Suchergebnisse

AbstractThe authors consider conclusions reached with respect to quality of life (QoL); these are examined in terms of both the past and present developments and within the context of three major areas. These three are (1) application of QoL through support and intervention; (2) the application to family QoL and the development of a working model; and (3) application of QoL for policy and evaluation. These conclusions are examined in relation to implications for public policy in terms of support and intervention, measurement and evaluation, with particular focus on a greater understanding and acceptance of the implications and structure involved in the QoL model and the importance of family QoL. The authors maintain that this should entail the development of applications that are empirically based and, wherever possible, take into account the complexity of mediator variables.

Abstract  This article provides an overview of the 2002 American Association on Mental Retardation's (AAMR's) Definition, Classification, and Systems of Supports (the 2002 System) and discusses its relationship to salient international trends and several scientific and judgmental issues currently impacting the field of intellectual disabilities (ID). Five significant international trends – ecologic perspective, disablement as a limitation in functioning, multidimensionality of ID, linking assessment to intervention, and the importance of clinical judgment – are identified and related to the 2002 System. The scientific and policy issues which impact definitional, classification, and intervention systems include: distinguishing among naming, defining, and classifying; answering the question, "what is a disability?"; delineating the essential characteristics of the condition; determining the relationship between intelligence and adaptive behavior; and defining the class. The 2002 System is critiqued and discussed within the contemporary context of thinking about and supporting people with ID. The authors conclude that time will tell how effective the 2002 AAMR System is in meeting the challenge of defining the framework of ID and providing a universally applicable and effective model for the diagnosis, classification, and planning of supports for persons with ID.

AbstractThe authors describe a conceptual and measurement framework that provides a template for guiding policy development and systems change. The framework is built on the concepts of vertical and horizontal alignment, system‐level processes, and organization‐level practices. Application of the framework can structure the thinking and analytic activities of systems and organization‐level personnel and can help them identify significant disconnects between and among system‐level processes and organization‐level practices. Once the disconnects are identified, information can be used to develop policies that enhance the alignment or congruence between system‐level processes and organization‐level practices, or implement systems changes that enhance the logical sequence of input and throughput, input and output, and/or throughput and output program logical components. The article concludes with a discussion of a number of change‐oriented principles (vision of the future, simple communication, leadership, empowering, immediate feedback and reinforcement, organization's culture) and guidelines (pace the change process, reallocate and restructure resources, alignment process, partnerships, continuous quality improvement framework, system and organization‐level outputs, innovation, performance‐based evaluation and management system) that address significant challenges faced today by intellectual and developmental disabilities' organizations and systems.