The communication and learning potential of girls with Rett syndrome often is difficult to identify given their severe apraxia and stereotypic repetitive hand movements. This picture also is complicated by their inconsistent performance when selecting a specific button or key on an augmentative communication device or when activating a switch to turn a page in a book on the computer. In the school setting, educators and therapists may indicate that many of these girls' responses seem to be unintentional and random in nature or that often they appear to be inattentive. In therapy sessions, girls with Rett syndrome may take an exceptionally long time to move their hands to reach for toys or ...