Books on Mentally Disabled Adults

The topic that I have chosen to research is Mentally Disabled Adults in Minnesota.  For this topic I have chosen to find some general background information, along with specific information on the adult population in Minnesota that is mentally disabled.  I feel that you can’t research one without looking into the other, because there are many points that can be talked about it my research paper.  To find information on my topic, first I started to look on the internet for any EBooks on the topic, but was not successful when typing in “mentally challenged adults” for the topic information or any information available in the OPAC or at least that I could find.  However, I did find many books that were all in the library, but was not successful with my first try, because I had some struggles, but the second time around I got it.    The way I searched on the website was with the website suggestion of “Mentally Disabled Adults” and “Books on Mentally Disabled Adults” and for both searches I was brought to a page that stated “Sorry, no posts matched your criteria”.  Both the Great River Regional Library System OPAC and the Miller Center Library OPAC gave me the same results.  I couldn’t find any books on either of the websites, because both stated that there were none to be found, which I found to be weird, because I figured that there would be a book on Mentally Disabled Adults if not on both of them, at least on one the websites.  My preference would have been to read an EBook, since I feel an EBook would just be easier because it would be available on your computer anytime and you wouldn’t have to try to remember to bring a text book along and you wouldn’t have to worry about returning the book to the library when done.  I did not find an EBook on my topic so therefore, I was not able to experience what it was like, but for my classes where I have had the articles to read online, I found it easier to follow along then a text book.  Also,  I  do not have a mobile device that I could read an EBook on, but if I could find one I would more than likely be able to use my iPod touch that I have to read it. 

What Do You Assume to Be True About ____________?

The “vulnerable population” I would like to learn about would be the mentally disabled individuals in Minnesota.  I find this topic interesting, because I have lived next to an adult mentally disabled group home for quite a few years in my home town and would like to better understand their situation, as to what types of mentally disabled adults are allowed to live to group homes.  Do they have to have a certain skill level to be able to care for them selves whether making meals, handling their daily schedules, working outside of the home, managing finances, etc. before being accepted into a group home.

I assume that the population of adult mentally disabled individuals living in adult group homes is pretty big.  Also, I believe that most are in group homes and not cared for by their family members. 

In the small community where I grew up, we have several adult group homes that have usually had a waiting list of someone wanting to get into the home.  And, I have learned this from people I’ve talked to my whole life.  The most difficult challenge that I will have in this research I believe is finding the right/correct information, because I think there is very limited information available.

What is Critical Thinking?

Critical Thinking to me is the ability to think clearly and rationally.  I’ve heard this term before in many of my English classes in high school and college English classes. 

An “expert’s” definition of critical thinking is analysis, evaluation, inference, explanation, and self-regulation. 

From “In a Nut Shell” at the following URL http://www.telacommunications.com/nutshell/cthinking2.htm

Yes, the experts give you a particular process that you must engage in.  You start with analysis and end with self-regulation in the critical thinking process.  The connections between critical thinking and IM 204 Research Strategies is that you have to look for and understand what it is your writing about, and figure out what is true and what isn’t true.