This study of 88 mothers of children with mental retardation, physical disabilities, or developmental risk found that, although biocultural factors such as employment and marital status have differential influences on parent, child, and family functioning, intrafamily role sharing and extrafamily support available to mothers can buffer possible…

Describes summer-camp experiences of young people who are incontinent because of spina bifida. Focuses on residential camp program as encouragement for youth to learn independent incontinence management. Describes self-catheterization program and process as minor inconvenience and positive alternative to soiled clothing and accompanying…

Escalation of worker's compensation claims led Saint Cloud State University (Minnesota) to implement an injury prevention program including warm-up exercises, worksite inspection, examination of work practices, employee training in safe body mechanics, and flexibility tests. The program is found to be effective in reducing injury and improving…

Case studies are presented of three individuals with severe communication impairments who had been judged to be intellectually impaired but revealed unexpected achievements after training in nonspeech communication. The communication training used facilitation to circumvent hand function impairments. (JDD)

Provides a brief overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and schedule for phasing in the law. Discusses general features of the law that apply to camps including provisions of employment and public accommodation and requirements for making camp facilities and programs accessible. Provides key definitions included in the ADA and…

Discusses 10 questions that physical education teachers can use as a beginning guide for mainstreaming physically handicapped students. (GLR)

A father shares his family's experience raising two sons with neuromuscular impairments and offers advice for parents, teachers, and counselors working with such individuals. Specific problems and possible solutions are discussed, including self-esteem, written work, timed tests, physical education and recess, counseling, other assistance, and…

Assessed the practical, social and emotional impact of home enteral tube feeding (HETF) on children and their families. Found that training for non-parent caregivers was inadequate. Consequently, access to education and social services may be restricted due to the perception these children require nursing care. (SD)

This article shows how even preschool children with significant physical disabilities can use the computer independently to learn social skills if given the correct positioning, appropriate computer peripherals and software, grouping, and instructional strategies. A continuum of computer peripheral adaptation is provided, along with a list of…

Comparison of 2 groups of graduate rehabilitation counseling students who did (n=20) or did not (n=18) participate in a wheelchair sensitivity training exercise found significant differences in responses to questions pertaining to daily frustrations experienced by people with physical disabilities and a preoccupation with accessibility. Discussion…

A survey of 77 parents of children requiring ventilator support and interviews with 22 of the families sought to determine parental satisfaction with their child's educational placement. The survey showed that 44% of children were in general education programs, and 87% of parents agreed with their children's placement. (CR)

An integrated accessible microscopy workstation was designed and developed to allow persons with mobility impairments to control all aspects of light microscopy with minimal human assistance. This system, named AccessScope, is capable of performing brightfield and fluorescence microscopy, image analysis, and tissue morphometry requisite for…

This guide was developed by DAWN (Disability Advisors Working Network) in consultation with AHEAD (Association for Higher Education Access and Disability), Asperger Syndrome Association of Ireland, Brainwave, DeafHear, Dyslexia Association of Ireland and the National Council for the Blind. This is an introductory guide and should be used as a…

University and public librarians faced with an increasing demand for reading materials in alternate formats need to develop the skills required in providing adequate library service to people with visual or physical impairments. This work, written by library professionals, is intended as a basic reference source which librarians in training can…

This paper draws on the observations of an international college student with an upper socio-economic background from Kenya who, prior to graduate work in the United States, had almost no contact with people with physical disabilities. The paper explores the construction of accessibility and disability on a college campus as viewed from a semiotic…