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This paper describes Project PLAI (Promoting Learning through Active Interaction), a 4-year research-to-practice project designed to develop and validate an early communication curriculum for infants who are deafblind and their caregivers. The curriculum provides a step-by-step approach to assist caregivers in recognizing their infants' early and subtle communication behaviors and in responding to these contingently, thus providing opportunity and encouragement for reciprocal interaction. This sequence offers an innovative format to assist caregivers in developing the ability to analyze and respond to early, subtle, and difficult-to-interpret communicative behaviors of their infants. This report discusses the conceptual framework of the Project PLAI model and its unique strategies, including its emphasis on the skills of both the caregivers and the infants, support of the natural efforts of caregivers, and the infusion of interactive strategies within the context of family routines, thus supporting caregiver-interactions in culturally responsive ways. The modules and objectives of the PLAI curriculum are outlined and include: (1) understanding infant cues; (2) identifying high and low preference objects, persons, and events; (3) establishing predictable routines; (4) establishing turn-taking; and (5) encouraging communicative initiations. Findings from Project PLAI are discussed and indicate strong support for the effectiveness of the PLAI curriculum. (CR)

1Boy Crusoe

By Allan Eric

Also published as" A Yankee Crusoe" . A 15 year old hard working and studious farm boy finds the lure of adventure on the seas as a merchant seaman more than he can resist. This is his story. " I was born in a little town in the State of Maine, near the close of the Civil War. My boyhood life did not differ materially from that of the average farmer's son in the remote country districts of New England--except, perhaps, that I read more and thought more. Hard work on the rugged soil, two terms each year in the little yellow country schoolhouse, a day's fishing now and then filled the early years of my life full to over-flowing. " What he gets is enough excitement and adventure to overflow his wildest dreams. How he experiences disaster and uses his wits and knowledge to overcome every problem makes for a great read. - Summary by Phil Chenevert