The Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 and employees with mental impairments: personal efficacy and the environment.

The Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) (Public Law 101-336) provides persons with mental health problems basic rights resulting in full access to community resources, especially the rights and privileges associated with the work role. This paper discusses the law, personal self-efficacy, and four environmental aspects as they relate to the employment of persons with mental impairments: (a) employer and co-worker attitudes, (b) essential job functions, (c) reasonable accommodations, and (d) community access. Areas of intervention for occupational therapists in mental health include attitude and advocacy training, assisting employers in providing reasonable accommodations, and preparing persons with mental impairments to be successful employees. Examples in occupational therapy are reviewed to illustrate the implementation of the ADA with persons with mental health problems.

A pilot study of differences in play behavior between children of low and middle socioeconomic status.

Although play is an important activity of childhood, it is often a neglected modality in occupational therapy. Poverty has been identified as a factor that adversely affects the play of children when a limited number of factors are studied. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore multiple play behaviors that may be related to socioeconomic status. The developmental play ages of 41 middle socioeconomic status preschool children (22 boys, 19 girls) and 43 low socioeconomic status preschool children (24 boys, 19 girls) were assessed with a modified version of the Preschool Play Scale (Bledsoe & Shepherd, 1982; Knox, 1974). Teachers rated the children's play behavior after a minimum of 2 months of interaction in their preschool classrooms. No significant differences between these two groups of children were found for developmental play age, play dimensions, or play categories. It was concluded that the exposure to positive experiences, such as peer interaction and preschool setting, may minimize the effects of poverty conditions on the play behavior of children.

Evaluating clinical competence with the new Fieldwork Evaluation.

The new Fieldwork Evaluation for the Occupational Therapist has been developed and tested through a series of field tests. With use, careful attention to issues arising from its application, and additional research, the Fieldwork Evaluation can be retained and updated to meet changes in clinical education and evaluation procedures.

Glossary of microcomputer terminology and other suggested resources.

No abstract available for this article.

Evaluation of software and hardware for rehabilitation and management.

Occupational therapists entering the field of computer applications for rehabilitation and management are perplexed by the plethora of options in hardware and software. Compound this with the need to be computer literate and the problems can be overwhelming. Many therapists desire a structured format for decisionmaking prior to the purchase of various options as salesmen are seldom familiar with the unique needs for software and hardware in rehabilitation environments. The purpose of this paper is to present questions most frequently asked by novices in computer applications. Additionally, structured evaluations of software and hardware for occupational therapy application will be presented. This paper will provide methods for therapists to be informed, self-directed and effective in the selection, justification, and purchase of computers and software in rehabilitation and management.

Creative aging.

The terms "creative" and "aging" are antithetical according to dictionary usage-"create" being explicitly described as an active process and "aging" implicitly defined as a passive reactive one. This paper first briefly explores some divergent attitudes toward aging-negative as well as positive. A neurophysiological framework is then presented to support the belief that aging is an active and creative process. Physical, psychological and sociological aspects are explored in the context of neurophysiological data as it relates to the subject of aging. Finally, three factors which emerge from the discussion as essential to assuring a creative aging process are identified and examined.