bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Beyond the single sign: the significance of sign order in a matrix‐based approach to teaching productive sign combinations
Authors: Light Paul , Watson Julia , Remington Bob 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACTThe authors report two experimental studies which looked at the effects of a matrix training procedure designed to teach children with mental handicaps to use two‐sign combinations. Matrix training involves teaching a specific subset of sign combinations which correspond to the overlapping diagonal cells in a matrix of possible sign combinations. Each study used a matrix of object and location combinations.In the first study, two children were successfully taught to make correct two‐sign combinations, following the teacher's placement of an object in a location. The skill was acquired as a generalised response class, but neither child fully acquired the ability to use sign order to convey meaning.The second experiment showed that only two of four children, who used signs in combination in the natural environment, were sensitive to the linguistic information carried by sign order. An attempt was made to teach the meaning of sign order to the children who were not sensitive to it. A matrix of sign combinations was used, in which the signs functioning as objects could be transposed with those which functioned as locations. These procedures were not successful.The results are discussed with respect to the complex relationships between sign learning and natural language.
Employers' attitudes to the employment of people with mental handicaps: an empirical study
Authors: Harrison Barbara , Tomes Anne 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACTSupported employment services for people with mental handicaps are being developed in many parts of the country. These aim to provide them with the levels of job‐finding assistance, training, and support required to enter and remain in employment. Finding jobs is crucial to the success of these ventures. This study examines the problem of marketing the labour of people with mental handicaps to employers. The research is based on interviews with 57 employers in Sheffield. It investigates the attitudes, perceptions, and practices of employers in relation to the employment of people with mental handicaps.The findings show that the label “mental handicap” is not always understood accurately by employers. It often communicates negative images. Several concepts were found to underlie employers' perceptions of their employees. People with mental handicaps were expected to perform better than their non‐handicapped counterparts on four of these: job satisfaction, genuineness, grafting, and loyalty; but less well on productive capacity, supervision and risk, and learning capacity. The results indicate that small organisations with a low rate of recruitment are the most sympathetic employer groups. The survey also showed that problems envisaged by employers with no experience of employing people with mental handicaps were not reported by those experienced in doing so, especially with respect to safety and co‐worker acceptance.The findings will be used to develop a more effective marketing strategy for the supported employment services organisation, Intowork, which is based in Sheffield.
Beyond the single sign: a matrix‐based approach to teaching productive sign combinations
Authors: Remington Bob , Watson Julia , Light Paul 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACTThe authors report two experimental studies which addressed the question of how children with mental handicaps can be taught to generate productive, two‐sign combinations; that is, correctly to recombine signs in a way not previously taught. The basic approach, matrix training, involved teaching a specific subset of sign combinations corresponding to the overlapping diagonal items in a matrix of all possible combinations.In Experiment 1, the matrix items consisted of stimuli produced by combining character and facial expression elements. In Experiment 2, the matrix was formed from colour and object elements. In both studies, matrix training was successful in teaching children to use multiple signs to label the multiple attributes of training items. However, the productive recombination of signs only occurred in Experiment 2, with children who, prior to matrix training itself, had acquired sign labels for the elements which made up the matrix.
Training mothers with mental handicaps to understand behavioural and developmental principles
Authors: Tymchuk Alexander J. , Andron Linda , Tymchuk Marilyn 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACTEight mothers with mental handicaps were trained to understand and apply behavioural and developmental principles. The results of three questionnaires administered showed that where mothers with mental handicaps did significantly more poorly before training than a comparison group of mothers without handicaps from similar backgrounds, after training there were no differences. These results were maintained at a month's follow‐up. Suggestions are made for further studies.
An analysis of the representation of people with mental handicaps in a British newspaper
Authors: McGill Peter , Cummings Richard 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACTArticles from a British newspaper were analysed in terms of: the roles into which they cast the people with mental handicaps to whom they referred; and the frequency of their juxtaposition with other devalued groups. Results suggested that the articles were not representative in their description of people with mental handicaps, describing them as being children and patients more frequently than would be expected. Juxtapositions, particularly with people having mental health problems, occurred in about a third of the articles. Comparative analysis of the articles written by staff reporters and those written by non‐staff suggested that the newspaper's own reporters were more likely to misrepresent the population of people with mental handicaps than other writers.
Use of mental health and support services among families of children with disabilities: discrepant views of parents and paediatricians
Authors: Urey Jon R. , Viar Vicki 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACTViewing families of children with disabilities in terms of normative coping responses to stress is a relatively recent trend. This investigation examined differences between parents of children with spina bifida and paediatricians in their views of families' mental health support service needs. The study involved 21 parents and 23 paediatricians who completed a needs assessment instrument.Although the views of the two groups were similar in regard to a perceived need for services, discrepancies were evident in the type of mental health support service providers thought to be most appropriate, and the perceived severity of families' psychosocial problems. Results are discussed in relation to family compliance in paediatric health care settings, and the need to consider parental attitudes when family mental health support service issues are raised.
Staff‐staff and staff‐resident verbal interactions in a community‐based group home for people with moderate and severe mental handicaps
Authors: Orlowska Danuta , McGill Peter , Mansell Jim 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACTVerbal interactions involving direct care staff in a group home for people with moderate and severe mental handicaps were observed. The total amount of interaction staff had with residents and with each other was compared. The existence of interaction under different configurations of staff and residents was also examined. Overall, the care staff were involved in interactions across 71.1 per cent of observed intervals. They were almost twice as likely to be involved in interactions to or from residents (47.3 per cent) than to or from other staff (25.9 per cent). However, when compared across different configurations, interactions with residents were less frequent when other staff were present, suggesting that interactions with staff were preferred. Examination of staff‐staff interactions suggested that these were largely work‐related, so to dismiss them as detrimental to people's work is premature. Ways in which staff‐staff interaction may be important are discussed.
Changing staff attitudes to the sexuality of people with mental handicaps: an evaluative comparison of one and three day workshops
Authors: Rose John , Holmes Sophie 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACTThis paper reports on an evaluation of two workshops designed to change the attitudes and behaviour of staff towards the sexuality of people with mental handicaps. The workshops were of different duration, one day and three days respectively. They had some activities in common, but the three day workshop allowed a more extensive coverage of the issues.Evaluation of the workshops was generally positive, both in terms of staff feedback and attitude change, as measured using an attitude inventory. On completion of both workshops staff expressed attitudes that indicated they would be more willing than before to assist the people in their care in making informed sexual choices. The three day workshop was significantly more effective in changing attitudes than die one day workshop.The difficulties in making any conclusions beyond immediate attitude change are discussed, and suggestions for further research are made. However, it is suggested that this type of workshop can form an important part of basic training for staff and that such work should be developed and extended.
Socio‐economic factors: their relationship with child and family functioning for children with Down's syndrome
Authors: Turner Stephen , Sloper Patricia , Knussen Christina , Cunningham Cliff C. 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACTThe families of 118 children with Down's syndrome, aged from six to fourteen years, took part in a study which sought to clarify the relationships between a large number of descriptor variables and a range of child and parental outcome measures. Previous studies had suggested that socio‐economic factors may be related to both child and parental outcomes, and a number of such variables were included in the present study.By using multiple regression analysis, it was possible to discriminate between single variable associations and those which remained significant when other associated variables were taken into account. In this way, parental educational qualifications were found to be associated with the children's IQ and mental age scores, and with the extent to which they participated in organised activities. Social class was related to the extent of the children's play contacts and to changes in their mental age scores. More specific aspects of social and economic disadvantage, such as inadequate housing and finance, unemployment, and lack of a car, were related to child behaviour problems and to measures of parental stress and satisfaction. Mothers in manual social classes were more likely to have increasing levels of stress.The implications of these findings for service providers are discussed.
The implementation of the All‐Wales Mental Handicap Strategy
Authors: Beyer Stephen , Todd Stuart , Felce David 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACTThe All‐Wales Mental Handicap Strategy was received in 1983 as a forward looking policy designed to deliver a range of community services to people with mental handicaps and their families guided by a clear articulation of principles. A ten‐year period was set, in which constituent counties would begin the process of developing local services to replace those traditionally available, aided by additional central finance especially allocated for the purpose. The commitment to achieve considerable service change in a way that accorded with a set philosophy led the Welsh Office to take concerted action to manage the Strategy and monitor its progress, attending to the planning infrastructure in counties, the basis for estimating needs, the content of plans, the formulation of progress reports, and the setting of priorities for action.This paper describes the way the Welsh Office has revised mechanisms for implementation of the Strategy in its first five years. It also reports changes in service provision achieved between 1983 and 1988. There is evidence of positive change in line with the aspirations of the Strategy, although progress in the initial years has been less good than may have been hoped. Time has been required for counties to make an effective response to the Strategy initiative. An acceleration of service development in designated core areas is anticipated over the second half of the ten‐year period.
Adulthood and people with mental handicaps: report of a research project
Authors: Walmsley Jan 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACTThis paper describes a small project which used research interviews to discover the meaning of adulthood to the research participants, five adults with mental handicaps. The project set out to design a research process which would respect their status as adults. The paper focuses on this research process, though for the sake of clarity some of the content findings are also discussed. The merits and difficulties of the approach are discussed in the context of research methodologies which emphasise the need to redress the power imbalance inherent in more traditional methods.
INCREASING INDIVIDUAL TUITION OF ADULT STUDENTS WITH MENTAL HANDICAPS: A COMPARISON OF ROOM MANAGEMENT AND INDIVIDUAL TEACHING
Authors: Crisp A. G. , Sturmey Peter 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThe two experiments in this study compared the effectiveness of individual teaching and room management conditions in increasing the amount of time spent providing individual tuition to two groups of adult students with mental handicaps. Although such tuition was increased in the individual teaching condition, this was at the expense of other important aspects of staff and student performance. Suggestions are made for overcoming some of these difficulties, and a call for further examination of current reliance on small group situations as the primary vehicle for student teaching is made.
INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS AND SERVICE SUPPORT OF OLDER PEOPLE WITH MODERATE, SEVERE AND PROFOUND LEARNING DISABILITY WITH AND WITHOUT COMMUNITY MENTAL HANDICAP TEAM SUPPORT
Authors: Moss S.C. , Hogg J. , Home M. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractA demographic survey of a single Metropolitan Borough identified a sample of people with moderate severe and profound learning disability (LD) 50 years of age and over. Seventy five of the sample were known to the Community Mental Handicap Team (CMHT), while 25% were identified through other referrals obtained through an intensive ‘outreach’ study. The most common avenue of identification for outreach group members was via the social work team for elderly people; many of these individuals were in Local Authority (Part III) staffed accommodation for elderly persons. The two groups did not differ in competence, though those in the CMHT were significantly younger and, as assessed through the Adaptive Behavior Scales Part 2, demonstrated more challenging behaviours than their outreach peers. With respect to all forms of provision studied, i.e. Individual Programme Plans, educational opportunities, and community leisure experiences, the CMHT group received a significantly greater input. Our findings lend support to Wolfensberger's (1985) concern regarding the appropriateness for those with LD of generic services for elderly people. While integration remains a valued goal with respect to service provision for older people, the present study argues for caution and careful monitoring to ensure that there is no reduction in quality of service arising from the differing philosophy and resourcing of services for elderly people compared with provision for those with LD.
DO SMALLER HOMES RESULT IN INCREASED INTEGRATION?
Authors: Ballinger Claire 
Published: August 2010

AbstractOne of the best publicised consequences of the policy of community care is the resettlement of people with a mental handicap from large institutions into homes in the community. Normalisation dictates that smaller residences have greater potential for integration than larger ones. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a difference in the number of community contacts made by residents with a mental handicap living in small and large community units. Community contacts of 40 individuals with a mental handicap were recorded by care staff for a period of four weeks. Twenty one of the subjects lived in three flats, with seven, ten and eight beds respectively and the remaining 19 lived in a large unit with 24 beds. Results show that people residing in the smaller units experienced significantly more community contacts than those in the large unit (p < 0.05). Areas for further study are identified.
PEOPLE LIVING IN COMMUNITY HOMES: THE INFLUENCES ON THEIR ACTIVITIES
Authors: Holland Angela , Meddis Ray 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThe study investigated the activities of people with learning disabilities in community‐based residential services. The research used a multiple case study design which enabled processes leading to outcomes, such as participation and interaction to be identified. Six people in different services took part in detailed case studies. The data collected included an observational measure of engagement. It was found that the people who spent more time engaged in household activities lived in services which used identified procedures to encourage participation, e.g. rotas of household tasks, carers actively supporting people in meal preparation. Domestic style environments which had been planned to encourage participation in household activities did not achieve this, when such operational guidelines were not put into practice. In services in which people lived in larger groups, it was found that either activities could become repetitive or the size of the group prevented regular participation. Household activities were usually enjoyed, and for some people were a clear source of pride. Group size was found to be an influence on interaction. Interaction was highest in small groups at mealtimes (e.g. four people and a carer), or when people were in groups of two or three participating in a task. Such opportunities are more likely to occur in smaller services. It was concluded that services need to develop strategies to actively encourage both participation in household activities and interaction, but that these can be designed to avoid rigid practices.
MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BENEFITS IN ADULTS WITH MENTAL HANDICAP
Authors: Brown Janet I. , Chamove Arnold S. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractDuring a 2‐hour observation period after 1 hour of mental or physical activity, negative behaviour presented by 11 institutionalised adults with a mental handicap decreased by 24% and positive behaviour increased by 66%. Improvement in behaviour increased over time following mental activity, especially in men. Behavioural improvement was greatest immediately after physical activity and decreasing with time, especially in women. Fatigue can not account for these beneficial effects.
MUNCHAUSEN SYNDROME PRESENTING AS MENTAL HANDICAP
Authors: Craddock Nick , Brown Nick 
Published: August 2010

AbstractWe describe a young women with Munchausen syndrome whose repertoire of simulated presentations includes mental handicap, bereavement, suicidal ideation, psychosis, epilepsy and acute abdominal emergency. Although this is the first report of Munchausen syndrome presenting as learning disability, there may be many similar unrecognised cases. Mental health professionals need to be aware of the possibility of this diagnosis. Studies are needed to determine the frequency of such presentations and to assess the implications for service planning and provision.
EARLY INTERVENTION: PLANNING FUTURES, SHAPING YEARS
Authors: McConkey Roy 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThe achievements of early intervention during the last quarter of a century are built on family‐based services with a whole‐child focus. Their influence has been far‐reaching but knowing what needs to be done increases the frustrations in making effective interventions available to all families and children, irrespective of where they live. Among the service transformations reviewed are the shift in focus from children to families; the recasting of service personnel from specialists to family supporters; the development of therapies into child‐led transactions as the preferred means of promoting development, and new approaches to evaluating service effectiveness. Examples are given of low‐cost service strategies to meet the needs of the developing world, new styles of training opportunities for parents and communities, and the promotion of policies at a community and national level that nurture the wellbeing of children and families. The primary requirements for successful interventions remain the age‐old values of love, self‐sacrifice and respect for the dignity and worth of each person. Sustaining these in modern society is arguably our greatest challenge.
WHAT DO ATCs OFFER IN WALES?: A SURVEY OF WELSH DAY SERVICES
Authors: Beyer Stephen , Kilsby Mark , Lowe Kathy 
Published: August 2010

AbstractA survey of the organisation and activities offered by all adult training centres (ATCs) in Wales was carried out in 1990. Activities were categorised under 10 headings, and the total number of ‘person hours’ allocated to each was calculated. The location of activities, within the ATC or elsewhere, was also noted. Over a third operated small satellite units, but the pattern of activity in these was similar to that of main centres. Only 11% of registered attenders had all their activities in the ATC, while the activities of 15% occurred elsewhere. The remainder (74%) experienced a mixture of centre based and external activities. However, across the timetable, 70% of person hours were spent inside the ATC. The vast majority of ATCs (88%) said they carried out formal reviews of client progress. The most common activity was arts and crafts, accounting for 25.3% of all person hours. Just over half (53%) of ATCs offered centre based contract work, and this represented 20.2% of all person hours. The proportion of person hours spent in the three other categories relating to work was 15.5%, the largest being work experience at 9.8%. Comments of managers suggested that increased activity in the community and work related activity were positive developments yielding significant benefits for those involved. Over £7 million of expenditure was identified, the largest elements being staff salaries (71%), and transport (15%). The mean cost per person across all reporting ATCs was £3,252 p.a. Variations in the balance of activity were found across ATCs. A cluster analysis identified four models of ATC operation, characterised as Recreation, Recreation and Personal Development, Occupation, and Employment. The models identified could not be fully attributed to such organisational factors as county of origin (implying local day service policy) or size of ATC. The paper suggests that not all activities hold the same benefits for people with a mental handicap, points to a lack of consensus on what activities should take place, and calls for an informed debate between consumers and providers.