title: Integrating supports in assessment and planning.
abstract: A systematic approach for addressing the support needs of persons with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities is presented and a new scale to measure individual differences in support needs described. The process employed in developing the scale is explained, including the establishment of a typology of support areas that was drawn from a review of the professional literature, a validation process using Q-sort methodology, and a pilot field test. Critical issues and practical challenges associated with efforts to measure and address the support needs of individuals are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Education, Illinois State University, Mail Code 5910, Normal, IL 61790-5910, USA.
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Schalock
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: Marc J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tassé
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.forename: Ellis M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Edward M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012944:Social Support