WORKING WITH A PEER VERSUS WORKING ALONE - A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF PREFERENCES WITH 4 PERSONS WITH MULTIPLE HANDICAPS

This study was a preliminary attempt to devise and carry out an assess ment of subjects' preferences with regard to work conditions (i.e., wh ether subjects preferred to carry out familiar activities with peers o r alone). The study included four subjects with multiple handicaps and four peers (also with multiple handicaps) who could be chosen by the subjects as work companions. Results indicated that there were clear i nter-subject differences. The first two preferred to work with peers; the third preferred to work alone; the last showed an overall preferen ce for working with peers; however, there was some decline in this pre ference. Technical aspects of the assessment and the use of assessment data for the planning of daily work conditions are discussed.