SynopsisTwo scales are described which have been found useful in the measurement of relevant behaviour characteristics of mentally handicapped people in large scale surveys. One scale rates according to levels of continence, ambulance, and the presence of specified disruptive behaviours, while the other reflects speech, self-help, and literacy abilities. This information has been found useful in the planning and implementation of services for the mentally handicapped.
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.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.