This paper examines policy underscoring the importance of choice and self-determination in physical environments of children with disabilities; reviews research in this area; and discusses four laws which address opportunities for choice and self-determination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education…

A theory of self-determination is presented in which concepts of intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation are explicated and the innate psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness are discussed. A review of laboratory and field studies indicates the importance of social contexts that facilitate satisfaction of these basic…

Three teenagers with autism, who relied on verbal prompts from the teacher to switch activities, were trained to independently identify transition times and to contingently self-reinforce the verbal identification of transition times. Accurate identification of transition time and self-reinforcement were maintained at one-month follow-up.…

Choice making in leisure-activity preferences was studied with a woman (age 27) with profound mental retardation in a residential setting. Results suggest the participant could express distinct musical preference when given choice-making opportunities, and preference patterns varied with the activity partner and/or the locale. (Author/SW)

It is important for early childhood professionals to learn about childhood fears so that they can help children cope with them. Children's fears are normal, the nature of preschoolers' fears is related to their cognitive development, and a child's temperament and sense of autonomy may influence the extent of and manner of reaction to a fearful…

Uses writing of Maslow and Erikson to design set of intervention strategies aimed at promoting personal and educational growth of homeless children. Presents this theoretical model in hopes that it will help elementary school counselors gain better understanding of how personal needs of homeless students affect behavior and provide counselors with…

Asked 15 couples who had been married at least 30 years to give their perceptions of qualities that had sustained their relationship in times of closeness and relational strain. Key characteristics identified were intimacy balanced with autonomy, commitment, communication, religious orientation, and congruent perceptions of the relationship.…

This paper uses an ethnographic orientation to contrast trainer-oriented intervention practices with more client-centered or naturalistic practices in speech therapy. Specific ways that control is established and sustained are outlined. Use of an ethnographic perspective is recommended to create intervention contexts that allow children to be…

Disabled persons may receive needed personal assistance from spouse, parents, other family, or a hired assistant (possibly shared) who is compensated by cash or barter. Disabled persons in rural areas rely heavily on family members and face overwhelming locational, financial, and attitudinal barriers to independent living. (SV)

This study of autonomous functioning in 100 adolescents with learning disabilities found that subjects differed significantly from a nondisabled comparison group in execution of management activities involving use of community resources and self-management but found little or no differences on self and family care, recreation, and social and…

Empowering teaching strategies encourage leadership, critical thinking, problem solving, and collegiality and discourage passivity, isolation, and subordination. Empowerment prepares nurses for professional practice in hospitals. (SK)

This study investigated 117 preschoolers' perceptions of authority in sexual and benign situations and how these might influence acquisition of sexual abuse prevention concepts. Results indicate that preschool children are able to recognize limits to adult requests to engage in sexual behavior, and their sophistication about these limits increases…

Investigated contribution of child functional independence and maternal psychosocial stress to adaptation of 119 mothers of physically or sensorially handicapped children between the ages of 2 and 18. Child functional independence did not uniquely explain variation in mothers' adaptation. Maternal stress was uniquely associated with maternal…

Used national household survey from Turkey to examine relationship between employment and fertility. Hypothesized that women's relative power within domestic decision process and/or autonomy are additional factors in determining responsiveness of fertility to female employment. Found that in Turkey, where gender relations are generally…

Explored sense of control and personal and spousal evaluations of major life domains. Findings from 101 men and 127 women aged 43 to 76 revealed no gender differences and minimal age differences in levels of sense of control or evaluation of life domains. Evaluations contributing to sense of control varied by gender and by age within gender group.…