Youth development moves beyond risk reduction by turning a narrow negative focus on at-risk factors into positive action strategies. Critical components of youth development are providing positive ways for young people to meet their needs and building competencies. Physical, social, cognitive, vocational, and moral competence are described, and…

Considered are the special needs of physically disabled adolescents and the development of community programs to serve these needs. Several New York City programs are described as examples of program development models. Noted is the lack of programs incorporating teens who use wheelchairs into mainstreamed programs. (DB)

This paper begins with an overview of the population of adolescents and young adults with deafness. More detailed information is then provided on the characteristics of lower achieving deaf persons and those with multiple disabling conditions. School-to-community transition experiences of these groups are then discussed, with special focus on the…