Using a comparative analysis group care for children and young people is examined as an occupational focus, as a field of study and as a domain of practice in programs that range from residential institutions to group homes and kin group foster care. Structural issues that shape the interplay between organizational dynamics and interpersonal…

This paper presents a comparative case study of diverse approaches to deinstitutionalization of developmental disabilities residential services in two Midwestern states. During the 1970s and 1980s, the convergence of leadership by advocates, legislators, and bureaucrats led to Michigan's rapid transformation from an institutional to a…

This participant's manual covers "Systems and Policies," the third module of a four-module training program for all individuals employed in programs funded by Oklahoma's Developmental Disabilities Services Division. This includes van drivers, recreation workers, residential staff, administrators, case managers, secretarial/clerical…

This review of the professional and programmatic literature in the field of developmental disabilities focuses on ways in which individuals with developmental disabilities and their families are becoming increasingly involved in program evaluation and quality assurance efforts. Three major movements are having an impact on this activity: state and…

This report examines the employment practices of Sears, Roebuck and Company, before and after the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). By studying the corporate behavior of Sears, which employs an estimated 20,000 people with disabilities, the report attempts to stimulate discussion of the communication issues that Sears…

This bibliography lists and abstracts approximately 550 selected resources (books, monographs, and unpublished but publicly available documents) on community integration for people with developmental and other disabilities. Emphasis is on inclusion for people with severe disabilities and selection was based on the degree to which a resource…

This report examines family and community experiences in transition from school to post-school life for students receiving special education services. It presents the vision of transition planning in Texas, the state of practice as reflected in a study of 27 students, and conclusions and recommendations. The transition planning vision calls for…

This paper discusses the genius of the principle of normalization in the development of better services for socially devalued people. It argues that the definition of normalization sets a direction for learning-through-action which is clear and convincing, as well as indefinite and conditional, and rests on a deep appreciation of the everyday…

Camps for children with serious diseases or disabilities are becoming more common. These camps provide children and their families with ongoing support systems and allow children to interact with peers who accept them for who they are while having fun. Counselors with similar conditions make good role models. Camps sponsored by four national…

This paper offers insights into how teacher education might better focus on human development from the perspective and interests of people with disabilities. It considers how an initial teacher education program might operationalize the foundational concepts of equity and social justice in core educational studies courses. Development of such a…

The superintendent (1975-85) of the Mansfield (Connecticut) Training School, officially closed in 1993, reviews the history of that institution for people with mental retardation. The failure of the institution to provide a normal lifestyle and the superintendent's support for deinstitutionalization of all Mansfield residents and integration are…

This article describes new approaches to providing physical and occupational therapy intervention services in naturalistic early childhood settings and reviews the limited body of literature examining their efficacy. It offers assessment and intervention strategies that support a normalized approach to intervention and offers suggestions for…

Contends that when the needs of students with disabilities are viewed as another form of diversity, the prospect of successful inclusion in middle school is promising. Discusses merging special and general education, systems change for inclusive education, and role changes for teachers. Provides guidelines for successful inclusion at the middle…

Notes that inclusive care benefits both typically and atypically developing school-age children. Describes caregivers' challenges as lack of training, resources, and identification of successful inclusive program components. Identifies as variables for successful programs: teacher-child ratios, level of provider training and experience, typically…

A study investigated the factors influencing 193 Australian parents in choosing either an integrated setting or a special school for their children with disabilities. Mainstream parents gave high rating to normalization and academic aspects, while special-school parents emphasized special programs, teacher-student ratios, and the child's…