One of the most important stress resistance resources emerging from research in adults has been the hardy personality (Kobasa, 1979). Identification of such a personality characteristic in young adults would provide some understanding of how some individuals emerge from a period of instability and change with the skills that help them adapt in a…

This evaluation reports on a state program for foster care youth. Entitled the Support for Emancipation and Living Functionally (SELF), it is a county-implemented approach which seeks to develop and conduct services so as to help older adolescents who have been in substitute care prepare for the transition to independent living. The program was…

Students encounter numerous volatile situations throughout their school days. These videotapes and the accompanying teacher's manual and student handouts provide ways in which students can creatively assess and resolve these conflicts. The videotapes are designed for the whole school community: students and parents, teaching and non-teaching…

Age appropriate training programs in natural environments for deaf-blind adolescents help to develop functional skills, with the ultimate goal of independent living and work placement. Other approaches to the education of handicapped children entail activity for the sake of activity, or babysitting and fun activities. The actual training of a…

This independent living skills curriculum addresses the needs of developmentally handicapped students ages 13-19. Designed to supplement the existing curriculum, nine units focus on the following skill areas: social skills (self-esteem, self-identity, social communication and interaction, goal development, problem solving, developing sexual…

The Practical Life aspect of Montessori education offers middle school students opportunities to take on responsibilities and develop job readiness skills. Practical Life skill training relates to self-guidance, navigation, grace and courtesy, caring for others, and management of responsibilities, time, and money. Community service in the…

Three students (ages 12 and 13) with developmental disabilities and severe behavior disorders were taught independent purchasing skills. To bypass the need for money computation skills, discrimination between three stimulus classes of frequent purchases (vending machine snack, convenience store snack, lunch) were trained. Two students mastered the…

The U.S. family--the backbone of earlier societies--is rapidly degenerating, indicating the need for a social or educational agency surrogate for family caring and supervision. Time has demonstrated value-neutral education's devastating effects on our nation and our social interactions. Educators must help emerging adolescents form realistic…

Investigates the major areas of interest to Israeli adolescents. Discusses the development of an instrument that determines relevant psychological/life skills domains. Factor analysis revealed nine clusters of variables. Discusses gender and age differences as well as implications for the educational system. (Author/MKA)

This article describes an innovative model for supporting high-risk teens, including those in special education, who need social skills to protect them from sexual assault. Suggestions are made for prevention activities and involvement of community agencies with expertise for providing critical transition services to at-risk adolescents. (Author)

Most teens leaving the care of an agency are woefully unprepared and unsupported. Current approaches to aftercare are expensive and difficult to implement. This study evaluated a prototype version of Vstreet.com, an innovative website for at-risk youth designed to teach lifeskills and build community. Findings from a sample of youth in the Job…

In November 2001, the Greek Society for the Protection of Autistic People (GSPAP) established the first residence for people with autism in Greece, following the guidelines of structured teaching and the TEACCH method with all 12 of the residents. Using interview questionnaires and systematic naturalistic observations, this case study explored the…

The report describes and evaluates a 10-week program to help an adjudicated 18-year-old male with behavioral disorders living in a structured residential treatment facility to develop independent living skills. The experimental program consisted of three levels, each offering more independence, while providing support, guidance, and direction to…

Students encounter numerous volatile situations throughout their school days, especially during times of increasing diversity. "Inter-Cultural Mediation" is a single half hour video that includes a teacher's manual and student handouts. Shot in Ontario, Canada during the Commonwealth Youth Conference in Conflict Resolution, this program…

Intended primarily for parents of teenagers or young adults with mild and moderate mental disabilities, this guide offers a specific program to teach basic budgeting skills. The program is differentiated for teenagers who either can count money or who have trouble reading and counting money. The program for teenagers who can count money begins…