This study of 70 adults who were discharged from an inpatient hospital rehabilitation unit found a strong correlation between appropriateness of the initial admission of the patients and their functional gains. The study suggests admitting patients who have considerable gains to make and potential to return to community living. (CR)

A survey assessed time spent in the community and/or on unstructured activities by randomly selected individuals in Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR) (N=20) or minigroup home settings (N=20). Individuals in ICF/MR homes spent more time in the community with staff and made fewer choices of unstructured activities.…

Tested set of hypotheses relating key aspects of family environment to timing of home-leaving among youths. Analyzed number of sociodemographic variables of respondents (N=14,004) aged 18-64. Found following variables promoted earlier home-leaving: exposure to step- and single-parent families, number of siblings, gender, and parental home…

The Gates Chili Central School District (Rochester, NY) special education program has made a commitment to teach self-advocacy skills to its students with learning disabilities. The middle school program focuses on awareness of one's disability and test modifications, and the high school program concentrates on adult independence skills. (JDD)

The child welfare field is uncertain how to best prepare older foster wards for independent living. Research priorities in this area are discussed in five categories: (1) education and school-to-work transitions; (2) formal assessments of readiness for self-sufficiency; (3) provision of transitional supports; (4) support networks; and (5)…

This article examines the importance of self-determination for all people. A national survey of 4,544 adults with mental retardation concerning how independent, integrated, and productive they perceived themselves to be and how important each of these outcomes was to them revealed that people with mental retardation are not likely to be…

This study, involving 118 adolescents and adults with deafness, found a high level of concurrent criterion validity for the National Independent Living Skills (NILS) Screening Instrument. The study concluded that the NILS is a valid tool for assessing independent living skills of persons age 16 and older with a hearing impairment and possible…

A study of two rural independent living demonstration projects contrasts successful approaches: an independent living center and the integration of independent living philosophy and practices into an existing service network. Presents demographic information; community resources; and interview results from disabled persons, religious leaders, and…

The residential independence of students with disabilities who had exited high school was assessed, using data from 2,686 interviewees in the National Longitudinal Transition Study. Individual characteristics, such as intelligence, living skills, and bad conduct records, were better predictors of postschool living arrangement status than were…

This article examines the interpersonal relationships, community participation, and employment of 5 individuals with severe handicaps (ages 23 to 27) based on observations and interviews with key informants. Results indicated that subjects' lives were over simplified by rigidly controlled routines and schedules that fostered passivity and…

Explored adolescent gender differences in possessions and parental financial assistance. Eight common adolescent possessions were analyzed, as well as expected parental contributions to their children's postsecondary education. Findings from 448 high school students revealed that males were significantly more likely to own stereos and athletic…

Drug use patterns were surveyed in Colorado's community services system for 1,282 individuals with developmental disabilities. A psychotropic drug use rate of 18.6 percent compared favorably to other reported rates and rates in Colorado's institutional settings. Substantial experience with psychotropic and anticonvulsant medications across all…

Rural disability and rehabilitation services suffer from problems of equity and efficacy. The most relevant approach to rural human-services planning is one in which available resources are organized and managed to produce the best results. Barriers to rural rehabilitation include too few rehabilitation personnel, inadequate transportation, and…

Used data from Georgia Centenarian Study to examine differences between rural (n=18) and urban (n=66) centenarians across physical health, activities of daily living, mental health, and life satisfaction. Found higher levels of morale in rural residents and higher levels of functional health in urban elders. Findings demonstrated absence of robust…

Addresses shift from deficit to empowerment model in work with families. Describes shift in human services "assistance" model from "doing to" to "doing with," from "power over" to "power with," and from "teaching the client" to "collaborative learning." Contends that new model will replace fragmented, deficit-oriented crisis intervention with…