Twenty young adults with mild disabilities were taught savings account, bill paying, and money order skills using a self-paced workbook. The study found that both task-sequencing methods used (cumulative and interspersal) produced statistically significant and comparable improvements in performance, which were maintained at follow up. (Author/JDD)

This study examined the effectiveness of an instructional system (a modified version of the School Survival Skills Curriculum) in developing and improving the school survival skills of students with behavioral disorders. Using a pretest-posttest group design, subjects demonstrated improvement in overall use of school survival skills but no…

This study of 26 deinstitutionalized and 31 institutionalized developmentally disabled New South Wales adults found that relocated subjects demonstrated a significant increase in adaptive functioning after 1 year of community living. No corresponding change was found for institutionalized subjects. Daily living skills improved the most, followed…

Examined differences in stressors and well-being for caregivers who care for relative with dementia at home and those with relative in nursing home (n=120). Found no differences in depression or somatic complaints, but nursing home caregivers reported fewer social disruptions and more stressors resulting from activities of daily living assistance,…

The Dutch study examined the co-incidence of age-associated mortality and morbidity among older persons with mental handicap. Persons with Down syndrome had much higher mortality rates at age 40 and older compared with other retarded adults. Retarded adults over 50 were found to have decreased motor functioning, mobility, linguistic skills, and…

Two multiple baseline designs were used to evaluate a two-stage model for training four young adults with visual and cognitive impairments to grocery shop. A task-analytical flow chart of the behavioral skills involved in grocery shopping was used to increase completed skill steps and the number of correct items purchased. (Contains references.)…

Aims were to identify the demographic, psychopathology, and psychosocial factors predicting time to major depressive disorder (MDD) recovery and moderators of treatment among 114 depressed adolescents recruited from a juvenile justice center and randomized to a cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) condition or a life skills-tutoring control…

The curriculum of the Life Orientation (LO) learning area forms an excellent basis for equipping learners to respond positively to social demands, assume responsibilities, and optimise their life chances. I report on a qualitative study that focused on the extent to which schools and LO teachers succeeded in achieving the outcomes of the…

A nursing home has three discharge tracks, determined at admission and reviewed periodically along with treatment plans. Advised by the admitting physicians, the nursing home social worker assesses each resident's discharge prognosis: (1) a discharge plan is in effect; (2) discharge is problematic; or (3) no discharge is planned. A substantial…

This monograph synthesizes the research literature on transition from school to work and independent living for handicapped youth. The emphasis is on handicapped youth, but general literature is included where appropriate. The first part presents a short series of dramatized vignettes, based on fact. Summaries and syntheses are then provided on…

The effectiveness of the inductive instructional method of general case programming was compared to the deductive approach of rule learning, in attempting to facilitate generalized learning and maintenance of a community living skill for adults with mental retardation. The impact of functional ability on the type of instruction was also assessed.…

This paper explores children's contributions to the functioning of kindergarten classrooms, arguing that the child's perspective on educational experiences is a valuable source for understanding that experience. Although children are seldom consulted about their experiences, they can provide information about the congruence between the teacher's…

The importance of vocational education for mentally retarded students is discussed, and curriculum suggestions are offered. It is explained that tasks should focus on graduated categories of sorting, measuring, manipulating, packaging, assembling, tending, and recording. For each of the categories information is presented on test abilities,…

Presented is the annual (1974) report of a project for the investigation and application of behavior analysis and modification with handicapped children. The program project is designed to assist teachers in the following areas: curriculum for mildly/moderately handicapped children being served in regular classes and for severely handicapped…

Observations of social interactions of elementary students in self-contained emotionally disturbed (ED) and learning disabilities (LD) classrooms revealed significantly more nonphysical aggression and noncompliance among ED than LD boys across settings, and significantly higher rates of physical and nonphysical aggression and immature behavior…