The U.S. Department of Education report "Computer and Internet Use by Children and Adolescents" (National Center on Educational Statistics, 2001) illustrated the degree to which technology use, particularly electronic and information technologies like computers and the Internet, has become a pervasive part of the educational process. This study…

The book presents a training program developed at the Granville Work Preparation Centre in Australia, to teach mildly retarded adolescents basic social skills and competencies. The program is divided into two stages, with a total of 17 different skill areas. Stage 1 covers self-awareness, social/interpersonal skills, relaxation and behavioral self…

The early onset of disability (at birth through young adulthood) can affect a person's employment outcomes in myriad ways. In addition to the direct effect of disability on employment, early onset of disability likely affects the acquisition of education and job skills (human capital). This reduced "investment" in human capital in turn may reduce…

Provides a technology for addressing the following questions in teaching/training exceptional individuals: (1) what to teach; and (2) how to teach it. Uses behavioral training techniques to teach and help develop functional skills. (BJV)

This annotated bibliography provides approximately 100 summaries and evaluations of documents, published from 1979 to 1995, on personal assistance services (PAS) for individuals with disabilities. Studies and articles were selected for inclusion based upon their capacity to inform the development of PAS models, including conceptual, policy, and…

This paper describes implementation of a transition program which resulted in the successful movement of eight young mentally retarded adults from a segregated residential setting to a supervised apartment program in the community. The youth and their families visited the apartments and jointly made the decision to participate in the program. They…

Descriptions of several programs of the Shawnee Hills Community Mental Health/Mental Retardation Center, Inc. (Charleston, West Virginia) are presented. Included in this document are: (1) a description of the Shawnee Hills Day Training Center, a cooperative program of Shawnee Hills and several county school boards for severely/profoundly impaired…

The revised curriculum addresses systematic social skills instruction of mentally retarded students, particularly those with behavioral difficulties. An introductory chapter presents a broad perspective on social competence and the rationale, methods, and content for teaching social skills. Procedures for direct instruction of social skills are…

Citing other studies, this paper provides a background overview regarding the design of a lifelong career development model for severely handicapped individuals which is now in progress at the University of Missouri-Columbia. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, the Educational Amendments of 1976…

The final report of a 3 year project to improve the quality of life of mentally retarded, cerebral palsied, and epileptic persons in Region III is presented. The first section details the efforts of the project staff in providing competitive employment opportunities or sheltered employment for 40 severely disabled persons. Equipment modification…

The report presents findings from needs assessment studies conducted in three community college areas to examine the extent to which 161 severely handicapped adults in seven disability groups (orthopedic, visual, hearing, mental retardation, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and multiple handicapping conditions) have acquired 22 life centered competencies…

The handbook for special education personnel was written by 18 graduate students culminating a period of intensive work with physically and mentally handicapped adults at workshops operated by the Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens and the Easter Seal Society. The first chapter details the steps from contract procurement to work…

This second follow-up study of seven young adults with mental retardation one year after movement from an institution to a community setting found steady gains in social, communication, and community living skills but relatively few gains in motor and personal living skills. These findings contrasted with the sweeping gains in adaptive skills…

Special education is now an established part of public education in the United States--by law and by custom. However, it is still widely misunderstood and continues to be dogged by controversies related to such things as categorization, grouping, assessment, placement, funding, instruction, and a variety of legal issues. The purpose of this…

This manual, developed for use in community-based rehabilitation programs in developing countries, describes how rehabilitation can be carried out at home and in the community. The manual consists of 4 guides and 30 training packages. The guide for local supervisors and the guide for the community rehabilitation committee explain how each can work…