A common problem in settings for profoundly handicapped adults is the generally low level of client participation with their environment. Within a Special Needs Day Unit for profoundly handicapped young adults, a procedure was developed by which staff could increase client participation. One staff member, designated as Room Manager, ensured that a selection of material was available for each trainee, briefly prompted trainees to begin working with the materials, and provided positive attention differentially to those who were engaged. This procedure was compared with a common alternative; staff prompted trainees who were not engaged, but otherwise let them work undisturbed except to stop major disruptions. The Room Manager procedure was considerably more effective in increasing and maintaining the level of trainee engagement than the alternative. It also freed other staff members to work with trainees on an individual basis. Followup data indicated that, with appropriate monitoring, staff were able to maintain the use of this procedure. Therefore, the Room Manager procedure provides a basis for conducting and maintaining activity periods in settings for profoundly handicapped people.
It is very important for severely mentally handicapped people to use the skills that they have and to be helped to expand these skills. Being given more opportunities for participation helps severely handicapped people lead more ordinary and happier lives.This article describes ways in which staff of residential and day accommodation for severely mentally handicapped adults can give their clients more opportunities to participate actively in everyday aspects of life such as cooking, cleaning, recreation, gardening and shopping. Ways of organising staff, providing age-appropriate activities, and encouraging even the most severely handicapped to participate are also discussed.Porterfield, J., Blunden, R. Establishing an activity period and individual skill training within a day setting for profoundly mentally handicapped adults. 1. Practical A pproaches 10
A method of improving services for mentally handicapped people was developed which involved collaboration between families and staff. T h e method identified areas of service deficiency, introduced practical steps to improve the service, and monitored the effectiveness of the new procedures. This article briefly describes the use of this method in one mental handicap service and suggests that it could be more generally used within other services.As researchers with a special interest in the development and evaluation of services for mentally handicapped people, we are often invited to work collaboratively with staff to improve the services they offer. In the past, when we have answered such requests, we have collected information by watching the service in action and talking informally to staff. From this information we h a v e s p e c i f i e d p r o b l e m a r e a s , developed methods of approaching the problems, and helped staff put these methods into practice. Our evaluation of the new working methods have then been made more widely available in the form of reports and publications.
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