Describes a study designed to determine whether a need exists for college students to become better prepared in handling matters of personal and consumer finance. Conclusions showed that at Brigham Young University the need does exist, suggesting that current educational programs are not preparing young people to intelligently and effectively act…

Examined outcomes for all youths discharged from an independent living program from 1987 to 1994. Data included client characteristics and placement history, and assessment of skills as these relate to education, employment, savings, and living arrangements. Results indicated the life skills program improved the youths' self-sufficiency at the…

Describes a program called the Life Skills group which was started to help latchkey children who attended a rural elementary school. Besides teaching the students practical skills, such as answering the door, organizers developed a newsletter and created a specific curriculum for parents to better meet the needs of their children. (RJM)

This study of 70 adults who were discharged from an inpatient hospital rehabilitation unit found a strong correlation between appropriateness of the initial admission of the patients and their functional gains. The study suggests admitting patients who have considerable gains to make and potential to return to community living. (CR)

Three elementary students with mental retardation used a computer-based instructional package to practice purchasing skills and the dollar plus strategy. The instructional package utilized video footage and a constant time delay procedure to facilitate skill acquisition. Skills did not generalize, although changes in purchasing behavior in the…

Compared adult children from dysfunctional families (with and without alcoholism) and adult children of functional families to gauge current relationship satisfaction. No significant differences emerged between the two dysfunctional groups. Analyses connected dysfunction in the family of origin to global distress and to difficulties with…

Describes and evaluates a life skills program that focuses on addressing the special needs of female inmates. Analyses of pre- and post-test scores of program participants compared emotional empathy, self-esteem, coping resources, problem solving, parenting stress, employability, and well-being. Results suggest tat the program does address some of…

This study examined acquisition of cell phone use by 14 middle school students with moderate cognitive disabilities. Results indicated that all participating students successfully learned and generalized into community settings the skills of identifying when they were lost and then using a cell phone to call for assistance. (Contains references.)…

Three adolescents with moderate mental handicaps were taught bedmaking skills through a technique which involved dividing the entire chain into sections, teaching the first section in a total cycle fashion, and adding instruction on subsequent sections in a forward chaining manner. The technique promoted skill acquisition and substantial…

Two learning-disabled, three educable mentally retarded, and two trainable mentally retarded senior secondary students were trained to count money rapidly. All subjects significantly improved their counting rates, maintained a 90 percent level of accuracy, and maintained their skills across settings and over time. (Author/JDD)

Introduces the concept of telephone apprehension. Argues that the concept is potentially useful to management scholars. Reports results of five studies that yield a reliable and valid self-report instrument (the Telephone Apprehension Measure) for measuring telephone apprehension in college undergraduates, employed adults, and practicing managers.…

Twenty rehabilitation patients were assessed on their activities of daily living using the Barthel Index, and were also observed by two occupational therapists in a simulated home unit. Results indicated good inter-observer reliability, and good agreement between asking the patient and professional observation of the patient. (JDD)

The article describes a consumer skills unit taught to visually impaired seventh graders. The unit covered advertising language and psychology, comparison shopping and label language, and budgeting and future planning. (DB)

An itinerant teacher of multiply handicapped students with low vision shares learning activities in which students learn to use coins with the aid of a computer program and make a shopping list using advertising flyers. (DB)

Two experiments examined visual cues as a means for four severely mentally retarded secondary-age students to order in fast-food restaurants. The experiments involved training in school-based simulated environments or in community restaurants. Use of the visual cues was quite effective and easily generalized. Previous experiments with similar…