This article argues that the popular, but at times, misapplied approaches of person-centered planning can be remedied through scientific practices. It discusses how planners can more effectively achieve today's aspirations for people with developmental disabilities by systematically assessing adherence to the process of person-centered planning…

This article comments on an article (Holburn, 2002), that argues misapplied approaches of personal-centered planning (PCP) can be remedied through scientific practices. It discusses the charge of frequent misapplication of PCP and its widespread adoption and use contrasted to methodological alternatives for evaluating the contribution of PCP. (CR)

This article responds to critiques of a previous article that called for using applied behavior analysis to scientifically evaluate personal-centered planning (PCP). It discusses the need to overcome evaluation obstacles such as inferring internal causation as explanatory, confusing process with outcome, and requiring full consensus on…

A community-centered intervention in a south Texas colonia provided personal growth and entrepreneurial sessions to low-income immigrant Latinas. Interviews with 125 Latina program participants and 105 control group members indicated that although all groups were low-acculturated, intervention participants had higher scores on religious and…

Focuses upon the selection and fitting of hearing aids for young children in Japan. Explains fitting methods and their evaluation. Suggests that although most of the schools for the deaf are making serious efforts to establish binaural fitting and use of residual hearing, lack of professional training hinders those efforts. (AA)

We are infatuated with our abilities to predict and analyze, yet we need to listen and observe, behaviors that made Native Americans wise environmental managers. European Americans, who are new to this hemisphere, and indigenous people must forge a world view that synthesizes Western science and traditional environmental knowledge in order to…

This case study used individualized communication for interviewing people with intellectual disability in outcome and quality of life research. Researchers developed a flexible communication strategy for involving service users, drawing on core, local and individual vocabularies and using signs, graphic symbols and photographs to supplement spoken…

In response to Horner and others (EC 232 976), this paper contrasts the constricted life of their adult son (who has mental retardation, autism, and emotional problems) when he lived in a group home and worked at a sheltered workshop where aversive techniques were used, with his present life with nondisabled housemates and competitive employment.…

Used a national probability sample of adults (N=3,536) to examine the effect of social interaction on psychological well-being across stages of adulthood. Determined quality of social interaction measured by satisfaction with family life and friendship related positively to well-being of adults in all age groups. (Author/TE)

Reviews several arguments deployed in favor of promoting the public understanding of science. Examines assumptions embodied in these arguments. An introductory discussion of scientific literacy is given and suggested as being a more appropriate goal because it provides more criteria for assessing the nature and understanding of science. (RT)

Examined effect of social and physical environmental features of small unregulated board and care homes on psychological well-being of elderly residents. Collected data from operators (N=177) and residents (N=285) of board and care homes in five counties in Ohio. Found social aspects of environment had greater impact on psychological well-being…

Discusses the identification of the dimensions of conflict in resource use. Presents some views on broad methodological issues in resource and environmental evaluation. (Author/RT)

An elementary-school self-contained gifted class was compared to a control group on a general test of cognitive ability. Program participants exhibited significantly higher gains than did controls, and at the end of the program, participants also rated the quality of their school life more highly than did controls. (Author/JDD)

Compares Auckland (New Zealand) with San Francisco (California) in terms of topographical structure, geographic location, and urban development. Both cities contain striking similarities. Maintains that Auckland can become a world-class city renowned for its beauty if developers and government work in tandem. (MJP)

Personal accounts describe the lives of 2 individuals with deaf-blindness, one an 87-year-old woman who was deaf from birth and became totally blind over a 50-year period and the other of a woman who became deaf-blind as a result of a fever at the age of 7. Managing activities of daily life and experiencing sensory hallucinations are among topics…