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Biomedical subjects

R McConkey

Publications and source records attributed to R McConkey.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

An index of social competence for use in determining the service needs of mentally handicapped adults.

An index of Social Competence, covering 15 ability areas was developed for use with mentally handicapped adults. Statistical analyses of data obtained with a sample of 376 adults, living in the community suggested that there were three main factors underlying social competence. Eight subgroupings of the sample could then be derived according to the individuals, scores on the three factors and validatory evidence is presented for these groupings in terms of predictable relationships with certain independent variables such as the expressed need for residential care. Furthermore ratings made by staff and parents were reasonably similar. The index should prove particularly useful in surveys of service requirements especially in the social and residential areas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

The recreational pursuits of mentally handicapped adults.

The parents or care-givers of over 200 mentally handicapped adults, living at home in the city of Dublin, were interviewed as to how their son or daughter spent their leisure time. The picture that emerged was of a sheltered existence within the community. Mostly their activities were passive and solitary in nature - watching T. V.; listening to radio or records. Nearly half of the sample did not take part in any activity outside of the family; only one third took part in the community activity and only one fifth were reported to have non-handicapped friends. It would appear that parents are willing for this to continue, in that they had few suggestions for new activities; they felt their son or daughter was not interested and most thought that recreational activities should be supervised. It is argued that services should teach leisure skills in the same systematic and structured way as for other areas of the curriculum. This should reassure parents and help to ensure that mentally handicapped people not only live in the community but that they can participate in community activities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Parental speech to young Down's syndrome children: an intervention study.

Parents with Down's syndrome children who were at the one-two word stage of expressive language development were given a language objective to work towards with their child, but no instructions on how to attain this goal. The parents spontaneously altered their language strategies in their attempts. Some parents were more successful and differed in their strategies, using more target words in shorter "statement" utterances. Parents who used a questioning or imitating strategy were less successful. The less successful parents were then shown how to alter their language strategies more appropriately to produce a greater improvement in their child's use of the target words.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Staff communication with people with intellectual disabilities: the impact of a work-based training programme.

Previous studies have identified changes that front-line service staff could usefully make to enhance their communications and those of their clients who have intellectual disabilities. These were incorporated into a training programme delivered in the workplace that involved a self-selected group of 24 experienced staff working either in small-scale residential settings and day centres. Analysis of video-recordings made before and after training showed that although most clients had become more active communicators (particularly when they were engaged in shared activities with staff), significant changes in staff behaviours as a whole were not observed. However increased responsiveness from staff did correlate significantly with increases in the client's communication acts. In addition, qualitative reports from staff and tutors pinpointed specific changes that staff had made. The difficulties of evaluating changes in staff-client communications are discussed and four features for training staff in communication are identified as essential; namely, it should be work-based, client focused, mentor-guided, and effective strategies documented and shared.

Adult↗