The report evaluates Iowa's reorganization of mental health and mental retardation (MH/MR) services. Evaluation methods include a policy analysis of legislation, interviews with agency staff and consumer representatives, review of MH/MR Commission and Developmental Disabilities (DD) Council meetings, an opinion survey of county auditors, and…

The report presents findings from a study of family-based care for persons with developmental disabilities. The first of four parts introduces the problems of family-based care and presents perspectives of parents and of persons with developmental disabilities. Part 2, on responding to the needs of families, includes a review of historical and…

Discussions were held with 252 respondents (state and local officials, service providers, educators, parents) in 28 states concerning the problems in transition from school to adult services for developmentally disabled young adults. Transition issues were seen to include questions of where to live, what to do, and how to obtain support. The…

The task group process and its operating rules are explained in an initial section of this report. Summaries and updates are then presented of project products and activities: a pilot community-based class program (an intensive educational and therapeutic environment for emotionally disturbed adolescents); a case management system (in which the…

A detailed report is given on the mechanics involved in conducting a successful bi-regional workshop for educators. The theme of the workshop was designed around two Research Within Reach (RWR) documents dealing with oral/written communications and secondary mathematics; however, papers and discussion generated by the workshop are not included in…

The report summarizes findings of 6 weeks spent in the Netherlands and Denmark to study services provided to learning disabled (LD) young adults and adults. The school to work transition for LD students is examined along with the LD adult in society, and comparisons are made between Dutch and Danish approaches. The Dutch system, highly structured…

Recommended to administrators of social welfare agencies serving the blind is use of the United Way of America's Services Identification System as an effective tool for program definition and measurement. (LH)

The purposes of this report are: to describe the main elements of the U.S. agricultural extension model and its effects on the agricultural revolution; to analyze attempts to extend this model to non-agricultural technology and/or to less developed countries; and to draw general conclusions about the diffusion of technological innovations, with…

The report describes the establishment of the Texas State Survey of Hearing Impaired Children and Youth as a pupil data management information system for monitoring and evaluation of special education services for hearing impaired children in Texas. The findings of the 1976-77 survey, encompassing 4,384 hearing impaired children receiving publicly…

These two papers discuss communications policies and structures in France and in the United States. The first paper reports that efforts to develop new electronic communication systems in France are hindered by rivalry between two public monopolies and by governmental protection against foreign influence. The second paper assesses ownership of…

The report describes evaluation of the Bergen County (NJ) program designed to develop positive self concept, foster appropriate communication skills, maximize physical growth and ability, and provide direction and counsel in making appropriate decisions for postschool life of approximately 135 multiply handicapped children (3 to 20 years old).…

The purpose of this project was to develop a computerized videotape catalog and booking system to serve school personnel in the 109 schools of Pinellas County, Florida. This system was designed to eliminate manual file maintenance, decrease time spent in booking, shipping, and receiving videotapes, and reduce the cost of producing and updating…

The report of the New York State Commission on Quality of Care for the Mentally Disabled looks at autism in five chapters concerned with characteristics of autism, parenting the autistic child, New York State's institutional care network for the autistic, perspectives of professionals on autism, and Commission recommendations. Among nine findings…

This is the report of a study undertaken by the Institute of Rehabilitation Issues to identify unique problems in rehabilitation services delivery to inner city nonwhite clients. Chapter 1 reviews the literature on vocational rehabilitation for people with mental and physical disabilities and points out the lack of research on nonwhite, lower…