The Autism Program at Camarillo State Hospital and Developmental Center (California) has implemented "deinstitutionalization" within a large facility by providing effective and appropriate treatment based on individual needs. This paper describes the design of treatment services, quality assurance mechanisms, medical care (including…

Institutions for people with disabilities can be "deinstitutionalized" by changing the way they are organized and regulated. The process of developing community learning environments in residential programs involves design of daily living routines, assessment of residential living skills, identification of teaching objectives, development of…

The University of California, Irvine University Affiliated Program has developed a model for prevention of developmental disabilities which is interdisciplinary, promotes reasoned cooperative efforts, and provides a basis for evaluation and research. The model is composed of five major and functional approaches to prevention with a central core…

A special education record-keeping system using bar code symbols and optical scanners is described. Bar code symbols were created for each Individualized Educational Plan objective, and symbols are scanned when students emit targeted behaviors. A weekly printed report of student performance is produced. Advantages, disadvantages, and costs are…

A profile of implementation strategies for funding postgraduate training programs in developmental disabilities using local or state resources is described. Two university affiliated programs in western New York and Missouri are described as the basis for generating implementation strategies. Strengths and weaknesses of various strategies are…

The article defines leadership training and presents data on the impact of University Affiliated Facilities (UAF) programs which provide interdisciplinary advanced clinical training in areas related to improved care for mentally retarded and handicapped children and their families. Two conceptual approaches to UAF leadership training are…

Among developmentally disabled persons (N=35,000) young and middle aged adults were found to receive psychotropic medication at higher rates than children, adolescents, or elderly persons. Medication increased with severity of retardation, restrictiveness of residential setting, severity of problem behaviors, and presence of a psychiatric…

A structure of interlocking contingencies was designed to train and support managers' provision of effective feedback to subordinates, peers, and superiors at a large state residential institution for children with developmental disabilities. The system included formal scheduling of feedback, reinforcement, and goal setting. Increased feedback…

This paper describes institutional reforms implemented at Kfar Tikvah, an Israeli community for 126 moderately mentally retarded individuals. The process of changing to the organizational structure used in the kibbutz system is examined through descriptions of reforms in everyday life, social life, and work and economic independence. (JDD)