Washington State University, Responsibility Opportunity Advocacy and Respect (WSU ROAR) is an inclusive 2-year residential postsecondary education program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. WSU ROAR is a recognized comprehensive transition program located in rural eastern Washington. Within the program, there are four…

The article identifies common concerns in residential programs for persons with autism (the role of families, staff training, program components, interactions with the nonhandicapped community) as well as areas of variation among different programs including goals, size, funding, physical environment, vocational programing, and grouping of…

The 11 North Carolina group homes serving persons with autism are described. Discussed are such aspects as cost effectiveness, staff selection and training, level of structure and programing, composition of the client group, adherence to a central philosophy, and the role of administration. (Author/DB)

A workhome was developed in which 20 adolescents with chronic autism live, work, and enjoy leisure activities in an interlinked environment. Residents have a sheltered but meaningful life without having to strive for "normality." This brief research report describes the workhome's residents, program of structured activities, staffing, and…

The report of the New York State Commission on Quality of Care for the Mentally Disabled looks at autism in five chapters concerned with characteristics of autism, parenting the autistic child, New York State's institutional care network for the autistic, perspectives of professionals on autism, and Commission recommendations. Among nine findings…

This paper offers a model for planning services for children who are both mentally retarded and autistic. The model and recommendations for the residential therapeutic environment are organized according to the main axes of child development (biological, physical, cognitive, and socioemotional). (Author/DB)

The Autism Program at Camarillo State Hospital and Developmental Center (California) has implemented "deinstitutionalization" within a large facility by providing effective and appropriate treatment based on individual needs. This paper describes the design of treatment services, quality assurance mechanisms, medical care (including…

This report describes the experiences of one California nonprofit agency which evolved, in less than 3 years, from supporting 65 people with autism and other challenging behaviors in 13 group homes to supporting 57 people who live in their own homes. The report describes the program's initial focus on providing integrated services in the group…