Lifeline Online Newsletter September 2003

An expert in how parents and teachers can help develop literacy in children whose first language is not English will speak at the Colloquia on Intellectual Developmental Disabilities 2003-04 public seminar series, Language to Literacy, Oct. 9 at the University of Kansas.

Kevin Cole, senior researcher at the Washington Research Institute in Seattle, will discuss how parents and teachers can enhance emerging literacy skills in young children, including those with disabilities, at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, in the Alderson Auditorium of the Kansas Union. Cole, a critic of many school-based practices, has a distinguished history of both research and curriculum development related to emerging literacy skills.

Cole will show excerpts from his video training series for parents and children, Language is the Key. The series is available in subtitled English, Mandarin, Mandarin subtitled in Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Spanish, and Tagalog/Pilipino.

The Kansas Colloquia on Intellectual Developmental Disabilities is sponsored by the Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, the Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, the Center for Reproductive Sciences, the Beach Center on Disability, the Juniper Gardens Children's Project and the KU Center on Developmental Disabilities.

Note to LSI investigators: There are still opportunities for individuals and small groups to meet with the speakers as well as for the speaker to talk to your class. Please contact Karen Henry at 864-0756 kahenry@ku.edu.

Carta and Warren will head KU effort for multi-state child neglect prevention study

Child development experts at the University of Kansas Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Center and Juniper Gardens Children’s Project have joined researchers at three other prominent universities to form the Centers for Prevention of Child Neglect to conduct an ambitious five-year study on preventing child neglect.

KU, along with the University of Notre Dame, Georgetown University and the University of Texas Health Science Center, were awarded $8.5 million by the National Insitute of Child Health and Development.

Steven Warren, director of KU’s Life Span Institute and Judith Carta, Life Span senior scientist, will direct the Kansas City site study that will follow 100 single teenaged mothers from pregnancy to when their children are three years old.

A total of 400 women will be recruited in Kansas City, Houston, Washington, D.C., and South Bend, Indiana.

Warren and Carta’s work has shown how critical early interaction between a child and parent is to the child’s cognitive development.

“We know that child neglect harms children, families, communities and societies,” Warren said, “but we need to know more about which approaches and what kinds of support will measurably prevent child neglect in high-risk families as well as enhance overall child development.”

The Kansas City mothers will be divided into two groups. Both will get services and support, but one group will receive intensive direct intervention in a comprehensive parenting training program.

A major part of this program was developed by University of Texas Health Science Center Professor of Pediatrics Susan Landry, who will speak at KU on Thursday, January 22, at 4 p.m. in the Kansas Room of the Kansas Union. Landry directs the Houston site for the study.

The Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Center and the Juniper Gardens Children’s Project are two of the 12 research centers affiliated with the Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies Center.

Institute scientists conduct research in a variety of settings including underserved urban and rural Kansas communities.

The Life Span Institute is one of the largest research and development programs in the nation for the prevention and treatment of developmental disabilities. The Institute includes 12 centers and more than 120 programs and projects located on the Lawrence and Medical Center campuses and in Kansas City, Kansas and Parsons.

Donna Wickham, Ph.D., who coordinates the special education services for the Developmental Disabilities Unit at KUMC, will become the first associate director for the Inclusive Large Scale Standards and Assessment Project at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY on December 1. She will direct and coordinate multi-state contracts related to Alternate Assessment. Donna has been an LSI staff member since May 2003, but affiliated with the Special Education Department, Beach Center, Life Span Institute and University of Kansas Medical Center since 1986.

Steve Warren reviewed the challenges and successes of FY 2002-03, his second as director, during the September 11 meeting. Notably, he pointed to the increasing number of collaborative LSI projects and emphasized its importance to the Institute’s research viability.

· Continuing challenges posed by “contracts”
· Need to increase the total number of grants submitted to USDE
· Federal and state budget problems
· Changing federal priorities
· Stretched infrastructure

· NO STATE BUDGET CUT!!!
· Biobehavioral Neurosciences in Communication Disorders Center
· Peter Smith assumes directorship of the Smith Center at KUMC
· The Schief Bash
· Retention of key leaders at Juniper Gardens
· External awards reach 19.5 million
· Indirect costs on awards increase 9% over FY 2002
· 1.3 million dollar increase in NIH awards
· 25 new awards in total;
· 97 total external awards (13 less than FY 2002)
· Federal awards (NIH; DE; HHS) account for 85% of funding
· LSI “footprint” approaches 36 million in 162 external awards
· 15% of KU GRA’s are supported in LSI grants

Types of Collaboration % of # of
Minimum of 2 Investigators 63% 61
More than 2 Investigators 37% 36
Multiple Sites 27% 26
(Lawrence, Parsons, JGCP, KUMC)
Other Institutions (non-KU) 26% 25

Life Span in the News

KATCO program featured in KU Alumni publication
The September 2003 issue of the KU Alumni publication, KU Connection, featured KATCO, the Kansas Assistive Technology Cooperative, a loan cooperative developed by LSI associate scientist Sara Sack and senior scientist Charles Spellman (LSI-Parsons As it entered its third year, KATCO had loaned more than $400,000 to 70 Kansans in 18 counties for vehicle and home modifications, computers and other technology. See http://www.kuconnection.org/2003sept/news_1.asp

Rice-Wexler Test highlighted in APS Observer
The Rice-Wexler Test for Specific Language Impairment, developed by Mabel Rice, director of the Child Language Doctoral Program, the Merrill Advanced Studies Center, and the Biobehavioral Neurosciences in Communications Disorders Center, was highlighted in the September 2003 American Psychological Society’s Observer. The test, published in 2001, is now used worldwide. Read full article at: http://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/getArticle.cfm?id=1373

Kathleen Olson interviewed for Brookes Publishing Company
Kathleen Olson, Ph.D., who with Jessica Hellings, M.D., and Patricia A. Black, M.S., produced a new Brookes series on dual diagnoses for support professionals and families, was featured in The Preview by Editor Mike Konowitz. See http://www.parsons.lsi.ukans.edu/html/Temppages/Dualdiagnosis.html

Todd Little’s study on religion and depression in adolescents prompts Roger Martin commentary
LSI Research Design and Analysis Director Todd Little’s recently published study of how participation in religious life affected depression in 744 adolescents prompted KU resident writer Roger Martins’ latest thoughtful commentary. Read it at: http://www.ur.ku.edu/News/03N/SeptNews/Sept26/martin.html

Honors

Dot Nary’s “Home Physical Activity Programs for Persons with Physical Disabilities” was recognized as an outstanding public health publication by the Kansas Public Health Association September 24.

Publications

Andreatta, R.D., & Barlow, S.M. (2003). “Movement-related modulation of vibrotactile detection thresholds in the human orofacial system.” Experimental Brain Research, 149, 75-82.

Barlow, S.M., Finan, D.S., & Park, S.-Y. (in press). “Central pattern generation and sensorimotor entrainment of respiratory and orofacial systems.” In B. Maassen, W. Hulstijn, R. Kent, H.F.M. Peters, P.H.M.M. van Lieshout (Eds.), Speech Motor Control in Normal and Disordered Speech., 211-224. Oxford University Press.

Clair, A. A., Mathews, R. M., Kosloski, K., Johnson, G., & Otto, D. (in press). “Music enhanced exercises for strength and flexibility in care receivers who have dementia.” Activity Directors’ Quarterly for Alzheimer’s and Other Dementia Patients.

Colombo, J., Richman, W. A., Shaddy, D. J., Maikranz, J. M., & Blaga, O. (2004). “Developmental course of visual habituation and preschool cognitive and language outcome.” Infancy, in press.

Doughty, A. H., & Lattal, K. A. (2003). “Response persistence under variable-time food schedules following immediate and unsignalled delayed reinforcement.” The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology(B), 56(3), 267-277.

Engelman, K. K., Altus, D. E., & Mathews, R. M. (2003). “Evaluation of graduated prompts to improve dressing independence by older adults with dementia.” Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 36, 129-132.

Grote, I. (in press). “Self-Experimentation and Self-management: Allies in Combination Therapies.” Comment on Target Article “Self-experimentation as a source of new idea: Ten examples about sleep, mood, health, and weight” by Seth Roberts. Behavioral and Brain Sciences.

Grote, I. (2003). “More Memory?” Comment on Target Article “Working memory retention systems: A state of activated long term memory.”by Ruchkin, D. S., Grafman, J., Cameron,, K., & Berndt, R. S. Behavioral and Brain Sciences 26(6).

Grote, I. (2003). “Individualizing Self-Instruction for Adults with Developmental Disabilities: Intensifying its Occurrence Produces Compliance with SI.” Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities 15, 281-299.

Murphy, K. M., Saunders, M. D., Saunders, R. R., & Olswang, L. B. (in press). “Effects of ambient stimuli on measures of behavioral state and microswitch use in adults with profound multiple impairments.” Research in Developmental Disabilities.

Nolan, B., & Mathews, R. M. (in press). “Facilitating resident information seeking regarding meals in a special care unit.” Journal of Gerontological Nursing.

Nolan, B., Montgomery, R. J. V., & Mathews, R. M. (in press). “Relationships between recognition problems and aggressive behaviors.” Memory Care Professional

O’Donnell, J., & Saunders, K. J. (2003). “Equivalence relations in individuals with language limitations and mental retardation.” Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 80, 131-157.

Rea, J. A., Williams, D., Saunders, K. J., Dixon, M., Wright, K., & Spradlin, J. E. (2003). “Covert sensitization: A generalization analysis in the laboratory and natural environment through the use of a portable-penile plethysmograph.” Behavior Analyst Today, 4, 190-198.

Saunders, K. J., O’Donnell, J., Vaidya, M., & Williams, D. C. (2003). “Recombinative generalization of within-syllable units in nonreading adults with mental retardation.” Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 36, 95-99.

Shaddy, D. J., & Colombo, J. (2004). “Developmental change in attention: Dynamic and static stimuli.” Infancy, in press.

Storkel, H. L. (in press). “Do children acquire dense neighborhoods? An investigation of similarity neighborhoods in lexical acquisition.” Applied Psycholinguistics.

Storkel, H. L. (in press). “Learning new words II: Phonotactic probability in verb learning.” Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research.

Xaverius, P. K., & Mathews, R. M. (in press). “Evaluating the impact of intergenerational activities on elder’s engagement and expressiveness levels in two settings.” Journal of Intergenerational Relationships.

Yoo, J. H., Williams, D. C., Napolitano, D. A., Peyton, R. T., Baer, D. M., & Schroeder, S. R. (2003). “Rate-decreasing effects of the atypical neuroleptic risperidone attenuated by conditions of reinforcement in a woman with mental retardation.” Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 36, 245-248.

Presentations

Altus, D., Engelman, K., & Mathews, R. M. (2003, May). “The engagement model: Using behavior analysis to improve dementia care.” Association for Behavior Analysis, San Francisco, CA.

Campbell, M., Lindeman, D. P., & Goosen, M. (2003, July). “Focus on change: Improving environment for young children with disabilities.” Paper presented at Kansas State Department of Education 2003 Annual Leadership Conference for special Education: A new era of results, Wichita, KS.

Carta, J., Atwater, J. “The impact of an early intervention program on parent-child interactions and children's developmental trajectories,” International Society for Early Intervention in Rome, Sept 18th

Colombo, J., “The role of disengagement in infant look duration.” Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina

Colombo, J., “Infant visual attention and prediction of preschool cognitive outcome.” Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina.

Colombo, J., “DHA and the development of attention in infancy and toddlerhood.” Departments of Psychology and Human Ecology, University of Texas at Austin.

Cress, P. (2003, July). “No child left behind includes everyone. Presentation at the MidAmerica Technology Institute,” Overland Park, KS.

Greenwood, C., Carta, J., Walker, D. (Poster): “Assessing intervention results for infants and toddlers using individual indicators of growth and development,” International Society for Early Intervention in Rome, Sept 18th

Hampton, J., Legislative Roundtable, Joint Comte. on Children’s Issues.

Hardman, M., Lindeman, D. P., & Schefler, M. (2003, July). “Working collaboratively with your state department of education to improve CSPD activities.” Conference call presentation for Mountain Plains Regional Resource Center.

Lindeman, D. P. (2003, July). “ECHO update: Change in process.” Presented at the Kansas State Department of Education Special Education Advisory Committee,” Wichita, KS.

Lindeman, D. P. (2003, August). “Inclusion: I have a few questions, do you?” Presented at SEK-CAP 0-5 Head Start, Girard, KS.

Mathews, R. M., Altus, D., Rice, C., & Kennedy, Q. (2003, May). “Training issues in gerontology.” Association for Behavior Analysis, San Francisco, CA.

Mathews, R. M., Ghezzi, P. M., & Glasberg, B. A. (2003, May). “Professional development series: Graduate training in ABA.” Association for Behavior Analysis, San Francisco, CA.

Mathews, R. M., Thompson, R. H., Hanley, G. P., & Morris, E. K. (2003, May). “Graduate training at the University of Kansas.” Association for Behavior Analysis, San Francisco, CA.

Mathews, R. M. (2003, March). “Applied Behavior Analysis: Learning to make a difference in the lives of older adults.” Invited address, Florida State University Engaged Speaker Series, Panama City, FL.

Saunders, R. R., & Saunders, M. D. (2003, September). “Teaching communication skills.” A series of workshops presented to staff at the School for the Junior Blind in Los Angeles, CA.

Walker, D. (Poster): “Quality of childcare and its relation to language development,” International Society for Early Intervention in Rome, Sept 18th

Project Development

Paul Diedrich, Associate Director for Project Development

Past Submissions not previously reported

1. Dale Walker submitted a new, one-year proposal “Training and Technical Support for Administration of the Early Childhood Indicator Assessment” to the Missouri Valley Community ACTION Agency on August 29, 2003.

2. Glen White and Jim Budde submitted their fourth year, grant performance Report “RRTC on Full Participation in Independent Living” to DE/NIDRR on August 29, 2003.

3. Sara Sack submitted a new, one-year combined proposal “Kansas Alternative Financing Program and Kansas Telework Program” to DE/NIDRR on September 4, 2003.

4. Vincent Francisco submitted a new, two and one-half year proposal “Leadership Group for the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network” to the University of Alabama at Birmingham on September 11, 2003.

5. Judy Carta submitted a new, one-year proposal “Pilot Study of Teenage Parenting and Child Neglect” to the University of Notre Dame on September 15, 2003.

6. Steve Mills submitted a new, five-year proposal “Kids Crew: The Independence Community Learning Center” to Independence USD 446 on September 18, 2003.

7. Steven Warren and Nancy Brady, in collaboration with Don Bailey, University of North Carolina , and Randi Hagerman, UC Davis, submitted a new, three-year proposal “Analysis of Very Early Intervention for Children with Fragile X Syndrome” to the March of Dimes on September 22, 2003.

8. Pam Cress submitted her third-year continuation “Great Plains Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center” to the University of Missouri on September 24, 2003.

Upcoming Submissions

1. Richard Saunders, Muriel Saunders, Janet Marquis and Dennis Jacobsen, in collaboration with Lesley Olswang and Patricia Dowden, University of Washington, will submit a new, five-year proposal “Improving Quality of Life in People with Profound Multiple Impairments” to NICHD on October 1, 2003.

2. Steven Barlow, in collaboration with Rajesh Pahwa and Kelly Lyons, KU Medical Center, will submit a new, five-year proposal “STN Deep Brain Stimulation and Parkinsonian Vocal Tract Dynamics” to NIDCD on October 1, 2003.

3. Mabel Rice will submit a new, two-year administrative supplement for a deaf/hard-of-hearing trainee (mentor Michael Vitevitch and trainee Julie Fitzer) on her “Training Researchers in Language Impairments” training grant to NIDCD on October 1, 2003.

4. Rachel Freeman, Chris Smith and Jennifer Zarcone will submit their third-year continuation “Kansas Institute on Positive Behavior Support” to the KsSRS on October 3, 2003.

New Awards (not previously funded) Information

1. Judy Carta received a new, ten-month award “Pilot Study of Teenage Parenting and Child Neglect” from the University of Notre Dame, which began September 30, 2002.

2. Debra Kamps received a new, one-year award “Coordination, Consultation, and Evaluation Center for Implementing K-3 Behavior and Reading Intervention Models” from the Wisconsin Center for Education Research, which began October 1, 2002.

3. Cheryl Utley received a new, one-year award “National Institute for Urban School Improvement: Inclusive Schools – Good Kids, Families and Schools” from the University of Colorado, Denver, which began October 15, 2002.

4. John Colombo received a new, two-year award “Time Perception and Processing in Human Infants” from the NSF, which began August 1, 2003.

5. Lisa Bowman received a new, one-year award “ClassWide Peer Tutoring in an Alternative Education Setting” from the University of South Florida, which began August 1, 2003.

6. Steve Mills received a new, five-year award “Kids Crew: The Independence Community Learning Center” from the Independence USD 446, which began September 1, 2003.


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