Employment preferences of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities: An evaluation of gender and age differences.

Background: Employment is often central to individuals' lives. However, individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities are often absent from the workplace, and little research has examined their interest in working.

Aims: This study examined whether people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities want jobs; why they do or do not want jobs; and, if they want to work, what types of jobs they would like to have.

What activities individuals with intellectual disabilities do for fun: exploration into self-care.

Participation in enjoyable activities is instrumental to improving individuals' quality of life. Previous studies have indicated engagement in community-based activities and physical exercise are beneficial to individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). The purpose of this study was to understand, from their perceptions, fun activities in which individuals with ID engaged.

Test-retest reliability of RC21X: a web-based cognitive and neuromotor performance measurement tool.

Objective: As computerized cognitive testing becomes increasingly popular in clinical and research settings, conducting studies on efficacy and psychometric properties is essential. One such program is RC21X, a web-based brain performance measurement tool. Based on empirically supported neurocognitive and neuromotor tasks, the 12-min test consists of 15 modules measuring memory, motor coordination, processing speed, and executive functioning.

Do inclusive work environments matter? Effects of community-integrated employment on quality of life for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

More individuals with an intellectual disability now possess prerequisite skills and supports necessary for successful work force integration than did previous generations. The current study compared quality of life of community-integrated workers with those participating in sheltered vocational workshops and adult day care programs. We considered numerous indices of quality of life, including inclusion and community participation; satisfaction within professional services, home life, and day activities; dignity, rights, and respect received from others; fear; choice and control; and family satisfaction.

Effects of declared levels of physical activity on quality of life of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Routine physical fitness improves health and psychosocial well-being of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The current study investigated impact of physical fitness on quality of life by comparing individuals who maintain a physically active lifestyle with those who do not report exercising. We assessed several indicators of quality of life, including inclusion and community participation; satisfaction with professional services, home life, and day activities; dignity, rights, and respect received from others; fear; choice and control; and family satisfaction.

Attitudes toward interprofessional education: comparing physician assistant and other health care professions students.

Purpose: Since the release of the 1988 World Health Organization report on the need for interprofessional education (IPE) programs, various forms of IPE curricula have been implemented within institutions of higher education. The purpose of this paper is to describe results of a study using the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) to compare physician assistant (PA) students with other health professions students.

Methods: The RIPLS survey was completed by 158 health professions graduate students, including 71 PA students, at a small northeastern university in the fall of 2010.

Attitudes toward individuals with disabilities: results of a recent survey and implications of those results.

Attitudes toward individuals with disabilities are often negative and deleterious, resulting in decreased opportunity and chances at successful integration into the community for these individuals. The purpose of the current study was to investigate attitudes of a group of 129 individuals attending a state-wide conference aimed toward improving quality of life of persons with disabilities. Overall, participants' attitudes were positive toward persons with disabilities.

Community involvement and socialization among individuals with mental retardation.

Mental retardation, a condition characterized by significantly lower than average intellectual ability and adaptive behavior deficits, currently affects between 2% and 3% of the population. Individuals with mental retardation experience many difficulties throughout their lives, with one such difficulty being that they have few opportunities for community involvement and often have few social relationships. To determine if increased community involvement and increased socialization are among the most common desires expressed by individuals with mental retardation, we conducted a study examining pre-existing data of 1348 individuals.

Inter-rater reliability of the Pennsylvania independent monitoring for quality program's essential data elements scale.

The purpose of the independent monitoring for quality (IM4Q) program is to bridge communication between individuals with mental retardation and the service providers on whom they rely. The IM4Q program uses an interview (essential data elements survey) to gather information about the lives of individuals with mental retardation. Collaboration between individuals with mental retardation, family members, and community members provides diverse interviewing teams.