This study examined the impact of the 1998 Canadian ice storm on the physical and psychological health of older adults (age greater than 55 years) living with a chronic physical illness, namely osteoarthritis and/or osteoporosis. Although disasters are relatively rare, they are a useful means of examining the impact of a single stressor on a group…

This text addresses curriculum development for students with mental retardation based on the premise that it is the primary job of educators to teach these individuals independence skills and also based on criticism of the academic focus of most current instructional approaches. Individual chapters consider the following topics: (1) an overview of…

This guidebook offers suggestions for teaching survival skills to students. It provides strategies for implementing key elements of an approach to learning survival skills that engages students as active, self-directed learners in the community. The guidebook is designed to help educators link students to resources in the community so that they…

Personal autonomy is a fundamental ideal in American culture. When the autonomy of a person with reduced capacity is restricted or limited by law and a guardian is appointed, the issue becomes critical to our understanding of social justice. Preservation of autonomy remains a core social value even while the legal system moves to erode personal…

This evaluation reports on a state program for foster care youth. Entitled the Support for Emancipation and Living Functionally (SELF), it is a county-implemented approach which seeks to develop and conduct services so as to help older adolescents who have been in substitute care prepare for the transition to independent living. The program was…

This report compares personal assistance services to enable independent living for people with disabilities in Sweden, West Germany, and the United States. The report focuses on kinds of personal assistant services available, laws governing these services, the extent to which these services are met by each country's social security and welfare…

This hearing was held to give individuals, organizations, and government officials an opportunity to express their concerns about the state of rehabilitation services in the United States and to recommend changes that would make service delivery more effective. The hearing was held in consideration of the reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act…

This study assessed the community adjustment of 105 young adults (35 with mild mental retardation, 35 with moderate mental retardation, and 35 with severe/profound mental retardation). The data were analyzed with level of mental retardation serving as the independent variable and the following dependent variable measures: number of friends,…

In order to better serve the needs of people in midlife and beyond, Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC), California, is considering the establishment of a Center for Longevity and Education (CLE). The CLE mission would be to foster a supportive environment for lifelong learning and life transitions for midlife and beyond, while channeling the…

This paper summarizes accomplishments of state assistive technology (AT) projects for people with disabilities during 1999-2001. An introductory section reviews the growth and scope of assistive technology projects. This section is followed by one on the effect of state AT projects on the lives of individuals with disabilities and the increasing…

This paper reports on progress and outcomes of state assistive technology (AT) projects for people with disabilities during 2000-2001. Data are based on the annual reports submitted by 34 state AT projects. Introductory material describes the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, which provided financial assistance to states working to maintain and…

This report discusses the need to provide people with disabilities with accessible opportunities for community contribution and to provide the individualized supports and assistance necessary to enable their participation. Two strategies are discussed for realizing these objectives: adequate individual funding controlled by people with…

Thirty-four school leavers over 2 years from two special schools in Belfast were interviewed as were their parents (n=37). The almost unanimous wish of the young people to have a job was not matched by parents, although nearly half expressed the wish that they would have at least part-time work. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

The parents or guardians of 129 graduates (average age 21) of high school special education programs for students with severe disabilities were surveyed. Questions addressed school programs, the child's present life, the child's degree of independence, transportation needs, employment possibilities, the effect of work on Social Security benefits,…

This literature review examines the effects of self-instructional programs on increasing independence of persons with moderate/severe mental retardation in integrated environments. The article discusses methodological issues, research needs, and recommendations for program implementation. The feasibility of using self-instruction to promote…