The current study aimed to develop an adaptive behavior construct using National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2) data. The parent survey data gathered at Wave 1 was used to create an adaptive behavior construct. A bifactor model with three subdomains of conceptual, social, and practical skills with a total of 21 items was developed using…

The study reported here examined the effects of age, gender, and 4-H involvement in clubs on life skill development of youth ages eight to 18 over a 12-month period. Regression analyses found age, gender, and 4-H involvement significantly influenced life skill development. Results found that females have higher levels of competencies in life…

Purpose: A signature characteristic of positive youth development (PYD) programs is the opportunity to develop life skills, such as social, behavioral, and moral competencies, that can be generalized to domains beyond the immediate activity. Although context-specific instruments are available to assess developmental outcomes, a measure of…

This paper examines effects of life-skills, mentoring, and counseling education intervention implemented among primary school attending girls aged between 10 and 19 years, living in Nairobi slums. We hypothesized that interaction between the intervention and aspiration, self-confidence and interest in schooling, mediates the impact of risky…

As a part of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP), special education teachers work along with their student with special needs and their parent(s)/guardian(s) to create and implement Individualized Transition Plans (ITP) to assist the student with their transition to the post-school environment. As mandated by Individuals with Disabilities…

This study examined the effects of a training programme on students' acquisition of life skills, life satisfaction, life orientation and expectations about academic achievement. Participants were allocated to either an intervention group ("n"?=?41) that took part in a life skills programme, or a control group ("n"?=?43).…

A survey of 245 severely mentally handicapped adolescents was conducted to investigate basic skills needed for an independent life style. Interviews covered such areas as eating and drinking skills, domestic tasks, cleanliness and health, and use of amenities. (SB)

The report presents results and analyses of a 38 question needs assessment survey of 431 physically disabled (PD) and 228 able bodied (AB) respondents, ages 15 to 60, to determine problems the disabled experience in the marketplace. The report is the product of a 3 stage county educational program (San Diego, California) to increase marketplace…

Two surveys of 198 Australian high school students gathered information about the students' major life concerns, and a method for classifying adolescent concerns was developed from the results. (MSE)

Junior and senior high school social studies teachers and teachers of the mildly handicapped (primarily learning disabled) in New Jersey (N=195) responded to a social issues survey. For each of 14 social issues, they were asked to indicate the frequency with which the issue was included in the instructional program, its importance, their own level…

This curriculum on money management skills for deaf adolescent and young adult students is presented on nine video CD-ROMs as well as in a print version. The curriculum was developed following a survey of the needs of school and rehabilitation programs. It was also piloted and subsequently revised. Each teaching segment is presented in sign…

This report describes a low-cost, adaptable methodology for assessment of basic learning competencies (BLCs) in diverse cultural contexts. Following the introduction, section 2 provides a policy framework and covers priority populations; policy and assessment needs; challenges for policy-driven assessments; and questions policymakers might have.…