The guide is intended as a stimulus for the establishment of training programs for newly employed attendants and as an aid to the development of on-going in-service training. The instructor should select those subject areas which meet the needs of the institution and its residents. It is expected that additions and deletions will be made. The body of the manual is an outline which indicates the topic and purpose for each lesson and presents in parallel columns suggested content, teaching methods and aids, and reading references in relation to each sub-topic. Lesson topics include: (1) Background on mental retardation, (2) growth and development, (3) social emotional needs, (4) housekeeping in the cottage, (5) safety, (6) civil defense, (7) training, feeding, and clothing the resident, (8) personal health and hygiene, (9) nursing care, (10) common diseases and conditions, (11) body mechanics, (12) leisure time, (13) sex education, (14) religion, (15) discipline, (16) referring problems, (17) and the responsibility of the attendant to the patient. The appendix includes a glossary, bibliography, film list, and list of agencies from which resource materials may be obtained. (JK)