The effects of the physical environment on the behavior of severely handicapped and institutionalized young men and women are discussed in the context of the evaluation of a play unit specifically designed for their living room. The Play Unit for the Severely Handicapped (PUSH) was evaluated by observing the residents’ behavior and making narrative recordings of that behavior of individuals during brief time samples. The effects of the PUSH were usually idiosyncratic and diverse. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for methodologies best suited to the evaluation of environmental design interventions for exceptional children.
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