This qualitative study examined patterns of service use by 62 older people with intellectual disability from 12 Australian municipalities. A lack of collaboration between the aged-care and disability service systems was found, as was an implicit policy of redirecting older people toward aged-care services and away from disability services. (DB)

Background: Deinstitutionalisation of services for people with intellectual disabilities has become a focus of disability policy in many countries. Research for the most part supports this strategy. However, outcomes are not uniformly better for everyone who moves to community living. This paper explores reasons for variability in service quality…

A sample of 103 intervention outcome studies was considered to confirm best practices for intervention for challenging behavior in persons with intellectual disability and acquired brain injury and to establish service conditions associated with its effectiveness. Evidence supports the effectiveness of behavioral interventions. Problems with…

Draws together the results of seven studies that investigated factors influencing the effects of service quality in community-based residential services for people with severe mental retardation. Results found that quality of staff and resident activity is dependent on an interaction between the structure, orientation, and procedures followed…

A program to meet training needs of personnel providing supported employment services to people with developmental disabilities in all parts of Alaska is described. The competency-based training program uses an independent learning format and master trainers. Evaluation indicated that the materials, the study format, and the master trainer model…

A survey of 138 Australian therapists providing services to students with severe disabilities found their role perception was consistent with a contemporary functional approach and that practices associated with a collaborative team approach received both a higher level of agreement and reported implementation than practices not associated with…

A study was conducted to investigate the views of 40 Australian service providers on the support and service needs of parents with intellectual disabilities and to discover key issues faced by the providers. The special needs of the parents, desirable service characteristics, and constraints on service delivery are identified. (CR)

A survey of 20 health districts in England identified specialist services for individuals with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviors. Great diversity was found in such services as specialized teams, staffed housing, assessment and short-term admission, and respite care facilities. Entitlement to appropriate treatment was more…

This article uses recent developments in United Kingdom services as a case study to identify challenges facing the provision of residential supports to people with intellectual disabilities. It discusses responding to existing levels of unmet needs and increasing demand, reducing inequalities in access and service quality, and obtaining and…

A survey of 21 supported-employment program-managers in South Australia found highest identified priority training needs focused on areas of systems development and evaluation, and technological skills. Few reported training needs in areas related to direct-service delivery, even though most had some professional duties in this capacity.…

This article summarizes trends indicating a shift from institutional services to services in small community settings, an operational transformation from state government being the provider of services to being the purchaser, a shift from state financing of community services to federal-state cost-sharing, and an increase in people receiving…

This article provides information about the 44,426 consumers of Commonwealth/State Disability Agreement specialist disability support services in Australia. Most consumers have intellectual disabilities and access accommodation support services. Overall, consumers with intellectual disabilities expressed their highest need for support in…