Establishing standing and walking behavior in a physically handicapped, retarded child.

A physical therapist using reinforcement procedures worked for three months with minimal success on pulling to standing and pushing off to walk as target behaviors for a physically handicapped retarded child. The physical therapist then changed his role and used an attendant staff to work on the target behaviors in a two-and-one-half month treatment program. Pretreatment and posttreatment time sampling of the child's on-feet behaviors following the treatment program. The results of this one case suggest that the consultation role of the physical therapist might provide a more efficient treatment than a direct treatment role in an institutional setting.