A COMPARISON OF BEHAVIORAL-TECHNIQUES TO TEACH FUNCTIONAL INDEPENDENT-LIVING SKILLS TO INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE AND PROFOUND MENTAL-RETARDATION

The efficacy of two treatment approaches was compared for functional s kill acquisition in individuals with severe and profound mental retard ation. Participants included 22 residents from a large developmental c enter(Pinecrest) in central Louisiana. Treatment including staff train ing, feedback, and edible reinforcement in addition to prompting, mode ling, and physical guidance was more effective than prompting, modelin g, and physical guidance alone. Additionally, daily documentation of t eaching did not enhance treatment effectiveness. Implications of the f indings are discussed.