This study explored effects of social levels of play (isolate, dyadic, group, and team) on play behavior of autistic children in a leisure education/adapted physical education program with nondisabled peers. Findings indicate that structured integrated activities involving higher levels of social play elicit a higher frequency of appropriate play…

Ability OnLine is a pilot electronic mail project designed to foster the self-esteem, social integration, and computer literacy of Canadian children and teens with disabilities. It is offered to both disabled and nondisabled students and their families on a Toronto, Ontario, private bulletin board system. (JDD)

Twenty-eight Australian parents of recent special school graduates with moderate/severe intellectual disability were interviewed concerning their child's postschool adjustment. Results indicated that virtually all parents continued to play a significant role in their child's welfare, that vocational situations varied widely, and that many families…

Residents (n=617) with psychiatric disabilities, living in 3 adult homes, were studied over 24 months to determine changes that occurred in population served, modes of intervention, and outcome measures. Residents showed stability in their rehospitalization rate, symptomatology, and social integration. A token economy reduced symptomatology and…

This paper describes a successful model of supported employment developed by a single small agency previously providing services as a segregated day activity center. Included is discussion of the service agency, program methodology, barriers to successful community-based employment, manner in which barriers were overcome, program outcomes, and…

Part-time graduate students, particularly from minority groups, find that time management and sacrifice are necessary for success. Problems encountered include balancing jobs and academic work, difficulties integrating into the institution's graduate culture, and the need to cut back on some personal activities. However, part-time study…

This article identifies two potentially conflicting trends in deafness--technological progress and societal progress. The rejection of technological progress working to "cure" deafness by some in the deaf community may conflict with demands that society should provide special services for deaf people to allow them full social participation.…

Presents interviews with three Korean-American students who had very different identities (Korean, Korean-American, and American), focusing on their acculturation. They discussed their opinions on American and Korean culture, use of the English and Korean languages, self-identity, discrimination, and personal and social experiences. (SM)

This article describes Yugoslavia's education system, health and welfare services for children with disabilities, the nature and organization of special education services, the integration of disabled children in ordinary schools, models for training special educators, and problems. (DB)

The article reports on the first phase of a study to locate Hong Kong residents who are both elderly and mentally handicapped. Of the 24 elderly mentally handicapped people located, the majority had well-developed self-help skills, but most had few social contacts and participated minimally in community activities. (Author/DB)

A community survey examined socioeconomic characteristics and community participation patterns in a rural Canadian area in which recreational cottages were being converted to full-time homes by urban retirees. Compared to long-time residents, "converters" were more likely to be older and more educated, to have no children at home, and to…

A study identified the perceptions of six college students with visual impairments on what influenced their social activity on campus. It found influences were different for visually-impaired students than for traditional students. The need to intervene in the social development of students with visual impairments before college is stressed.…

Multimethod approach, consisting of teacher ratings, self-ratings, sociometric ratings, direct observations and semistructured interview, were used to assess social skills of fifth-grade students. European and Asian-American students differed significantly on sociometric ratings. Asian Americans enjoyed more outergroup social communications.…

The "Inventory of Disability Representation" was administered to 92 teachers representing kindergarten, community child care, or preschool settings. Low scores across settings indicated that classrooms typically do not have materials that represent or depict children with diverse abilities. Reasons cited by teachers are noted as are benefits…

This ethnographic study examined school literacy experiences of 10 young students with Down syndrome over two years. Two broad definitions of literacy were identified. When reading was a hierarchy of psychologically deduced subskills, children with Down syndrome were usually excluded, but when literacy was the construction of shared meaning in…