Client Behavior in More and Less Normalized Residential Settings.

This study examines the behavior of four retarded adults before and after moving from an institution to community living arrangements. Video tape recordings were made of client behavior in the two environments which were referred to as less and more normalized settings. Each tape was coded using a multidimensional behavioral code (Thurman and Fiorelli, 1977) designed to compare client behavior and client/staff interaction in residential settings. Results indicate that there may be differences both in client behavior and clientlstaff interaction as a function of living environment. A discussion of these results in light of normalization is provided. It is suggested that more studies of this type are needed to provide an empirical-behavioral basis for normalization. One implicit assumption in Wolfensberger's which to build social policy regarding resi (1972) interpretation of the normalization dential services for the mentally retarded, principle is the belief that as a normalized The work of Bjaanes and Butler (1974), and integrated living environment is more using in part various behavioral categories to closely approximated the likelihood that the systematically compare environmental varia client will progress towards habilitation bedon among community residential settings, comes concomitantly enhanced. However, represented a significant pioneer effort to Wolfensberger (1972) presented little emhelp facilitate the building of the data base pirical data to support such a prediction. The Baila (1976) reported is lacking. The Bjaanes need for empirical support of normalization and Butler (1974) study is exceptional in that has been acknowledged by several authors it advocated the comparison of residential including Wolfensberger himself (Wolfensenvironments along behavioral dimensions berger & Glenn, 1975), as well as Close (1977), manifested by residents and caregivers, in Dybwad (1969), Landesman-Dwyer, Stein, addition to the attitudinal, supportive and and Sackett (1978), and Roos (1972). physical dimensions of the living environment. Although the growth and acceptance of This "total environmental" approach con normalization continues, there is a paucity trasts markedly with present methods of of empirical literature which compares becomparing residential environments (e.g., A havior of clients before and after moving to Normalization and Development Instrument more normalized living environments. The [ANDI], Flynn & Weiss, 1977, and the few behavioral studies which do appear in Program Analysis of Service Systems [PASS], recent literature are in many cases tentative Wolfensberger & Glenn, 1975) which pri and/or contradictory in their support for marily rate the physical and ideological more normalized settings (c.f. Aninger and dimensions of living environments according Bolinsky, 1977; Butler and Bjaanes, 1978; to the degree which they approach the Close, 1977; Schroeder and Henes, 1978; philosophical goals spelled out by the normal and Eyman, Note 1). Baila (1976), in a reization principle. cent review of the literature, found that presLandesman-Dwyer, Stein, and Sackett ently we do not have a firm data base upon (1978) have done an in-depth analysis of 23 Client Behavior / 85 This content downloaded from 207.46. 13.158 on Wed, 16 Nov 2016 04:29:25 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor. org/terms Characteristics of Residential Setting community living settings in the state of facility for retarded persons. Subjects were Washington. They were specifically interested selected based upon the following criteria: in "1) systematically observing the daily (a) voluntary placement into the corn activities of both residents and staff; 2) munity, (b) informed written consent granted describing in detail the ecological features by clients or their guardians, (c) lack of acci of Washington's group homes; and 3) dedent, illness or other circumstances which termining whether there were significant resulted in more than three observation relationships between the observed activities periods lost, (d) movement within 45 kilo and the measurable characteristics of the meters of the institution, and (e) placement group homes or of the residents" (p. 352). in community living arrangements which While the authors were concerned with the were operationally defined as "more nor characteristics of these group homes, the malized" than the institutional residential characteristics they chose to study were prisettings from which clients transferred. All marily demographic and had little relationfour subjects were discharged through an ship per se to the amount of normalization aftercare program designed to meet their found in the group homes. While this study specific programmatic needs. Subjects selected did little to relate client behavior to the prinwere typical clients being discharged through ciple of normalization, it did provide exthe aftercare program. These subjects have cellent insights into the functions and quality been described more fully elsewhere (Fiorelli, of life in community residences for retarded Note 2). citizens. Currently, much support for normaliza tion comes from anecdotal accounts and interview data which report functional beThe less normalized (before) setting was a havioral change manifested by clients movshort-term residential facility for retarded ing from less normalized to more normalized clients, operated by Temple University un residential settings (e.g., Birenbaum & der contract from the Pennsylvania Depart Seiffer, 1976; Devizia, 1974; Nihira & Nihira, mentof Public Welfare. The Center is located 1975; Rodman & Collins, 1974; Scheerenberon the outskirts of Philadelphia and is ger & Felsenthal, 1977). Based on such data, physically separated from the surrounding a generally positive behavioral change may community by interstate highways, farm be predicted to occur in clients after movelands and other state facilities. Most pro ment to more normalized residential setgram and health maintenance services are tings. Flowever, since anecdotal and survey provided on the grounds via a wide variety data generally attend only to obvious effects, of paraprofessional and professional staff, it may be possible that when this pheClient care workers provide residential serv nomenon is studied more precisely supposiices on eight-hour shifts around the clock, tions based on these data will not be upheld. The living units are furnished with com The present study represents a first step mercial type appointments, to examine empirically whether more norThe more normalized (after) setting con malized living environments result in a more sisted of apartments rented and located adaptive relationship between the client and within middle income residential areas which his/her residence. It was designed to answer were convenient to shopping and other com the following question: Does behavioral munity resources. Most program and health change occur in clients' shortly after moving maintenance services were obtained outside from less to more normalized residential the apartment, while residential services were environments? provided by resident counselors. One coun selor lived in with subjects 1, 2 and 4; how Method ever, subject 3 shared an apartment with another client and the resident counselor Subjects