This paper reports on evaluation of a sex education program (the Bawnmore Personal Development Programme) and staff training for Irish individuals with mental handicap. Results indicate the need for attitude change among staff and administration toward sex education and a need for structural change in staffing arrangements to facilitate such…

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…

This study assessed the psychometric properties of the Environmental Rating Scale, a measure specifically designed to assess residential treatment programs for individuals with autism. The measure's reliability was demonstrated by assessments of the internal consistency, stability, and interrater reliability. Preliminary analysis of validity…

This corrected article on parent-managed interventions with children with autism reports on analysis of data on 66 children. Findings generally indicated that, after 31.6 months of intervention, IQ scores had not changed but adaptive behavior scores had increased significantly (n=21). However, overall interventions did not reproduce results from…

A multi-faceted training package for inappropriate social behavior was evaluated with five children with mild mental retardation and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in a residential program. Residents were individually trained in self-management skills with video feedback. Direct-care staff also received training. Although staff increased…

Evaluation of a shared-work program found that job coach assistance to three workers with severe multiple disabilities could be reduced by assigning each worker only those job tasks able to be performed with minimal assistance while ensuring that entire tasks were still completed by combining steps performed by all three workers. (Contains…

Analysis of 227 questionnaire responses concerning opinions and knowledge of psychotropic drugs of direct caregivers in two New Zealand public residential facilities for the retarded indicated a preference for subjective assessment of drug effects, endorsement of behavior modification as an alternative to pharmacotherapy, and dissatisfaction with…

The study reports psychotropic drug use data for three groups of developmentally disabled persons: persons being discharged from public residential facilities; persons successfully functioning in community residential facilities; and persons being readmitted to public residential facilities due to unsuccessful community placements. (Author/DB)

This study examined the social validation of using microswitches versus interaction/stimulation conditions with persons with multiple disabilities. Teacher-assistant trainees and rehabilitation staff (n=72) were shown videotapes comparing the two methods and then scored both approaches. The microswitch condition was viewed as generally more…

Comparison of what people with developmental disabilities in Wyoming and South Dakota wanted and received in programs in 1988 (N=2,927) and in 1996 (N=3,934) found that the percentage of people placed in their preferred setting rose substantially, from 51% to 84% in Wyoming and from 62% to 72% in South Dakota. (Author/DB)

Active Support, a package of procedures which includes activity planning, support planning, and training on providing effective assistance, was evaluated in five community residences serving 19 adults with severe mental retardation. Findings indicated that the likelihood of a resident engaging in activity significantly increased following staff…

This study evaluated a home-based intervention for parents with intellectual disability to promote child health and home safety in the preschool years. The intervention improved parents' ability to recognize home dangers and to handle emergencies, increased their knowledge about illness and medicines, and increased the number of safety precautions…

A multicomponent treatment package consisting of role playing, graphic feedback, contingent reinforcement, and self-monitoring increased the rate of positive statements among four handicapped high school youth during a social/leisure activity at a work training setting. There was no evidence of generalization to other activities. (Author/DB)

Forty-nine adults with severe intellectual disabilities in 13 small staffed homes in England were evaluated for their participation in meaningful activities and adaptive behavior. Residents of homes which implemented the "active support" model of care showed significantly increased engagement in meaningful activities and adaptive…