabilities Follow-up Study of Young Adults, a cohort of young adults ages 21–25, is used to examine the relationship between childhood impairment and activity limitations in young adulthood. For young adults with isolated impairment, activity limitations are not probable outcomes. This situation is not the case for those with severe intellectual disability and/or multiple impairments. The type and extent of activity limitations vary by impairment characteristics. With the goal of improving and preventing activity limitations in young adults with various types and severities of childhood impairment, additional research is needed to further identify areas for secondary and tertiary prevention of the consequences of childhood impairment. The conceptual framework of the ICF provides a useful tool for testing hypotheses to pinpoint areas of intervention. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: The aim of the study was to explore the background biopsychosocial status of teachers with a relative voice handicap. The study also intended to investigate this biopsychosocial status in relation to behavior of not always reporting voice complaints. Methods: This research was a cross-sectional survey, performed using questionnaires: a general voice questionnaire, the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), and the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). The focus of the study is on those teachers who score the highest and the lowest on the SCL-90 as they report a higher or lower level of overall physical and psychosocial dysfunction. Fifty-five teachers score in the lowest quartile and 51 teachers score in the highest quartile of the total score of the SCL-90 (N=106 teachers). The upper quartiles of SCL-90 scores are mentioned as “high scores” and the lower quartile scores are mentioned as “low scores”. VHI scores above the 75th percentile are referred to as “high voice handicap” and VHI scores below the 25th percentile are referred to as “low voice handicap”. Results: Subjects who had a high voice handicap have a greater relative risk for a high score on all the subscales (ORs between 2.1 and 20.2) and total score (OR=12.5) of the SCL-90. Teachers who had a high voice handicap and who did not report voice complaints have a greater relative risk for a high score for all the subscales (ORs between 1.8 and 24.5) and total score (OR=22.4) of the SCL-90. Conclusion: The voice handicap and the behaviour of nonreporting of voice complaints when having a voice handicap appear to be in relation to the biopsychosocial status of the teachers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Charlop, Burgio, Iwata, and Ivancic [J. Appl. Behav. Anal. 21 (1988) 89] demonstrated that varied punishment procedures produced greater or more consistent reductions of problem behavior than a constant punishment procedure. More recently, Fisher and colleagues [Res. Dev. Disabil. 15 (1994) 133; J. Appl. Behav. Anal. 27 (1994) 447] developed a systematic methodology for predicting the efficacy of various punishment procedures. Their procedure identified reinforcers and punishers (termed “empirically derived consequences” or EDC) that, when used in combination, reduced the destructive behavior of individuals with developmental disabilities who displayed automatically maintained destructive behavior. The current investigation combines these two lines of research by comparing the effects of constant versus varied punishers on the self-injury of two individuals with developmental disabilities. The punishing stimuli were selected via the procedures described by Fisher et al. and were predicted to be at varying levels of effectiveness. The varied presentation of punishers resulted in enhanced suppressive effects over the constant presentation of a punisher for one of two individuals, but only in comparison to a single stimulus predicted to be minimally effective. Even then, the differences were small. These results suggest that the additive effects of varied punishment are negligible if clinicians use stimuli predicted to be effective and are discussed in terms of the conditions under which stimulus variation could potentially enhance the effects of punishers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]