The quality of life for a child with a chronic illness depends on various factors, including the illness's severity, medical treatments, psychosocial and educational support, resource availability, and community involvement. These biopsychosocial factors become significant when the child receives care at home. This article presents and evaluates a…

Difficulties with social interactions and communication that characterize autism persist in adulthood. While social participation in adulthood is often marked by social isolation and limited close friendships, this qualitative study describes the range of social participation activities and community contacts, from acquaintances to close…

Currently, outcomes for people with autism and intellectual disabilities are poor, leaving some needing optimal life-long services. Little is known regarding the services provided at sustainable communities. This study's purpose is to explore the make-up of sustainable communities, those participating in them, and the services provided. One survey…

In the school to work transition process, school personnel collaborate with community employment and vocational rehabilitation to establish an employment plan for Individual(s) with Disabilities (IWDs). Development of the Individualized Education Transition Plan (IETP) is often haphazard and not evaluated for effectiveness, resulting in poor…

The ARP Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) program focuses on increasing state educational agencies' (SEAs) and local educational agencies' (LEAs) capacity to provide wraparound services by hiring staff, dedicating resources, and planning partnerships with community-based organizations (CBOs). This brief: (1) summarizes the role and expertise…

This study examines differences in domains of quality of life (satisfaction; choice and control; dignity, respect, and rights; inclusion; physical setting; family satisfaction) among people with intellectual disability and varying levels of support needs in a variety of residence types. The sample includes 2,639 people with intellectual disability…

This is the executive summary for the report, "College Material: Programs Supporting Postsecondary Education Readiness and Completion in Milwaukee." Milwaukee has been plagued by concerns that its education system is neither serving all youth nor sufficiently growing local talent to sustain the area's economy. This new analysis by the…

In the city of Milwaukee, the vast majority of students do not achieve both high school and college graduation which has been termed as a "completion crisis." This is negatively impacting not only those students but also the region's workforce challenges. Indeed, the area economy could suffer greatly unless metro Milwaukee leaders can…

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the influence of a community-based, service-coordination and delivery intervention (CONNECT Program) on urban, minority parents' human capital, financial capital, community social capital, and service utilization. Method: This study used a pre-posttest single group design and mixed methods…

Considered are service needs of the aged mentally retarded. Needs are discussed in terms of the historical emphasis on the retarded child, current needs (such as health and housing needs), impediments to service provision (such as lack of trained personnel), the lack of research on gerontological aspects of mental retardation, and innovative…

A description of the Emanuel Hospital-Oregon Society for Crippled Children and Adults Continuity Care Program. (RD)

The first of five papers written by the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Planning Council's Deinstitutionalization Task Force Project, this document focuses on the role of institutional services. Following a brief summary of planning principles (least restrictive alternative, right to services, normalization, equal justice, respect for human…

Model early education programs in Brattleboro, Vermont, and Leadville, Colorado, identify ingredients for success: serve families as well as children, collaborate with social service agencies, secure diverse funding, have universal eligibility, make programs part of the school system, seek parent input, and deal fairly with competitors. (SK)

This paper describes a split-ranking multiphase questionnaire design used to establish a set of valid evaluation targets, evaluating Community Living Support Services (CLSS) in Victoria, Australia, through a survey of CLSS managers and Disability Program Evaluation Unit managers. Results indicate differing priorities between the groups, but an…

The Manhattan Transition Center provides supported employment for youth with mild to severe disabilities. Local enclave worksites staffed by teacher/paraprofessional teams place participants in jobs. Under the zero-reject policy, employers and service providers are responsible for participants' personal and work-related growth. (SK)