Learning, Speech and Thought in the Mentally Retarded contains the proceedings of Symposia 4 and 5 held at the Middlesex Hospital Medical School in London on October 31, 1969 and March 20, 1970, respectively, under the auspices of the Institute for Research into Mental Retardation. This monograph presents topical problems in mental retardation, with emphasis on learning processes, speech, and thought. The application of operant learning techniques to the development of language in the retarded is highlighted. This book is comprised of four chapters and begins by outlining directions in research on learning deficits, followed by a discussion on teaching processes in the care of severely retarded children. The next chapter deals with speech and thought in the mentally retarded, with particular reference to two basic problems: the relative priority of language or thought and the selection processes underlying language. The final chapter explores language delay and language deviation in mentally retarded children. Throughout the book, the focus is on language: its nature, its development in the constitutionally normal and handicapped, some theoretical controversies among experts in this field, and the development of appropriate techniques for teaching language to the mentally retarded. This monograph will be useful to psychologists and clinicians working in the field of mental retardation.
From a multiple Coretta Scott King Award-winning author comes the story of a brilliant girl that no one knows about because she cannot speak or write. "If there is one book teens and parents (and everyone else) should read this year, "Out of My Mind" should be it.O--"Denver Post."
Children living in poverty are more likely to have mental health problems, and their conditions are more likely to be severe. Of the approximately 1.3 million children who were recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits in 2013, about 50% were disabled primarily due to a mental disorder. An increase in the number of children who are recipients of SSI benefits due to mental disorders has been observed through several decades of the program beginning in 1985 and continuing through 2010. Nevertheless, less than 1% of children in the United States are recipients of SSI disability benefits for a mental disorder. At the request of the Social Security Administration, Mental Disorders and Disability Among Low-Income Children compares national trends in the number of children with mental disorders with the trends in the number of children receiving benefits from the SSI program, and describes the possible factors that may contribute to any differences between the two groups. This report provides an overview of the current status of the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, and the levels of impairment in the U.S. population under age 18. The report focuses on 6 mental disorders, chosen due to their prevalence and the severity of disability attributed to those disorders within the SSI disability program: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, learning disabilities, and mood disorders. While this report is not a comprehensive discussion of these disorders, Mental Disorders and Disability Among Low-Income Children provides the best currently available information regarding demographics, diagnosis, treatment, and expectations for the disorder time course - both the natural course and under treatment.
This unusual book is more than just the memoir of a distinguished career. It is a history of the twentieth century reflected in the life and work of one individual. It begins in 1938 with a year in the life of an eight year old Viennese Jewish boy as he experiences the worst and best of humanity, from Nazi persecution to rescue by strangers through the Kindertransports. It tells of his encounters with an English schooling system at its worst and best and of his formative years. But this is not a story of one person’s liberation. That little refugee boy grew up to contribute to the liberation of hundreds of thousands of people world-wide. Influenced by his own early experiences, Peter Mittler has spent a lifetime committed to the human rights of people with intellectual disabilities. From their liberation from the big institutions left over from the nineteenth century, to their inclusion in shaping the 2008 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, it tells the story of a dynamic and powerful human rights movement. It is perhaps the last great untold story, the story of how persons with intellectual disabilities finally gained the right to respect, value and autonomy and of the long struggle for schooling, access to work and their own front door key. This memoir weaves professional memories and accounts of collaboration across the global village with anecdotes and travellers’ tales to reflect a global perspective from someone who was there at every twist and turn, working with families, teachers, researchers, governments and self-advocates for over 60 years to influence legislation and drive lasting reform. EXTRACTS FROM BOOK REVIEWS Dame Phillipa Russell (from foreword) Socrates is reputed to have said that each generation produces a very small number of 'hero innovators' who change the way in which society values its citizens. For me and for many others, Peter Mittler is indeed one of those 'hero innovators', radically changing both national and international attitudes towards people with intellectual and other disabilities and their families. Duncan Mitchell British Journal of Learning Disabilities Peter Mittler is one of the giants of learning disability in the second half of the twentieth century. It is rare to find such a wonderfully understated page turner. Ingrid Lunt, Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs The book succeeds in going far beyond an autobiography… is easy to read, and carries the reader through with the strong narrative. Paul Williams Community Living What an incredibly full and constructive life! The book is very well written and highly readable. David Mitchell, International Journal of Disability, Development and Education Peter Mittler has the happy knack of being able to synthesise disparate material in an interesting manner, with an eye to the broader philosophical context. This book is a fitting summation of one man’s personal journey to address inequalities, particularly as they apply to those among us who have disabilities. Chris Cullen, History of Psychology and Philosophy This is a fascinating book, which chronicles the life journey of Peter Mittler, a leading exponent of evidence-based services and social inclusion for people with intellectual impairments. More than this, though, it is a history of the slow and often halting progress which has been made in the United Kingdom and throughout the
“An absolutely gorgeous historical novel . . . set against the backdrop of a tribe in the Andamans struggling with British rule . . . Just magnificent.” —Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You One of Booklist’s Top Ten Historical Fiction Books of 2020 Glorious Boy is a tale of war and devotion, longing and loss, and the power of love to prevail. Set in India’s remote Andaman Islands before and during WWII, the story revolves around a mysteriously mute four-year-old who vanishes on the eve of the Japanese occupation. Little Ty’s parents, Shep and Claire, will go to any lengths to rescue him, but neither is prepared for the brutal and soul-changing odyssey that awaits them. “A riveting amalgam of history, family epic, anticolonial/antiwar treatise, cultural crossroads, and more . . . a fascinating, irresistible marvel.” —Library Journal (starred review) “The most memorable and original novel I’ve read in ages . . . evokes every side in a multi-cultural conversation with sympathy and rare understanding.” —Pico Iyer, author of Autumn Light Shortlisted for the Staunch Book Prize New York Post’s Best Books of the Week Good Housekeeping’s 20 Best Books of 2020 Parade’s 30 Best Beach Reads of 2020
Current estimates suggest that between one and three percent of people living in the United States will receive a diagnosis of mental retardation. Mental retardation, a condition characterized by deficits in intellectual capabilities and adaptive behavior, can be particularly hard to diagnose in the mild range of the disability. The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) provides income support and medical benefits to individuals with cognitive limitations who experience significant problems in their ability to perform work and may therefore be in need of governmental support. Addressing the concern that SSA's current procedures are consistent with current scientific and professional practices, this book evaluates the process used by SSA to determine eligibility for these benefits. It examines the adequacy of the SSA definition of mental retardation and its current procedures for assessing intellectual capabilities, discusses adaptive behavior and its assessment, advises on ways to combine intellectual and adaptive assessment to provide a complete profile of an individual's capabilities, and clarifies ways to differentiate mental retardation from other conditions.
