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This report discusses a project that compared the rate of use of assistive technology (AT) services and devices by American Indians and Alaska Natives with that of other ethnically diverse groups, identified barriers, and examined consumer satisfaction regarding AT. The project drew on four sources of data: the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) 1998 national RSA-911 annual reports and the 1994-95 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS); questionnaires sent to American Indians who had used or were in need of AT; and participants in an on-line assistive technology course. Based on data from the 1998 RSA-911 reports, American Indians and Alaska Natives participating in vocational rehabilitation programs used AT devices at lower rates than Whites and Asians but at higher rates than Blacks, and received AT services at lower rates than other races. Based on the NHIS data, American Indians, Eskimos, and Aleuts used mobility devices and braces at higher rates than other races; however, they used hearing aids at significantly lower rates than Whites. Responses from 15 American Indians and Alaska Natives indicated traditional information dissemination strategies on AT were ineffective in reaching these populations. In addition, respondents believed financial concerns compromised the affordability and availability of AT services. (Contains 45 references.) (CR)

This final report presents conclusions of a study of culturally appropriate employment goals in individual written rehabilitation plans (IWRPs) for American Indians with disabilities. It focuses on goals other than competitive employment and reviews national statistics on work status at closure from all state agencies and 18 tribal VR (vocational rehabilitation)projects. Results are also presented from focus group interviews with state and tribal VR counselors who have experience with placements involving alternatives to competitive employment. Factors in the success of and barriers to the success of these programs are discussed. Certain work status alternatives to competitive employment, especially self-employment, unpaid family worker, and homemaker, are suggested as appropriate for clients living in rural reservation communities. Recommendations urge: (1) recognition of the cultural importance of alternatives to competitive employment; (2) workshops highlighting effective and appropriate uses of the alternatives to effective employment; (3) fully informing clients about legal alternatives to competitive employment; (4) encouragement of self-employment solutions; (5) consultation involving the whole family unit; (6) case studies of successful examples of sheltered workshop programs; and (7) outcome assessments of unpaid family worker and homemaker placements. Four appendices provide additional data on the study's small businesses, focus groups, and data collection instrument. (Contains 35 references.) (DB)

This report summarizes the results of a needs assessment of American Indians with disabilities living in the Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth (Texas) metropolitan areas. In 1996, 97 American Indians with disabilities were interviewed, and results were compared with those of a similar needs assessment conducted in 1992; 21 of the interviewees had participated in the earlier study. Demographic questions covered county of residence, sex, age, length of Texas residence, language usage, status of reservation or allotment area as home, tribal affiliation, tribal membership, marital status, education level, and income. Respondents then described their disabilities or chronic physical and medical conditions, assistive devices they needed, functional limitations they experienced, services they had received in the past year, services needed but not received, and barriers to receiving services. Important consumer concerns were then discussed. In Dallas-Fort Worth, the four greatest needs (20-36 percent of respondents) were for dental care, vision and eye care, housing, and medical care; in the prior study, the four greatest needs had been dental care, job-related services, housing, and clothing. The need for services was greater in Houston, where the greatest needs (26-43 percent of respondents) were vision and eye care, dental care, learning about services, and housing. Between the previous and the current study, consumer concerns had diminished in severity in Dallas-Fort Worth and remained about the same in Houston. Appendices describe the Texas Rehabilitation Commission's American Indian Project and contain a statement of Joellen Hores Simmons, Deputy Commissioner, Texas Rehabilitation Commission, April 24 and 29, 1996. Includes 23 data tables. (SV)

Begun in 1993, a 5-year project examined treatment modalities and outcomes and counselor and client attitudes related to American Indian or Alaska Native vocational rehabilitation (VR) clients with alcoholism or substance abuse problems. Specifically, surveys and focus groups examined elements of successful substance abuse treatment and VR programs, areas of social-cognitive dissonance between VR counselors and their clients, and the use of culturally relevant treatment modalities different from those used in mainstream programs. A 1993 survey of 31 "exemplary" substance abuse treatment centers recommended by VR counselors, and a 1996 followup survey of 14 of these centers found that most centers extensively incorporated American Indian personnel and cultural practices into the treatment process, but success rates over 50 percent were rare. In the followup survey, all programs based "most" or "some" of their treatment methodology on Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Treatment orientations based on Native American traditional healing did not claim better success rates than other orientations. Counselor and client focus groups in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona discussed eligibility for VR services, effects of the substance abuse problem and state of recovery on the VR process, client motivations, training needs, and factors contributing to or impeding recovery. Areas of congruence and disparity in counselor and client attitudes are discussed. Recommendations are presented for VR counselor training and program improvement, and the 12 steps of AA are listed. (SAS)

Vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselors in states where American Indians reside in large numbers were surveyed to determine the proportion of American Indian clients with alcohol or substance abuse problems in the counselors' caseloads and the kinds of specializes services provided to the clients A total of 124 VR counselors from 14 states responded to the survey. Twenty-seven of the respondents were employed in tribally operated VR projects in nine states. Thirty-nine respondents were American Indians themselves. Results are reported for the following areas: relationships with clients, minimum period of sobriety before implementing services, training background and needs, treatment modalities, elements of treatment, and aftercare. The survey found that Native American traditional healing was the most highly rated treatment model. About one-third of responding counselors wanted more training, with workshops selected as the preferred vehicle. A need for certain VR support services, such as maintenance services, was also found. Recommendations address design of training workshops, exemplary treatment programs, and alternatives to abstinence requirements before implementing VR services. A bibliography of approximately 200 items is attached along with a sample cover letter to respondents and a list of recommended programs. (Contains 36 references and 5 tables.) (DB)

A survey of the Native American community in the Houston (Texas) area attempted to identify needs of individuals with disabilities. The study involved consultation with local organizations, development of a questionnaire, and interviews by Native American interviewers with 155 Native Americans with disabilities. Results are reported in text and tables for the following areas: characteristics of respondents (tribal affiliation, length of residence, disability, experience with services); consumer concerns (such as access to services); and employment. Tables provide detailed findings on tribal affiliations, disabilities, services needed in past year but not received, relative strengths and weaknesses of services, and problems finding and keeping a job. Discussion of results focuses on questions of how "Indian" the respondents were and notes that concerns of the 59 interviewees who had Indian certification were very similar to those of the entire group. Recommendations address the need for greater self-awareness of the Native American community and provision of clinical services at the Intertribal Council headquarters. Appended is a description of the Intertribal Council of Houston and a listing of American Indian organizations. (DB)

A survey of consumer concerns of American Indians with disabilities in the Dallas-Fort Worth (Texas) area involved interviews with 150 American Indians with disabilities. Results are reported for the following areas: characteristics of respondents (sex, age, tribal identification, length of residence, income, disability, and experience with services); consumer concerns (such as availability of affordable health care insurance); and employment (45 percent were employed). Extensive tables provide detailed findings on tribal affiliations, specific impairments, services received in the past year, services needed in past year but not received, information needs, relative strengths and problems with services, and specific problems of respondents with alcohol or substance abuse problems. Results indicated that the two services wanted but not received by the largest number of respondents were dental care and help in finding or keeping a job. Affordability of health care insurance, assistive devices, and housing were other major concerns. Many respondents were unaware of the services available to them. Recommendations included formation of a community action plan, better publicity of available services, and services specifically targeted to young American Indians with disabilities. Extensive tables detail survey results. Appendices include numerous program administration materials. (Contains 10 references.) (DB)

The Beauty Way Curriculum is an alcohol and substance abuse prevention program. This curriculum was designed for use in grades K-8 and includes at least five different lessons for each grade, along with supplemental materials. This research report analyzes the data collected by four instruments--training feedback forms, curriculum feedback forms, classroom observations forms, and student perceptions questionnaires--which were designed to assess the effectiveness of the curriculum. The data were drawn from 35 schools, which included 1,793 students and over 367 teachers, counselors, and other personnel. Results showed that 16% of students reported using alcohol and that 55.5% of students believed that at least one member of their family uses alcohol. Even so, for most students, the primary people who warned them not to use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs were family members; teachers and counselors were much less likely to tell students not to use these substances. Teachers and other education personnel responded that the Beauty Way Curriculum provided them a much needed way of discouraging alcohol and substance abuse. Sixty-seven percent of teachers and counselors believed that the program provides powerful prevention skills needed to change the student's attitudes and behaviors related to alcohol and substance abuse. Five appendices present the student questionnaire and teacher forms. (RJM)

This study examined the temporary voluntary relocation of rural disabled American Indians to urban areas for vocational rehabilitation (VR) services. An introductory chapter examines the pattern of migration (both nationally and in Arizona), reasons for migration, the federal policy of relocation, and the relocation of American Indians with disabilities. Information was collected on 947 cases of American Indian vocational rehabilitation clients who were served by Navajo and Arizona vocational rehabilitation programs during 1984-1987; this group included a relocation sample of 76 Native Americans. The relocation sample is compared to control groups and described in terms of such service outcomes as personal factors, agency factor, public support, economic factor, disability factor, service factor, case history, and case closure. Factors associated with favorable rehabilitation outcome included living with a small number of people, completing more than 10 years of formal education, participating in a variety of activities, and having a source of support other than public assistance. Interviews conducted with 21 of the relocated subjects found that the majority felt that their quality of life was good to very good, even though many of them were unemployed, and that their quality of life changed for the better after VR. (37 references.) (JDD)

This fact sheet discusses the outcome of a study designed to understand the needs of American Indians with disabilities who may have problems that limit their ability to carry out daily activities. Thirty-two American Indians with disabilities were interviewed in three counties in northwest New Mexico regarding the things they used or needed because of their disability. Results indicated many of the respondents had more than one disability, with the most common disabilities being blindness, hearing impairments, and hypertension. The three most common activities limited by the respondent's disabilities were working on a job, taking care of things/responsibilities, and driving. The services needed but not received in the past year were help with services, help with food, dental care, help with clothing, and help with housing. The three most common service agencies providing help were Social Security, Indian Health Service, and Medicaid/Medicare. Respondents needing personal assistance services indicated they had a person who helped them with daily living activities. Recommendations are provided, including the need for service providers: to collaborate on providing services, to provide advocacy training, and to be aware of different tribal cultures. (CR)

This report is the second in a series of publications developed to assist in the planning and development of a comprehensive, coordinated service delivery system for Arizona infants and toddlers who are developmentally delayed or at risk of developing handicapping conditions, and their families. It documents the number of children in Arizona currently being served, and the number in need of special services, based on the prevalence and incidence of certain characteristics in the population and an interpretation of the broad definition of who needs early intervention provided in Public Law 99-457. Three distinct groups are considered: (1) children who are experiencing developmental delays; (2) children who have a diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay; and (3) children who are at risk of having substantial developmental delays if early intervention services are not provided. The report provides numerical projections of the size of the target population through the year 2000, and examines the geographic, ethnic, and socioeconomic distribution of the target population across Arizona. Appendices contain statistical data and eligibility policy formation information. Includes 50 references. (JDD)

Survey of 124 vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselors in 14 states examined characteristics of American Indian and Alaska Native VR clients with alcoholism or drug abuse problems, aspects of the counselor-client relationship, VR services provided, minimum period of sobriety required, counselor training and training needs, and ratings of substance abuse treatment programs and treatment elements. Contains 22 references. (SV)