The purpose of this study was to determine whether ratings of selected areas of development in a group of 24 low functionning, multihandicapped children accomplished by untrained observers were significantly related to similar ratings accomplished by trained evaluators. Results indicated that untrained observers perceived the group of children as functioning at a somewhat higher level than did trained evaluators. However, untrained observer estimates of level of functioning demonstrated consistently high and significant correlations with estimates provided by trained evaluators who used direct assessment methods
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