In this Special Issue on Transition and Employment of the "Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness" ("JVIB"), three practice contributions provide eloquent examples of how young people and older adults have learned to recognize their own changing work abilities and opportunities, thanks in part to support from…

The "Flynn effect" is a surprising finding, identified by James R. Flynn, that IQ test scores have significantly increased from one generation to the next over the past century. Flynn now brings us an exciting new book which aims to make sense of this rise in IQ scores and considers what this tells us about our intelligence, our minds…

Describes the programs and activities of Generations Together, an agency that promotes mutually beneficial interactions between young and old. Lists six program elements and discusses outcomes. (CH)

This paper provides an overview of the negative aspects of generational isolation and outlines the developmental needs shared by younger and older people. The paper cites intergenerational models, such as community centers, places of worship, colleges and universities, and nursing homes, in which generations interact in a substantive way. It…

The intergenerational field began in the early 1970s as a social phenomenon in response to several factors that were affecting America's children, youth, and older adults. This paper briefly surveys three aspects of intergenerational programs: history and development, public policy focus, and recent research initiatives. The multi-disciplinary…

Describes an innovative intergenerational pilot project, Team Work, in Northern Virginia in which older adult volunteers help disabled young people progress toward secure competitive employment. (BB)

The Intergenerational Education Program, initiated in many Massachusetts school systems, creates opportunities for youth and elders to interact with each other. The purpose of the program is to reactivate and utilize the spirit, knowledge, expertise and individual life experience of the current generation of older Americans. It shows how…

Discusses and reviews intergenerational programs designed to help some of society's most at-risk young citizens and simultaneously enrich the lives of the older adults involved. (BB)

There are a number of compelling reasons that justify attention to and implementation of non-familial adult participation in the lives of youth, through mentoring and intergenerational activities and programs. This article describes the rationale for activities that connect youth and older non-familial adults together in meaningful and productive…

The social service field of "Intergenerational Programming and Exchange" has emerged in response to the growing elderly population and problems of age segregation and decreased interaction among older and younger generations. This article presents a chronology of events and initiatives contributing to the growth of the field from 1963 to…

This document describes the intergenerational project conducted in the Cedar Falls Public School System (Iowa) that involved senior citizens and youths in a learning and sharing process. The county-based extension service supported by faculty at Iowa State University assisted in the recruitment and training of senior citizen volunteers.…

This publication spotlights the success and diversity of Florida's many intergenerational programs. It describes what intergenerational programming is and the three community needs that intergenerational programs address. Statistics on older persons as well as youth and families in Florida are followed by a listing of what intergenerational…

Intended to serve as a sourcebook for prime sponsors, this report summarizes the first phase of a project to analyze and document the activities of the National Program for Selected Population Segments (NPSPS). NPSPS was funded under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) to provide employment and training services to special…

The potential interface between human development theories and intergenerational programing is explored. Erik Erikson's division of adult development into young, middle, and later adulthood, and Butler and Lewis'"characteristics of older people," are considered. Older people can offer help and encouragement to youth while themselves…

The inclusion of a representative sample of understudied populations (e.g., women, minorities, older adults, youth, and people with disabilities) in physical activity promotion studies is a public health priority. Given the limited empirical evidence of effective recruitment strategies and limitations in research methodology for both over…