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A program for increasing manual signing by a nonvocal adult within the daily environment
Author(s) -
Schuebel Christine L.,
Lalli Joseph S.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
behavioral interventions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.605
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1099-078X
pISSN - 1072-0847
DOI - 10.1002/bin.2360070403
Subject(s) - psychology , reinforcement , repertoire , applied psychology , medical education , developmental psychology , social psychology , medicine , physics , acoustics
An instructional program was implemented to increase an adult's repertoire of manual signlanguage skills. The participant was a 39‐year‐old male with mental retardation who had never demonstrated vocal speech. The program used modified incidental teaching strategies consisting of modeling, verbal prompts, physical guidance, positive reinforcement, and naturally occurring reinforcers within the participant's daily environment. The teaching program was implemented by eight direct care personnel who interacted with the participant and five other residents in a community living arrangement (CLA) on a daily basis. Results indicated that the participant learned to independently use manual signing during structured interactions and that the independent levels of responding were maintained for the duration of this study. Results are discussed regarding the potential benefits of teaching manual signs to nonvocal individuals.