A MODEL FOR HOME BASED CONTINUING EDUCATION OF DEVELOPMENTAL

MANY OF THE NATION'S DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED YOUTH FINISH THEIR SCHOOLING ONLY TO BE PLAGUED BY UNEMPLOYMENT, UNDEREMPLOYMENT, AND DIFFICULTIES IN INTEGRATING INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF AMERICAN LIFE. CONCERNED PARENTS MAY BE THE BEST RESOURCE FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION IN A HOME ENVIRONMENT TO TEACH THESE DISABLED YOUTH LIFE SKILLS AND WORK-RELATED SKILLS. MACRO PROPOSES TO INVESTIGATE THE SPECIFIC CONTINUING EDUCATION NEEDS OF THESE DISABLED YOUTH AS PERCEIVED BY THEIR PARENTS AND BY THE DISABLED YOUTH THEMSELVES. THE DATA FROM STRUCTURED INTERVIEWS, FOCUS GROUPS, CONCEPT TESTING, AND A SEARCH OF THE LITERATURE WILL BE THE BASIS FOR DISCUSSIONS BY THE DESIGN DEVELOPMENT TEAM, WHO WILL FORMULATE A PROGRAM MODEL FOR HOME BASED CONTINUING EDUCATION OF DISABLED YOUTH IN TRANSITION. THE PRINCIPAL PROGRAM DELIVERY VEHICLE WILL BE MICROCOMPUTER SOFTWARE DESIGNED TO TEACH INDEPENDENCE, SOCIAL SKILLS, AND WORK-RELATED SKILLS THROUGH INTERACTIVE SIMULATIONS AND WORD GAMES. MACRO HAS PUT TOGETHER A TEAM FOR THIS EFFORT THAT INCLUDES PERSONS WITH EXPERTISE IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS DESIGN, SOFTWARE DESIGN, SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND EVALUATION. AS A FIRM, MACRO HAS BEEN A LEADER AND INNOVATOR IN USE OF THE COMPUTER TO SOLVE COMPLEX PROBLEMS, AND IN ASSISTANCE TO THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES/HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM.