Volume Is a Handbook for Intellectual Disability FielWashington, DC (August 14, 2007)The quality of life movement began in the 1980s, and over the years, it has made us rethink our approach toward enhancing the well-being of people with intellectual disabilities and reducing their exclusion from mainstream society. But along with these changes has come the need for a new structureand for new quality assessment and improvement processesin order to develop, apply, measure, and improve the quality of life model in human services. A new book from the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) explains the quality of life concept to human service professionals, and demonstrates how to reframe organizations, services, and mindsets in going forward.

Quality of Life for People with Intellectual and Other Developmental Disabilities: Applications Across Individuals, Communities, and Systems by Robert L. Schalock, James F. Gardner, and Valerie J. Bradley combines the best properties of textbook and handbook for the intellectual disability field. "The book mixes theory and practice, definitions and application, and it explains how service organizations and community systems can make personal quality of life a practical reality for individuals with disabilities," said James F. Gardner, President and CEO of the Council on Quality and Leadership. "It will appeal to a broad audience." The authors, with 110 years of collective experience in the field, explain that the book "represents our best attempt to synthesize what we currently know about best practices related to the concept of quality of life and its use at the individual, organization, and systems levels." The three sections of the book reflect these three levels. Part One introduces the quality of life concept. The authors describe the quality of life areas of personal welfare of the individual: emotional, material, and physical well being, as well as interpersonal relations, social inclusion, self-determination, and legal and human rights. Success in these areas can be measured by indicators ranging from personal contentment, autonomy, and dignity to housing, employment, education, relationships, and health. Part Two presents management skills and strategies that leaders and other practitioners need in order to move from formal, centralized disability service systems to the more individualized and dispersed support systems. This key section deals with structure, function, strategy, and execution within organizations providing services to people with developmental disabilities. In Part Three, the authors explain how to develop mechanisms for using data collected to inform key constituencies, improve services and supports, and increase the well-being of persons with disabilities. The wide audience for Quality of Life includes service providers, researchers, program managers, policymakers, system managers, public funders, training personnel, and graduate students. To read a chapter excerpt or to purchase Quality of Life, visit http://bookstore.aaidd.org. To order over the phone, call (301) 604-1340.

For questions, please send an email to books@aaidd.org.

Title: Quality of Life for People with Intellectual and Other Developmental Disabilities: Applications Across Individuals, Communities, and Systems Authors: Robert L. Schalock, James F. Gardner, and Valerie J. Bradley Item no: 240

Year: 2007

Format: Paperback

Trim size: 8.5 X 11

Pages: 217

ISBN: 0-940898-96-9

AAIDD member price: $25.46

Non-member price: $29.95

Founded in 1876, AAIDD promotes progressive policies, sound research, effective practices, and universal human rights for people with intellectual disabilities.

American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 444 North Capitol Street NW Suite 846, Washington, D.C. 20001-1512 Tel (202)387-1968 | Fax (202)387-2193 | www.aaidd.org

© 2007ConnSENSE Bulletin