PREFERENCE, CHOICE, AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES - A SYNOPSIS OF ASSESSMENTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND FUTURE-DIRECTIONS

A recent revolution in service delivery for persons with developmental disabilities encompasses increased client independence and improved q uality of life. Specifically, care providers have focused on client ex pressions of preference, choice-making; and choice availability as key elements of study in this new revolution. We review and critique the primary methods of assessing preference and choice for persons with di sabilities, including interviews and questionnaires, pictorial present ations, technological apparati, and direct observation. We also provid e an overview of the burgeoning literature on intervention programs de signed to enhance choice for this population such as giving more choic e to clients, teaching choice-making skills, and improving staff membe r skills regarding choice availability. Finally, we provide a synopsis of the future directions in this area that should receive the most at tention from researchers and caregivers. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd .