The effects of independent living training programs for 1,498 people with developmental disabilities were examined. After seven years, individuals who had received greater amounts of independent living services and improved/maintained their independent living skills were more likely to still live independently. There was no relationship between…

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 10-week course designed to assist adults of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent with profound developmental disabilities to function more effectively was evaluated. Issues emerged concerning the lack of lead-time for course set-up, the inappropriateness of the curriculum, and communication and logistical difficulties. (Author/DB)

A functional curriculum for individuals who are developmentally disabled was developed at Tohatchi Special Education and Training Center, located within the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico. The curriculum guide includes a contextual framework, extensive background information, and objectives for fine- and gross-motor and language and…

Describes programs based on a variety of educational media that have been developed in school districts around the country to help at-risk students. The importance of the educators' attitudes is stressed, and the need for effective instructional experiences that relate to life skills is emphasized. (LRW)

This paper describes the use, by a low-functioning woman with multiple disabilities, of a new portable control device which allows staff to preset a sequence of indoor-activity destinations for the subject to travel to, using a simple response, during the course of a work period. (DB)

Discusses using the Timing Method for Assessing the Detection of Vehicles (TMAD) to help individuals with visual impairments develop the ability to judge their safety for crossing streets with no traffic control. Functional criteria for assessing risks are discussed. (CR)

Gender differences among street children in Nairobi suggest familial function, and development and mental-health outcomes. Male children are taught coping skills by their mothers early on to take up street life to support their family. Female children, expected to remain at home and learn to become women, turn to street life as the result of…

Describes a three-week summer institute which provided seven blind students (grade 10 to college level) with musical training that included Braille music, keyboard and theory, computer skills, and independent college-living skills. (DB)

A study involving 49 Canadian individuals with spinal cord disorders investigated using the LIFE-H, a measurement designed to assess the life habits of individuals with disabilities. The LIFE-H assessment was found to be reliable, covered most of a person's life habits, and could determine the appearance of disability situations. (Author/CR)

An alternative dropout-prevention program is examined from the students' perspectives. Findings from interviews and observations suggest that the program is effective in keeping the students in school but does little to help the students develop daily living and social skills. Policy implications are discussed and suggestions for future research…

Reviews development, evaluation, and utility of the Life-Skills Development Inventory-College Form. Results taken from 553 college students establish the reliability and validity of the revised instrument for assessing life-skill achievement in college students. Implications for developmental interventions in response to identified student needs…

Six of seven adolescents who attended a summer rehabilitation program at the Vacation Camp for the Blind (VCB) reported they were performing the majority of skills two months after they completed training at VCB. Parents' responses confirmed self-reports and noted the performance of new skills or skill improvement. (Contains eight references.) (CR)

A study compared the effectiveness of video modeling with in vivo modeling for teaching developmental skills to five children (ages 7-11) with autism. Targeted skills included social skills and daily living skills. Video modeling led to faster acquisition of tasks than in vivo modeling and was effective in promoting generalization. (Author/CR)

Comparison of adults with mental retardation either with or without Down syndrome and under or over 50 years of age found a significantly higher rate of dementia only in Down syndrome subjects over 50. However, the observed incidence based on functional findings was substantially below the presumed 100% prevalence of neuropathological markers of…