Written by a minister in response to the Canadian Anglican Church's report, the article addresses some of the problems in the area of ethics and the mentally retarded. (SBH)

Questionnaire data were collected from 64 direct-care staff members in a residential facility for people with multiple disabilities. Path analyses identified factors predicting levels of perceived stress, overall job satisfaction, overall life satisfaction, and perceived likelihood of leaving the organization. Factors included staff support, job…

Families of disabled children (N=32) using respite care over a four-month period reported positive impact on family relations, social activities, emotional and physical strains, and plans for institutional care. Families caring for younger children viewed the services as more helpful than parents caring for older children or adults. (Author/CL)

This article contrasts the drab reality of life for most adults with mental retardation with the film adventures of Forrest Gump and other film depictions of individuals with mental retardation. Advocates are urged to remember that positive stereotyping can also be harmful when it results in distorted views about today's possibilities for such…

The author cites the need for defining and measuring quality of life and personal life satisfaction for individuals with mental retardation, asserting that the American Association on Mental Deficiency should assume a leadership role in this effort. (CL)

Social and ethical issues are examined in relationship to life management practices with the profoundly retarded. (Author)

This paper presents the Institute of Medicine model of the dynamic nature of the disabling process of both primary disabilities and secondary conditions, and the interaction of that process with risk factors and quality of life. The components of a comprehensive disability prevention program are discussed. (Author/JDD)

This paper contrasts the rhetoric of quality assurance with the realities of poor quality in today's Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR). The ICF/MR operational model is described as paper oriented, failure based, and insensitive to the effects of its own practices. Recommendations include the establishment of local…

Structured interviews with 154 adults with mental retardation showed two-thirds were either unable to respond or exhibited response bias. There was a significant difference in scores on the Adaptive Behavior Scale between those who exhibited response bias and those who did not. The substitution of a proxy respondent is discussed. (Contains…

This paper reacts to previous symposium papers (EC 604 155-161) concerning regulations and quality assurance in Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR) and stresses the central mission of helping people and the need to achieve quality and not just compliance. (DB)

This account of the life of a mentally retarded man describes his early institutionalized years, his failure to retain employment, and the impact of uncontrolled diabetes on his health. The man's death is attributed to his societal devaluation and to failure of the human services field to engage in "life-sharing." (JDD)

This study examined attitudes toward the Special Olympics of 41 experts in mental retardation and 40 parents of Special Olympics participants. Generally, both groups viewed the program as highly beneficial, particularly in terms of social adjustment and life satisfaction. However, some experts noted segregative aspects of the program and parents…

Argues that there are insuperable problems in assessing subjective indicators of quality of life and that this approach should be abandoned. Also notes this approach may serve to extend the license of services to exert control over all facets of a person's life. (Author/CR)

This article considers the relation between symptoms of movement disturbance and symptoms of autism. Analysis points out the difficulties posed by current definitions of "autism" and ways that a movement disturbance can affect a person's experience of life as well as how he/she is perceived by others. (DB)

Current efforts to reform vocational services for severely disabled adults are examined in the context of past reform efforts, the meaning of work, and the status of the labor force. Proposed solutions should avoid exclusion of the severely disabled due to reliance on economic utility as the price of social integration. (Author/DB)