Reviews inequalities in development, a topic in the New Zealand Form Six Geography Syllabus. Explains the different perspectives from which to approach development: academic, ideological, political, or personal. Considers the various meanings of development to less developed countries. (GG)

This study explored the self-reported functional capacity and psychosocial adjustment of 40 persons before and after completing a comprehensive residential rehabilitation program for military veterans with visual impairments. There was considerable correlation between self-reported improvements and improvements noted in clinical assessments in the…

A research review discusses individual versus societal responsibility as it relates to health promotion among African Americans. The paper suggests that blacks should hold themselves more personally responsible for solving their own problems while rejecting debilitating forms of extreme self-blame. Recommendations for improving the health of…

Interviews with 13 Japanese individuals (mean age 50 years) with physical disabilities found that their disabilities permeated every aspect of their daily experience. Informants described a life style in which they maximized their energies and abilities and limited unnecessary activities. Those who worked in the community or were able to…

Presents a sampling of documents from the ERIC database concerning studies and statistics on the status of women in Asia and developing nations. Includes items on women's education, writings, and employment. Concentrates on the women's own words and contributions to banish negative stereotypes. (DK)

Traces the barrel in history through language, literature, poetry, music, art, and architecture. Includes examples and anecdotes of barrels in movies, television, and recreation. Illustrates the impact of the barrel on U.S. culture. Emphasizes that the importance of such an example of technology cannot be adequately measured. (DK)

This annotated bibliography lists 110 Canadian federal and provincial government documents published in 1991 that address a wide range of topics, including demographics; constitutional law; social issues, including problems of women, children, and minorities; education; the environment; and standard of living. A list of reviewers is included. (MES)

This contextual model for home economics filters aspects of daily life (food, clothing, shelter, finances, and relationships) through the contexts of family ecosystems, human development, values, and environmental issues (biosystems, technology, and social systems) as a basis for research, theory, and practice. (SK)

Subscales of the Sheltered Care Environmental Scale dealing with conflict, cohesion, and independence were administered to 47 adults with moderate mental retardation on 4 occasions using either a verbal format or picture-cued format. Results indicated that the use of pictures enhanced the test-retest reliability of the instrument. (Author/JDD)

Adverse consequences of contemporary modes of work, child rearing, and schooling for human and child development and the quality of life; the potential of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to relieve some of these consequences; and ways educators can improve child development are reviewed. (SLD)

This follow-up study examined the daily routines and activities of 85 young adults with severe/profound mental retardation 4 years after moving to community residential units from an institutional setting in Melbourne, Australia. A more normalized lifestyle, increased daily variation, more community interaction, and greater parental involvement…

This article discusses the importance of social validity and quality of life concerns in identifying meaningful outcomes for the education of students with severe and multiple disabilities. The article stresses the need for outcomes to result in participation in daily routines and in the student's having more meaningful control over personal…

A survey of 1,105 Ontario farmers examined perceived quality of life as a function of social class, sex, age, education, income, and off-farm employment. Most farmers, especially highly educated and wealthy ones, felt their quality of life was high, but also believed they had been adversely affected by recent rural social change. (LP)

In a long-term study of 14 adults with visual impairments, 11 of whom had diabetes, the concept of "the short life" emerged as a prevalent theme important for understanding the changing priorities, adaptive strategies, and general life planning of the participants, many of whose lives were marked by gradually deteriorating health and…

Development, implementation, and evaluation of a treatment program for 222 violent criminal offenders with alcohol abuse or alcoholism are described. Evaluation of the program, with quasi-experimental techniques, shows that active program clients engage in fewer violent crimes and show improved life functioning in employment and social adjustment…