ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION James is a 7-year-old boy with autism and severe mental retardation. He doesn’t speak, frequently flaps his hands in front of his face, engages in self-injurious behaviors, and requires constant supervision. Maria also has autism. At 7 years of age, she has demonstrated superior intellectual ability and is working on or above grade level in all academic areas. However, due to deficits in social skills, problems understanding abstract language, and several obsessive and compulsive behaviors, she is experiencing great difficulty interacting with her peers. Whereas James does not use speech to communicate, it seems that Maria speaks incessantly about inappropriate topics.
