Background: Research has shown that the cochlear implant may improve deaf children's speech and communication skills. However, little is known about its effect on children's ability to socialize with hearing peers. Methods: Using a standardized psychological measure completed by parents and a longitudinal design, this study examined the…

This exploratory survey was conducted to gain a detailed understanding of the home and community literacy experiences of children, adolescents and adults with Down syndrome. The data were collected from 224 parents/guardians across Canada who were asked to indicate literacy goals and priorities for their children with Down syndrome, the literacy…

The methods used to determine the educational needs and goals of the Pine Ridge Reservation (South Dakota) are described in this article. The development and assessment of a questionnaire involved school boards, administrators, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Educational Administrator, teachers, students, parents, and other interested community…

The article discusses four major objectives of programs in the state of Oregon for students with severe disabilities: building social skills and a social network; building community competence; building a work history; and ensuring that parents have an active involvement in their children's program and future. (Author/JW)

As participants in a "choice training" program, three moderately/severely handicapped adolescents were reinforced or prompted first to select a leisure activity and then to sustain the activity for gradually longer periods of time with decreasing teacher supervision. Results included sustained activity maintenance from one week to four months…

A community-centered recreational program that has served 12 mentally retarded young adults is described. Major features of the Rec Club include specific skill training activities and enhancement of independent recreational activities conducted in commercial community settings (e.g., bowling alley). Assistance is reduced as participants' skills…

Reports on a pedagogically based (in contrast to andragogy--the art of helping adults learn) library program that treated young men like boys. Suggests that the underlying pedagogical philosophy negatively affected materials selected, teaching techniques used, and students' perceptions of themselves. (CMG)

The present crisis of careerism versus liberal arts is a blessing in disguise, forcing humanities faculty to adjust their teaching and thinking to basic questions of value and use. They will have to demonstrate to students that the humanities provide profoundly useful, life-enhancing skills that one has a responsibility to develop. (Author/MSE)

The article discusses the provision of educational services for handicapped adolescents and young adults. Aspects covered include academic instruction personal-social development, daily living skills, prevocational and vocational instruction, and methods of student evaluation (applied performance vs knowledge testing, and product vs process…

An adult literacy program at M'Chigeeng First Nation (Manitoulin Island, Ontario) helps learners become aware of themselves, their skills, family dynamics, and community involvement. The holistic approach uses the Seven Grandfathers' teachings of the Ojibway to develop mind, body, spirit, and emotions. The program is defining self-management and…

Project Adventure has seven programs for at-risk and adjudicated youth in Georgia, all using adventure counseling to help youth confront and manage their behaviors. Some programs are day programs for suspended students that involve family counseling and work. Others are residential programs for drug addicts, sexual offenders, and other adjudicated…

Eight mildly handicapped young adults were taught to discriminate whether or not possible violations of legal rights occurred in socially validated scenarios and, if so, to role-play a behavioral sequence to redress rights violations. With one exception, participants demonstrated generalization to four community role-play settings. (JW)

A two-year holistic transition training program for persons with learning disabilities in Israel was carried out in a residential setting and included vocational training, activities of daily living, educational activities, and personal adjustment counseling. Follow-up two years after program completion indicated that trainees were generally…

Critical themes and specific alternatives for helping adolescents with disabilities to avoid severely limiting their life choices are discussed. The themes concern relating learning experiences to the youth's life, providing experiences that allow and prepare youth for adulthood, and adult caring and advocacy for youth. Interventions supporting…

Assessed life-skills knowledge levels among older foster adolescents in foster family homes, group homes/institutions, and apartments. Results suggest a need to improve life-skills preparation in group home/institutional settings, to target minority males for life-skills enhancement in all placement settings, and to utilize apartment placements to…