This memoir and appreciation of the author's father highlights the invisibility of the African American family man. Hope and the struggle to avoid disappointment in one's own life are qualities that sustain such men. (SLD)

Satisfaction with human services and quality of life was evaluated through interviews with 247 Colorado individuals with developmental disabilities (age 0-72 years) assisted by caregivers. Consumer satisfaction and levels of integration, productivity, and independence were measured for the following services: case management, residential,…

Investigates midlife experiences of a group of white women in the New York City area. Identifies factors associated with successful negotiation of midlife transformation. Although they perceive midlife as challenging, 72.5% of participants describe themselves as happy or very happy. (MKA)

An individual describes and discusses seven stages of giving through which he and his wife have passed, and two additional stages they are contemplating. They include: minimal response; involvement and interest; as much as possible; maximum allowable; beyond the maximum; percentage of wealth; capping wealth; reducing the cap; and bequests. (MSE)

A study examined the reliability and validity of the Quality of Life Instrument Package using data from 500 persons with developmental disabilities in Ontario. Data indicate that most of the instruments found in the package met acceptable psychometric standards. Appropriate uses for the full and short version are discussed. (Author/CR)

Assesses attitudes toward facilitated reminiscence (life review therapy) of ethnically diverse elders through the use of a questionnaire. Finds that participant ethnicity is not related to willingness to discuss achievements, willingness to discuss difficulties, or importance attached to ethnic/cultural variables in facilitated reminiscence.…

Presents an intervention, used in the Netherlands, that empowers clients in residential care homes. The intervention comprises a standardized survey-feedback procedure in which residents' opinions on life and care in their particular home are gauged, discussed, and reported. Explores instrument validity, reliability, and its use in the home. (RJM)

Describes a workshop in which family members and friends of persons with dementing disorders who live in nursing homes develop stories of these residents' lives. The workshop is product-oriented, is not meant as a support group, and works best in organizations emphasizing individualized care. Stories should help staff members better understand…

This study examined the relationship between degree of visual impairment and the self-reports of psychological distress by 167 Icelanders (ages 18-69) and 100 between the ages of 70-97, who were blind or had low vision. The study found that self-reports of psychological distress and perceptions of unhappiness varied significantly with the degree…

The first three consultations between 18 new patients with poorly controlled non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and their medical specialist were videotaped. Changes in doctors' and patients' verbal and nonverbal communication behaviors were analyzed, and those most strongly related to patient satisfaction were distinguished. Discussion…

"We are all in this together..." begins this review of the threats of globalization. Topics discussed include malnutrition, infectious diseases, urbanization, border protection, poverty, "lifestyle" diseases, the risks of technology, and war. Alternatives to the present trend toward capitalist transformation, possible and practical reforms are…

This article describes efforts to develop measurement instruments that can be used to evaluate outcomes of a variety of stuttering treatment approaches by measuring changes in speakers' affective, behavioral, and cognitive reactions to stuttering, effects of stuttering on functional communication abilities, and the impact of stuttering on quality…

The Quality of Life Index was completed by 120 residential staff for 60 adults with severe to profound mental retardation residing in group homes. Measurement integrity was analyzed through use of principal components analysis, confirmatory rotation of components, and Cronbach alphas. Results are compared with results obtained from a more…

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 characteristics and motives of migrants to the Northern Great Plains surveyed 1,590 new residents in Nebraska and North Dakota. New arrivals were younger and had higher educational levels than existing residents. Most often cited reasons for moving were desire to be closer to relatives, safety concerns, and quality of the natural…