Describes a career development project in Rapid City, South Dakota, that focuses on Native American parolees with multiple barriers to employment. The program was effective in placing 75% of its 1994 group in jobs. Clients reported that feeling valued and important was the most important aspect of the experience. (RJM)

Instructional Transaction Theory specifies a set of rules for automated instructional design and development. Components include descriptive theories of knowledge and of strategy, and a prescriptive theory of instructional design. Rules include selecting and sequencing knowledge objects, selecting and sequencing instructional transactions,…

Employee surveys before and 9 and 32 months after total quality management (TQM) implementation (n=186, 166, 118) identified three individual characteristics that collectively explained the variance in and better predicted TQM adoption: organizational commitment, trust in colleagues, and importance of higher-order needs for achievement and…

This paper presents a systematic approach for addressing the support needs of persons with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities and describes a new scale to measure individual differences in support needs. It explains the process used in developing the scale and discusses critical issues and practical challenges associated…

The article reviews characteristics of autism that affect adaptation to residential settings. A description of existing residential options, based on experiences in Great Britain and North Carolina, is presented. The development of residential programs specifically for people with autism is encouraged because their needs are often not met in…

Examines the "benefit segmentation model," a marketing strategy for local news media which is capable of sorting consumers into discrete segments interested in similar salient product attributes or benefits. Concludes that benefit segmentation may provide a means by which news programmers may respond to their audience. (RS)

Suggests a comprehensive bilingual program evaluation model, emphasizing assessment of bilingual vocational training (BVT) programs, that expedites the collection of useful program development data. Four phases include (1) review of program objectives, (2) review of BVT program design, (3) review of BVT program implementation, and (4) review of…

Examined trends of publicly owned, for-profit providers of custodial home care. Found that restrictive public payments and lack of private insurance coverage have contributed to financial woes of providers. Suggests that changes are urgently needed which address the financing of home care. (Author/NB)

Describes "Research and Experimentation in Technology Education," a program for gifted and talented students based on the process of learning to learn, problem solving, inquiry, synthesis and analysis, coupled with involvement with verbal and written communication. It is based on theories regarding adapting teaching to the individual needs of the…

Provides an overview of issues that families encounter over time in the adoption of children with special needs. Reports on a two-year survey of special needs adoption, which supported much of the conclusions provided by cross-sectional studies. Implications of the findings for the service system are discussed. (TJQ)

This brief article stresses that the search for omnibus social and emotional needs that cut across all gifted children is misguided and that differences in needs are likely a function of the relationship between the individual child's talents and social interactions within the communities of the child's world. (DB)

Examines terms used to describe the changing of an innovation by an adopter, including reinvention, fidelity, adaptation, and mutual adaptation. Three explanations for adaptation of innovation--interpretation, adopter innovativeness, and generative learning--are discussed; and the theory of generative learning is used to explain internal…

Administered Fundamental Interpersonal Relationship Inventory to 207 adolescents to assess perceived expressions and desires in 3 categories of interpersonal relationships: inclusion (companionship), control (leadership), and affection (intimacy). Found differences in expression of all categories; desire for inclusion and affection. Males ranked…

Notes that health maintenance organizations (HMOs) provide large volume of health care services to older Americans. Contends that HMOs must reexamine general practice of equating utilization of services with health care need and collect better population-based information, including measures of health status. Discusses data elements widely…

The article recounts the development of a gifted English girl as expressed in an interview at age 24. Revealed are problems, anxieties, and sensitivities of the gifted and their need for broad counseling and support. (DB)