This manual was designed primarily for use by individuals with developmental disabilities and related conditions. It is hoped that it is also useful for families, as well as service coordinators and providers who directly assist families and individuals with developmental disabilities. The focus of this manual is to provide easy-to-read…

L'Arche is an international movement to create communities in which disabled persons are included. Through a series of personal interviews, an autobiographical account is presented illustrating some of the salient features of living in a L'Arche community from a handicapped person's perspective. (Author/DB)

Preparation must begin with disabled teenagers to encourage the transition to independent living. Collaboration of family, teenager, and community should be supported to offer a "REACH Program": (1) relationship with family, friends, and self; (2) expectation that community living is a goal; (3) accessibility; (4) counseling in home management and…

Patterns of staff communication with people living in three community-based residential facilities supporting persons with disabilities were examined by observing 16 staff persons for 2 hours each as they communicated with residents. Frequencies of communication were found to differ across activities and residents (communicative partners) but not…

This paper reviews 27 studies of parental attitudes on the deinstitutionalization of a family member with disabilities. Studies of existing institutional placements found high levels of satisfaction and opposition to deinstitutionalization, whereas studies of community placements found high levels of satisfaction with community placements and…

The site visit report describes the Residential Support Program of the Centennial Developmental Services, a community-centered board providing residential services and support to persons (currently 67) with disabilities in Weld County, Colorado. Residential settings include a group home, supported apartments, foster homes, natural family homes, or…

Consumer outcomes and recurrent service costs were compared for 31 individuals with disabilities in group homes and 56 individuals living semi-independently in Australia. Participants living semi-independently had significantly less social dissatisfaction, used community facilities more frequently and independently, participated more in domestic…

Two newsletters focus on alternatives for community living and approaches to teaching social skills to children and youth with disabilities. The first issue provides information on some family support services and community-based living arrangements that are currently available for children with severe and profound handicaps or chronic illnesses.…

Volume III, Section B of a six-volume final report (which covers the findings of a research project on policy and technology related to rehabilitation of disabled individuals) presents four papers which examine important rehabilitation-oriented issues. In the first paper, "Transportation Problems of Persons with Disabilities--The Federal Response"…

This manual presents suggested measures which are designed to examine the outcomes of support and service provision on the lives of people with disabilities in Illinois. Included are 30 measures for people and 16 measures for organizations. The measures were developed after initial input from people with disabilities participating in a Community…

This reports presents results from a review of 38 published studies that measured behavioral outcomes associated with the movement of people with mental retardation from public institutions to community residential settings. Results demonstrate strongly and consistently that people who move from institutions to community settings have experiences…

This report documents observations and findings from a site visit to Southern Hills Developmental Services (SHDS), an agency providing services to people with disabilities in the South Dakota community of Hot Springs. Half of the people using the services are American Indians. The report discusses the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and traditions…

This paper assesses federal legislation and programs affecting community-based services for independent living for people with disabilities. Independent living entitlement programs are contained in Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and include comprehensive services, centers for independent living, and independent living services for…

Provides parents and other concerned persons with information about some of the family support services and community-based living arrangements that are currently available to assist families in meeting the needs of their children who are severely and profoundly handicapped and/or chronically ill. Discussion includes funding sources, respite care,…