The Older Individuals who are Blind Technical Assistance Center (OIB-TAC) is federally funded (RSA #H177Z150003) to help OIB programs improve services. In 2015, the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision at Mississippi State University received the competitive award to support the OIB-TAC. The OIB-TAC provides technical…

This study evaluated the gains in capacity and mode of performance made by 57 elderly blind persons who were clients of an independent living services program in Mississippi. It was found that the gains in capacity were significant in all areas and the gains in mode of performance were significant for 41 of the 47 skill areas that were assessed.…

A model demonstration project to meet the needs of elderly mentally retarded individuals in a rural state was designed as a complementary, collaborative endeavor among service providers from the aging, mental retardation, and generic service system networks in Mississippi. Continuous training of staff members across networks was emphasized. (JW)

The purpose of this study was to examine changes in student's attitudes toward the use of low-cost videophone equipment as a tool for interacting with elderly residents. Students enrolled in four undergraduate social work courses were asked to observe and participate in a social history interview with a resident volunteer from an assisted-living…

Research was undertaken to determine how differences in social status among various segments of the population in Mississippi contribute to differences in household energy costs and how socioeconomic differences coupled with social status have impact on energy consumption behavior. Two samples of the state's population were used for comparative…

Purpose: We present the concept of the Green House, articulated by William Thomas as a radically changed, "deinstitutionalized" nursing home well before its first implementation, and we describe and discuss implications from the first Green Houses in Tupelo, Mississippi. Design and Methods: Green Houses are small, self-contained houses…

A study was conducted to discern reading habits of adult basic education (ABE) and General Educational Development (GED) students in two Mississippi junior colleges. A sample of 217 students was administered a questionnaire about reading habits. The sample was studied as a whole and by the demographic variables of race, gender, age (14-19; 20-29;…

This report describes a project that established family day care homes in Mississippi and made use of senior citizens as day care providers. The goals of the project were to provide alternative day care arrangements for low income parents and to offer senior citizens extra income and strengthen their self-image. Advantages of home-based day care…

The 100 recommendations in this report were prepared to fulfill part of the requirements of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 1987. The recommendations are based on a consumer satisfaction survey of individuals with developmental disabilities, information on issues and services from the Mississippi Developmental…

This unit is part of a Mississippi program designed to provide exploratory experiences and training for handicapped students, to determine if these students are capable of further vocational training or are poor risks for further occupational training, and to train students for basal skill occupations. The materials included in this unit on…