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Thirty Year Review of Safety Skill Instructi<strong>on</strong> for Pers<strong>on</strong>s<br />

with Intellectual Disabilities<br />

Linda C. Mechling<br />

University of North Carolina Wilmingt<strong>on</strong><br />

Abstract: This review syn<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>sizes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> empirical literature (1976–2006) focusing <strong>on</strong> teaching pers<strong>on</strong>al safety<br />

skills to pers<strong>on</strong>s with intellectual disabilities. Thirty-six investigati<strong>on</strong>s were identified which provided informati<strong>on</strong><br />

<strong>on</strong> six areas of instructi<strong>on</strong>: (a) pedestrian/street crossing safety; (b) home accident preventi<strong>on</strong>; (c)<br />

applicati<strong>on</strong> of first aid (including identificati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> reporting of illnesses); (d) resp<strong>on</strong>se to lures or advancements<br />

of strangers; (e) fire safety; <strong>and</strong> (f) emergency use of teleph<strong>on</strong>es. Implicati<strong>on</strong>s for instructi<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> future<br />

research are discussed based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> results of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> review.<br />

Deinstituti<strong>on</strong>alizati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> desegregati<strong>on</strong> in<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> early 1960’s initiated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> need to prepare<br />

pers<strong>on</strong>s with disabilities to functi<strong>on</strong> in less<br />

supervised <strong>and</strong> sheltered envir<strong>on</strong>ments (Marchetti,<br />

McCartney, Drain, Hooper, & Dix<br />

(1983). Today focus c<strong>on</strong>tinues <strong>on</strong> providing<br />

inclusive opportunities for pers<strong>on</strong>s with disabilities,<br />

requiring instructi<strong>on</strong> of skills in preparati<strong>on</strong><br />

of integrati<strong>on</strong> into communities. By<br />

nature of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir disabilities, pers<strong>on</strong>s may lack<br />

judgment <strong>and</strong> skills to recognize, avoid, or<br />

escape dangerous situati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>and</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> communicati<strong>on</strong><br />

skills to report situati<strong>on</strong>s or crimes<br />

against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m (Mazzucchelli, 2001; Wils<strong>on</strong>,<br />

Seaman, & Nettelbeck, 1996). They may also<br />

be more dependent <strong>on</strong> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs for physical <strong>and</strong><br />

psychological needs <strong>and</strong> support across envir<strong>on</strong>ments<br />

(Mats<strong>on</strong>, 1984; Taber, Alberto,<br />

Hughes, & Seltzer, 2002). This dependence<br />

<strong>and</strong> lack of skills often cause <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m to be compliant<br />

<strong>and</strong> passive towards o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs, which may<br />

leave <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m susceptible to victimizati<strong>on</strong> (Mats<strong>on</strong>).<br />

Moving from supervised to semi-independent<br />

or independent living arrangements <strong>and</strong><br />

from sheltered to competitive work envir<strong>on</strong>ments<br />

require planning <strong>and</strong> programming for<br />

attainment of increased independence. An increase<br />

in independence results in decreased<br />

Corresp<strong>on</strong>dence c<strong>on</strong>cerning this article should<br />

be addressed to Linda C. Mechling, University of<br />

North Carolina Wilmingt<strong>on</strong>, 601 S. College Road,<br />

Wilmingt<strong>on</strong>, NC 28403-5940.<br />

Educati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> Training in Developmental Disabilities, 2008, 43(3), 311–323<br />

© <str<strong>on</strong>g>Divisi<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> Developmental Disabilities<br />

dependency <strong>on</strong> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs. Less supervisi<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />

support from adults <strong>and</strong> transiti<strong>on</strong>ing from<br />

protected envir<strong>on</strong>ments may lead to an increased<br />

exposure to risk <strong>and</strong> unsafe situati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />

Wils<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> Brewer (1992) report a significantly<br />

higher risk of criminal victimizati<strong>on</strong>,<br />

including pers<strong>on</strong>al <strong>and</strong> property offenses,<br />

am<strong>on</strong>g pers<strong>on</strong>s with intellectual disabilities<br />

<strong>and</strong> that this risk increases for those living<br />

al<strong>on</strong>e or with some<strong>on</strong>e else with a disability.<br />

Yet, in spite of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se difficult c<strong>on</strong>cerns, reas<strong>on</strong>able<br />

risk is a necessary part of normal life<br />

(MacEachr<strong>on</strong> & Janicki, 1983). The right to<br />

experience normal risk taking is necessary for<br />

human growth <strong>and</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> development of human<br />

dignity (MacEachr<strong>on</strong> & Janicki), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refor,<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is a need to provide opportunities<br />

for increased independence <strong>and</strong> to teach<br />

skills that minimize risk.<br />

Pers<strong>on</strong>al safety skill instructi<strong>on</strong> is c<strong>on</strong>sidered<br />

by many as being as important as teaching<br />

communicati<strong>on</strong>, motor, <strong>and</strong> social skills to<br />

pers<strong>on</strong>s with disabilities (Collins, Wolery, &<br />

Gast, 1991). Safety goals are being included<br />

for students receiving transiti<strong>on</strong> planning services<br />

through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir Individualized Educati<strong>on</strong><br />

Program (IEP) while teachers seek ways to<br />

teach strategies <strong>and</strong> skills to increase pers<strong>on</strong>al<br />

safety through awareness of safe <strong>and</strong> unsafe<br />

situati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong>ing how to take appropriate<br />

acti<strong>on</strong>s in dangerous situati<strong>on</strong>s<br />

(Collins et al.).<br />

The focus of this review is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> syn<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>sis of<br />

research available <strong>on</strong> teaching pers<strong>on</strong>al safety<br />

Safety Skill Instructi<strong>on</strong> / 311

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