As a consequence of long-lasting experiences of communicative and social deprivation and exclusion, adults who are deaf and have intellectual disabilities must be considered a high-risk group for the development of mental health problems. A therapeutic living community model with special emphasis on social communication development that has been…

Background: It is mandatory for staff in Swedish community services for people with intellectual disabilities to report incidents of error or malpractice. Aim The aim is to study if incident reports contribute to developing quality in services for people with intellectual disabilities who present with challenging behaviours. Method: 159 reports on…

Background: Dissatisfaction with the inflexibility of the group home model has led to the growth of supported living that separates housing from support and is thought to have greater potential for better quality of life outcomes. Comparative studies have had mixed findings with some showing few differences, other than greater choice in supported…

Background: This paper reports on some of the findings of a large-scale survey (n = 852) of family members and support staff of adults with intellectual disabilities receiving community living services in British Columbia, Canada, concentrating on comparison of outcomes across four types of community residential settings: group homes, family model…

The survey found that of the 1,389 mentally retarded persons living in community supervised residential settings in Southwestern Ontario, 49 percent received some type of psychoactive drug. Specifically, 23 percent received anticonvulsants; 14 percent, neuroleptics; 5 percent, sedative/hypnotics; 3 percent, antidepressants; 3 percent,…

The literature is reviewed on the variety of living options for physically disabled adults in the United Kingdom with reference to influences from Northern Europe and the United States. Noted are hospital units, residential care programs, collective and sheltered community housing, and integrated housing. (DB)

The majority of 177 British Columbia residents surveyed in neighborhoods with and without group homes for mentally handicapped persons reported favorable (36 percent) or neutral (48 percent) attitudes toward group homes in residential neighborhoods. More respondents in neighborhoods with group homes (42 percent) than without (29 percent) favored…

This booklet first looks at principles in evaluating services for people with mental retardation and strategies for evaluating and monitoring community services. It then describes two programs which involve parents/families in the evaluation and monitoring of community services in New Zealand. Basic principles include the importance of written…

The United Kingdom literature on effects of deinstitutionalization of adults with developmental disabilities from 1980 to 1994 was reviewed. Analysis generally associated smaller, community-based residential services with improvements in user engagement, adaptive behaviors and challenging behaviors, community acceptance and integration,…

The article describes the work of the Canadian Association for Community Living which advocates replacing institutional commitment with community living for the retarded. A Community Living Resources Fund, provided by the federal government on an interim basis, to assist provinces in replacing institutions is proposed. (DB)

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…

A study of 86 adults with mental retardation living in village communities, 133 in residential campuses, and 281 in dispersed housing schemes found dispersed housing had higher costs and had greater quality of care than did residential campuses. Quality of life benefits were associated with dispersed housing and village communities. (Contains…

Information was collected on 63 adults with mental retardation in supported living residences, 55 in small group homes, and 152 in large group homes. Compared to small group homes, those in supported living residences had greater choice, participated in more community-based activities, and were considered at greater risk of exploitation. (Contains…

Using a theoretical model developed from Ajzen's and Fishbein's (1980) theory of reasoned action, researchers investigated the neighboring intentions of community residents toward mentally disabled individuals. A random sample of 345 residents in Winnipeg, Canada, responded to a survey by mail. Questionnaires were randomly assigned one of eight…

Direct care staff (n=83) from five community services serving individuals with mental retardation completed a questionnaire on their emotional reactions to aggression, coping strategies, and burnout. Staff more frequently reported using adaptive strategies than maladaptive ones. Staff disengagement, adaptive coping strategies, and their emotional…