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…

A project developed competency profiles identifying entry-level skills and employability skills to be acquired by handicapped students before graduation. Research literature was reviewed to identify generalizable skills, employability skills, self-help skills, and job skills. Feedback was obtained from practitioners in the field regarding rating…

This study compared the functional disability levels of participants in adult day centers with patients in intermediate care facilities (ICFs). A three-page questionnaire measuring demographics, social resources, physical health, mental health, and activities of daily living as assessed by the Activities of Daily Living scale and the Instrumental…

This study compared parent stress, family functioning, and social support in 55 families with a developmentally handicapped child (ages 0-7) and 55 families with a nonhandicapped child. Findings indicated that a young handicapped child did induce greater stress in his parents than did a nonhandicapped child. Parents of handicapped children…

In July, 1983, the Center for Independent Living of Greater Bridgeport and its cooperating agencies conducted a survey of 32 people, the majority of whom were developmentally disabled and resided in institutional or community settings, in both rural and urban areas. This report addresses the perceived needs and levels of independence experienced…

The Occupational Therapy Independent Living Skills (Transition) Program was established to serve students with severe behavioral, learning, and physical disabilities and to serve as a setting for occupational therapist training in transition programming. This manual describes this model pupil personnel training program, which prepares occupational…

This report on the Adult Math Skills Project includes sections on theory, empirical studies, and their implications. Section 1 presents an overview, noting that activity and setting are seen as mutually creating, sustaining, and changing the nature of problem solving. The empirical studies involved: (1) arithmetic practices among grocery shoppers;…

Adults enrolled in local adult basic education programs at six sites in Louisiana were used to compare the credibility of Adult Performance Level (APL) competency-based instructional programs (experimental group) with traditional adult education instructional activities (control group). Focus was on determining the correlation between grade level…

Three tests of daily living skills for retarded adolescents were developed and validated: making purchases, seeking jobs, and using banks. These three tests were adapted from three of the nine sections of the Social and Prevocational Information Battery (SPIB), a test made up mostly of true-false items. Each of the three tests were developed in…

To meet the condition of society that Toffler calls "overchoice," schools must redirect their role and provide a program that enables children and youth to develop and sharpen their decision-making skills--cognitive, evaluative, participatory, normative, and affective. All these skills can be developed and refined in the natural settings within…

Presented in the first of three volumes is a summary and evaluation of the Life Skills for the Developmentally Disabled Project which was designed to prevent inappropriate institutional placement and to assist in deinstitutionalization of individuals in Forest Haven, the District of Columbia's Center for the developmentally disabled. It is…

Discussed are criteria for developing and implementing secondary school special education programs leading to a high school diploma for exceptional students in Michigan. It is explained that handicapped students should be integrated into regular programs whenever possible but that an Educational Planning and Placement Committee may recommend…

Potentials of three classifications of rubella deaf blind children are discussed. Potentials for children at the middle trainable level and below are discussed for the areas of communication skills, daily living skills, mobility and orientation, vocational effort, and self-control and social interaction. For children in the upper trainable through…

The paper describes a career education program for educable mentally retarded (EMR) high school students which was developed by Project PRICE (Programing Retarded in Career Education). Recent research relevant to the career education movement is reviewed. Career education is defined as preparation for all aspects of successful community living,…

The curriculum guide for severely physically and mentally handicapped children includes activities to develop motor skills, self-help skills, communication skills, academic and preacademic skills, and social skills. The curriculum is being used at a school for retarded children in Indianapolis at which 80 percent of the clients have cerebral…