Examination of national survey data of state mental retardation/developmental disabilities agencies for integrated and segregated employment and facility-based nonwork services provided during fiscal years 1988 and 1990 found that the percentage and total number of individuals in integrated employment grew significantly. (DB)

This longitudinal study evaluated changes in the quality of life experienced by 36 residents (mean age 61 years) of community-based homes after leaving an institutional setting for individuals with disabilities. Data showed that considerable improvement followed the move to community-based homes, especially in the use of community facilities and…

This paper notes a Canadian survey on the policies and practices of mainstreaming and integration of disabled students and suggests that, although widespread integration exists, there is a growing disaffection with the demands of mainstreaming which include individualized instruction, personalized success structuring, and continuous learning. (DB)

The social relationships and leisure activities of a representative national sample of 336 persons with mental retardation living in 181 small foster or group homes were evaluated. Findings indicated these subjects were integrated into the community and had typical life experiences, though their lifestyles lacked depth and breadth. (Author/DB)

Leisure time planning for aging adults with mental retardation is still in its early stages. The article discusses related research, noting patterns of social support and interaction, leisure involvement, leisure related programs, and community integration. The challenge for the future will be to meet individual leisure needs with limited…

This article reports on a deinstitutionalization project for children with severe multiple intellectual and physical disabilities, in which 98 hospital residents were relocated to small group homes. Relocation generally resulted in a more varied life-routine for residents, a broader range of social activities and greater contact with their…

Experts (n=31) in the field of autism indicated past progress in the field, were optimistic in continued progress in identifying the biological underpinnings of autism, stressed the role of research, and identified and clarified fundamental concerns and issues of the field (e.g., community integration, outcome and program evaluation, and family…

Seven visually impaired men in India were interviewed regarding their attitudes toward integration and the problems they were facing. Their Intelligence Quotients and levels of anxiety were also assessed. It was found that, for successful mainstreaming, the characteristics of individuals are as important as the social environments in which they…

Discusses the American with Disabilities Act, a civil rights act requiring that all businesses, including parks and recreation facilities, be accessible to people with disabilities. The article discusses discrimination, integration, funding concerns, attitudes, and staffing issues. Information sources are listed. (SM)

This article argues that current models of intervention for infants and toddlers with disabilities suffer from conflicting research results and practical implementation problems and discusses alternative approaches, including the need for comprehensive needs assessment, protocols for matching services with needs, interagency system changes, and a…

This study surveyed the beliefs and attitudes of a Colorado school district personnel regarding the inclusion of all students. Responses (n=246) indicated significant differences between attitudes of elementary and secondary teaching staff, a need for more time for cooperative planning, and that the issue of inclusion had created tensions among…

A follow-up study of 73 former special school students in New South Wales, Australia, found that 42 percent were in open employment. Those with moderate or severe intellectual disabilities were generally at sheltered workshops, activity centers, or home. Approximately 54 percent lived with their parents, and 69 percent reported a few close…

This study of 14 children (ages 3-5) with disabilities participating in the Classwide Social Skills Program found that the program increased subjects' positive play and levels of teacher reinforcement, but these increases did not generalize to 3-month or 6-month follow-up periods nor to another play session in the day. (Author/JDD)

A 14-year-old girl with blindness who lived in an isolated religious community in northern British Columbia (Canada) was successfully integrated into the public school system. Four critical issues in planning for integration included family information and involvement, community awareness, empowerment of the individual, and opportunities for…

The use of a teletypewriter (TTY) to help a primary grade deaf child better communicate with hearing peers is described by the child's parents. The article addresses obtaining the two TTY machines, involving the teacher, learning to use the machine by both deaf and hearing children, and the machine's value for developing language skills in…