QUALITY-OF-LIFE AS CONTEXT FOR PLANNING AND EVALUATION OF SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Quality of life has become a dominant theme in planning and evaluating services for people with disabilities. This article reviews definitio ns of quality of life, explores the concept from the perspective of th e optimal theory of personal well-being, and surveys the research on t he concept and its implications for planning and evaluating services. This article explores the subjective nature of life quality, particula rly for people with disabilities, and relates the concept to both cult ural norms and universal human values and needs. Each person experienc es life, and disability, in unique ways. Practitioners need to conside r quality-of-life issues as a context in planning and evaluating quali ty services.