CHECK-RITE: AUTOMATING FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FOR INDIVIDUALSWITH MENTAL RETARDATION

ENHANCING THE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING IS A PRIMARY GOAL OF SERVICE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION. ONE OF THE SKILLS REQUIRED TO INCREASE INDEPENDENCE IS THE ABILITY TO MANAGE FINANCES. A KEY ASPECT INVOLVED IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITHMENTAL RETARDATION IS MANAGING A PERSONAL CHECKING ACCOUNT. THIS IS ALSO ONE OF THE SKILLS MOST DIFFICULT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION TO MASTER. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH IS TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING MANAGEMENT OF PERSONAL CHECKING ACCOUNTS BY INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION. THE PHASE I RESEARCH PLAN IS FOCUSED ON ESTABLISHING THE TECHNICAL MERIT AND FEASIBILITY OF AN AUTOMATED CHECKBOOK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. AN INITIAL "PROOF OFCONCEPT" SOFTWARE-BASED DESIGN PROTOTYPE OF THIS SYSTEM, DEVELOPED PREVIOUSLY BY MEETING THE CHALLENGE, WILL BE BUILT UPON THROUGH RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN INITIAL SYSTEM DESIGN. THE EXISTING PROTOTYPE WILL BE ENHANCED DURING PHASE I TO BE A FULLY FUNCTIONAL SOFTWARE PROTOTYPE OF THE AUTOMATED CHECKBOOK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THIS PROTOTYPE WILL BE USED FOR INITIAL TESTING WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION. PHASE II WILL FOCUS ON THE FURTHERDEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF THE END-STATE PRODUCT.