Discriminatory experiences have been found to be related to poor mental health outcomes and negative life chances among marginalized communities in the United States. However, little is known about the impact of perceived discrimination on the Latino population. The present article reviews and critiques existing empirical evidence linking…

We describe a democratic citizen model of community organizing for mobilizing and partnering with families, using the overscheduling of children as a case example. We provide an overview of the growing body of research on this aspect of family time, describe the difference between a citizen model and program models for working with families, give…

Background: Although there is anecdotal evidence of an increase in both period pain and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in women with intellectual disabilities (ID), there are only brief mentions of it in the literature. Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to parents of women with Down syndrome (DS) or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), resulting in…

Background: The Quality of Life Questionnaire (QOL-Q) is used widely to evaluate the quality of life of persons with intellectual disability (ID). Its validity for use with Spanish-speaking cultures has been demonstrated for individuals with visual disabilities, but not for those with physical or intellectual disabilities. Such was the purpose of…

In an effort to attract the best and brightest undergraduate students, administrators at U.S. colleges and universities are beginning to leverage their physical facilities as major assets. Academic institutions across the country are launching ambitious, long-term programs that include the construction and renovation of academic buildings. They…

Approval of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) at the 54th World Health Assembly in 2001 gave rise to the new concept of Disability and the new Classification which today are considered central to the International Family of Classifications, along with the ICD-10. Theoretical criteria from a…

The purpose of this study was to understand more about the impact of living in a rural area on personal learning with older adults. This is important to consider because of the higher concentration of older adults in rural areas. This qualitative research was based on twenty interviews with older adults. All of the participants lived in the same…

Population growth in rural areas characterized by high levels of natural amenities has recently received substantial research attention. A noted concern with amenity-driven rural population growth is its potential to raise local costs-of-living while yielding only low-wage service sector employment for long-term residents. The work presented here…

The purpose of this paper is to trace the history of the social indicators or quality-of-life (QOL) research movement up to today, forecast future developments, and pave the way for future growth. Broadly speaking, we tried to review historical antecedents from the point of view of different disciplines, with specialists in each discipline…

Students with disabilities face a variety of challenges that extend beyond the classroom, as they are often behind their peers in social and life skills. As they exit their secondary education programs they are often ill prepared to meet the multi-dimensional demands of the work place. According to the United States Department of Labor (2011),…

In this Voices Inside Schools essay, William Marinell describes the efforts of a public school teacher to improve her students' writing by attempting to increase their connectivity to their community. By designing photojournalism projects that prompt students to capture their authentic experiences, the teacher hopes to challenge the students'…

Employment is one of the biggest contributors to quality of life for people with disabilities--and that means well-planned work experiences should be an integral part of transition preparation for every secondary and postsecondary school aged youth. Make that happen with this practical guide, developed to help educators, transition specialists,…

This confidence-boosting book aims to help children overcome the damaging effects of teasing and bullying, and to develop practical skills and attitudes to improve their self-esteem and quality of life. This revised edition of "Bully Blocking" (originally published under the title "Bully Busting") is based on Evelyn Field's "Secrets of Relating,"…

Context: Uneven distribution of physicians across geographic areas of the United States remains a significant problem that may have implications for health. Purpose: To develop a statistical model of physician distribution in Illinois counties that predicts where specialists and family physicians practice, and to suggest policy strategies for…

Positive behavior support (PBS) represents an empirically driven concern with quality of life (QOL), support through systems change, and linkage to multiple behavioral, social, and biomedical sciences. The major impediments to QOL are problem behavior, skill deficits, and dysfunctional systems. A model for addressing dysfunctional systems is…