This edition of the newsletter of the National Information Center for Handicapped Children and Youth explains the meaning of Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) and shows how it can be put into operation not only in school but throughout the life of a disabled person. Brief articles have the following titles: "The Least Restrictive Environment:…

Everyday choices and choice-making opportunities of 24 mentally retarded persons living in community group homes were compared to choices of 42 nonretarded adults. Retarded adults had significantly fewer opportunities to make decisions on such matters as what to eat or wear, how to spend free time, and with whom to live. (Author/DB)

The Independent Living Project for Deaf/Blind Youth emphasized the teaching of home management, personal management, social/emotional skills, work skills, and communication skills to increase low-functioning teenagers' autonomy. The project included an independent living apartment in which a video monitoring system was used for indirect…

This paper discusses the concept of individualized, supported living arrangements for individuals with severe disabilities. The supported living arrangements are intended to enable people with disabilities to live in the community in a manner of their choice that most closely approximates the experience of people without disabilities, with support…

This literature review on young adults with mental retardation brings together two previously disparate areas of research, community integration and young adult development. After a discussion of various theories addressing the young adulthood stage of development, the paper summarizes research on young adults with mental retardation in the…

This newsletter issue gives people with disabilities the opportunity to educate others about self-advocacy. Twelve of its 17 articles are by individuals with disabilities who are self-advocates, or by other representatives of self-advocacy organizations. It includes information on self-advocacy strategies and examples of its impact on lives.…

The study compared attitudes toward independence of six disabled (all physically disabled and three with additional intellectual impairments) British adults, all of whom had lived in both institutional care and in the community. Interviewees all felt positively about the independence of community living. (Author/DB)

This checklist is intended to help communities evaluate their provision of Personal Assistance Services (PAS) for people with significant disabilities. Although PAS services are the key component of individualized supports for such persons, they should be considered in conjunction with other services. Essential qualities of effective PAS are: (1)…

This protocol is designed to help plan and carry out meetings between persons with disabilities and those who are responsible for assisting them in making choices about their future services. It was developed to quantify and define some of the issues involved in having Illinois individuals who are eligible for relocation from nursing facilities…

Case material from an anthropological field study of 57 blind adults in Tel-Aviv is used to illustrate the contradictions that blind Israelis face in the current transitional period from traditional segregation and dependent roles to an indeterminate type of integration and independence. (Author/JW)

An attitude scale on sexuality and the handicapped was developed and field tested on 232 people in contact with mentally retarded persons. The results indicate that the scale was sensitive to differences in attitudes within and between groups and that sexuality training was effective in producing attitude change. (Author/SEW)

Evaluation of effects of moving mentally disabled individuals from a British National Health Service hospital into community group homes found much overlap between the institutions' caring routines and practices with the community hostel setting, providing only slightly more opportunities for personal choice, privacy, personalization, integration,…

The concept of "adult status" for young people with disabilities is explored in terms of its social, psychological, legal, and policy implications. The report argues that traditionally institutionalized rehabilitation techniques, whether in education, vocational training, or sheltered employment, have tended not to encourage autonomy and…

Part of a special issue on the national network of University Affiliated Facilities, the article defines independent living (IL) and discusses the development and application for the IL concept. An IL model is presented that focuses on improving the community environment and offering assistive devices to persons with severe disabilities.…

This paper describes institutional reforms implemented at Kfar Tikvah, an Israeli community for 126 moderately mentally retarded individuals. The process of changing to the organizational structure used in the kibbutz system is examined through descriptions of reforms in everyday life, social life, and work and economic independence. (JDD)