Evaluation of An Age-Appropriate Leisure Skills Program for Moderately Retarded Adults

This study describes the development and implementation of a leisure skills program for mentally retarded adults in a group home setting. Six individuals (three males and three females) participated in the program. Phase I of the program consisted of an initial baseline. Observations were made to determine the extent of the residents’ leisure repertoires. Phase II involved a weekly leisure counseling session, reinforcement training, as well as an introduction to new recreational materials. Phase III entailed a return to baseline in which counseling and reinforcement training were temporarily discontinued. Instruction was reinstated in Phase IV. The results indicated a significant increase in high quality leisure behavior among the group home participants when counseling, reinforcement, and exposure to new materials were introduced. A concomitant decrease in inappropriate social behavior was noted as well. It was concluded that acquisition of age appropriate leisure skills facilitated a decrease in inappropriate social and stereotypic behaviors.