The Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale for Children, the Florida Key: A Scale to Inter Learner Self-Concept, and the Walker Problem Behavior Identification Checklist were used to assess the self-concepts of 18 ambulatory physically handicapped children between the ages of 6 and 12 years. Data were analysed via one-sample t-tests. The hypothesis that mainstreamed handicapped children would exhibit somewhat lower self-concept than their nonhandicapped peers was not supported. In fact, some mainstreamed physically handicapped children may indeed exhibit higher frequencies of relating to peers and teachers, less acting-out behavior (among males), and better overall self-concept than the nonhandicapped populations from which the normative data were obtained (p < .05). These results were discussed in terms of the children's experiences within the hospital environment from which they were selected.

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Educational Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

The study examined preschool students’ use of thinking strategies when responding to deep structure questions during interactive book readings. The children were enrolled in two different inclusive preschool classrooms in a large Midwestern city. The study explored which thinking strategies the preschool children used when answering deep structure questions. Also under investigation was the potential difference in usage of thinking strategies between general education and special education students. Data collected included observations and frequency tallies. Information gathered was analyzed using independent sample T-Tests. The classrooms were combined to generate a larger population. Analysis showed the preschool students in the two inclusive preschool classrooms used all seven thinking strategies during interactive book read alouds. Frequency counts revealed a higher mean usage of schema, making inferences, and determining importance. Further, these strategies were as likely to be used by a general education student as a special education student. Based on the results of the study, teachers should guide and instruct their students about stories within discussions. Teachers should also select engaging texts guided by student interest, student background, or classroom project. This will allow them to build on information that students have and also create learning opportunities in the classroom that affects the classroom community. / Department of Elementary Education

The aim of this historical survey is to present a well organized statement of the activities of the play therapy clinic at the College of the Pacific and to analyze and evaluate the findings . One year after the origin of the clinic , there was felt the need for a survey. The writer has had many opportunities to observe the functions and the operation of the clinic, and he has felt that the activities and objectives of the clinic should be defined clearly in writing so that the beginning students at the clinic may have a more adequate approach to the clinical situation. Each semester, the psychology department admits more newer students who are majoring in the field. It is the writer's hope that this survey might add to the effectiveness of the training program in play therapy and that the new students might use this survey to their advantage, and perhaps it might shorten the time for them in comprehending the clinical activities and in understanding its functions. It is not the intention of the writer to solve all the problems of the clinic, but it is his interest to point out the various problems in the clinical situation for further study. The writer also feels that the data obtained from this survey would be valuable to the clinic for its self-appraisal. This survey will also have a practical value to the College of the Pacific and to the students who are majoring in psychology who are contemplating taking the course in play therapy, and also to those who want to know something about the nature of the program.

The purpose of this study was twofold: 1) To analyze the similarities and differences between parent responses to the birth and rearing of a child with Down syndrome and; 2) To document the characteristics of grieving described in Engel's 3-stage model of grieving. A questionnaire was used to assess responses from randomly chosen parent members of the Dallas Down Syndrome Guild. Qualitative data analysis was conducted, using the methodology of triangulation.

by Theresa, Yuk ki Chen. / Includes questionaire in Chinese. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-80). / abstract --- p.ii / acknowledgments --- p.iii / list of tables --- p.vi / Chapter / Chapter 1 --- BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY AND LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.1 / The stress of families with mentally retarded children --- p.1 / Stress encountered by parents of mentally retarded adults --- p.5 / The concept of social support and its effects --- p.8 / Stress and social support of families with mentally retarded children --- p.9 / The optimal-matching model of stress and social support --- p.13 / Purpose of the present study --- p.20 / Chapter 2 --- RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY --- p.24 / Subjects --- p.24 / Instruments --- p.26 / Procedure --- p.28 / Chapter 3 --- RESULTS --- p.30 / The social functioning of the mentally retarded adults --- p.30 / Sources and. nature of stress --- p.30 / Sources of social support --- p.46 / Nature of social support --- p.49 / Stress appraisal and effectiveness of social support --- p.53 / Support needed the nature of stress --- p.57 / Stress appraisal and social support needed --- p.59 / Chapter 4 --- DISCUSSION --- p.61 / Nature of stresses in mothers of mentally retarded adults --- p.61 / Sources and nature of social support received --- p.66 / Testing the optimal-matching hypotheses --- p.68 / "The , needs for social support" --- p.71 / Limitations and suggestions for further' study --- p.72 / Implications for rehabilitative services of mentally retarded individuals --- p.74 / REFERENCES --- p.75 / APPENDIX / Chapter A --- LETTER TO THE SUBJECT --- p.81 / Chapter B --- CONSENT FORM FOR SUBJECT --- p.83 / Chapter C --- THE STRUCTURED INTERVIEW SCHEME --- p.85 / Chapter D --- VINELAND SOCIAL MATURITY SCALE --- p.94

The family is a miniature society, where a child is afforded the opportunity to develop, form relationships and create his/her own identity. The child's development does not always take place without certain challenges. Different internal and external factors influence a child's development. Certain external factors, for instance a child with disabilities, can have a negative or positive influence on the child. The aim of this study is to determine the influence of the child with Cerebral Palsy on the social and emotional development of siblings. The research will be done using the idiographic method. The results show that the child with Cerebral Palsy does have an influence on the emotional and social development of siblings. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Inclusive Education)

Thesis (MPhil(Rehabilitation))--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Having a child with neurodevelopmental disabilities has a significant impact on the well-being of parents, including experiencing distress and enduring emotional, financial and physical pressure, due to caring for their. They require formal and informal support systems. Formal support includes counselling services. The purpose of the study was to determine what role psychosocial counselling at Tygerberg Academic Hospital (TAH) plays in the lives of parents of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. A descriptive, qualitative approach was followed using semi-structured interviews that focused on the participants’ experiences and perceptions regarding their psychosocial needs and counselling. Eleven parents participated in the study. They were sampled purposively. Emerging themes were identified through content analysis of interviews. The themes identified were: - Emotions; - Parents’ life and relationships; - Lack of support systems to deal with the pressure of care giving; - Social workers; - Challenges with regard to compliance with healthcare provision; and - Gaps identified. The interviews found that parents received no psychosocial counselling at TAH. This was a disappointment to participants. They indicated feeling very isolated and emotional, and experiencing psychological burnout, while such social work services provided focussed on applications for social grants and patient healthcare treatment. Parents identified a great need for counselling services at the hospital as they believed counselling would assist them to work through emotions, address psychosocial needs, find coping strategies and identify available resources within their communities, which would be beneficial to the psychosocial functioning of the whole family. The parents also identified a need for parent support group services at the hospital. The initiation of this service and support groups for parents is recommended. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Om 'n kind met neuro-ontwikkelingsgestremdhede te hê, het 'n beduidende impak op die welstand van ouers, insluitend spanning en verduur van emosionele, finansiele en fisieke druk, as gevolg van die versorging van die kind. Hulle benodig formele en informele ondersteuningsnetwerke. Formele ondersteuning sluit beradingsdienste in. Die doel van hierdie studie was om te bepaal wat die rol is van psigososiale berading by die Tygerberg Akademiese Hospitaal in die lewens van ouers van kinders met neuro-ontwikkelingsgestremdhede. 'n Beskrywende, kwalitatiewe benadering is gevolg deur gebruik te maak van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude wat fokus op die deelnemers se ervarings en persepsies ten opsigte van psigososiale behoeftes en berading. Elf ouers het aan die studie deelgeneem. Die deelnemers was doelgerig geselekteer. Temas is geïndentifiseer deur die inhoud van die onderhoude te analiseer. Die temas was as volg: Emosies; - Ouers se lewens en verhoudings; - Tekort aan ondersteuningstrukture om die druk van versorging te hanteer; - Maatskaplike werkers; - Uitdagings met betrekking tot nakoming met gesondheidsorgvoorsiening en - Identifisering van gapings. Die onderhoude het bevestig dat ouers geen psigososiale berading by Tygerberg Akademiese Hospitaal ontvang nie. Dit was teleurstellend aan die deelnemers. Hulle is geneig om geïsoleerd en emosioneel te voel en beleef ook psigiese uitbranding, terwyl maatskaplikewerk dienste hoofsaaklik fokus op toelaagaansoeke en die pasiëntgesondheidsorgbehandeling. Ouers het 'n groot behoefte aan beradingsdienste by die Tygerberg Akademiese Hospitaal geïdentifiseer, omdat hulle glo dat berading hulle sal help om deur emosies en psigososiale behoeftes te aan te spreek, baasraakstrategieë te vind en beskikbare hulpbronne binne hul gemeenskappe wat voordelig sal wees vir die psigososiale funksionering van die gesin te identifiseer. Die ouers het ook 'n behoefte vir ouerondersteuningsgroepdienste by die hospitaal geïdentifiseer. Die inisiasie van beradingsdienste en ouerondersteuningsgroepdienste word aanbeveel.

The family is a miniature society, where a child is afforded the opportunity to develop, form relationships and create his/her own identity. The child's development does not always take place without certain challenges. Different internal and external factors influence a child's development. Certain external factors, for instance a child with disabilities, can have a negative or positive influence on the child. The aim of this study is to determine the influence of the child with Cerebral Palsy on the social and emotional development of siblings. The research will be done using the idiographic method. The results show that the child with Cerebral Palsy does have an influence on the emotional and social development of siblings. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Inclusive Education)

In this qualitative study the focus lies on parents' experience of the influence of the cerebral palsy child on the marital relationship. This research aimed at determining the way in which parents experience the influence of the cerebral palsy child on the marital relationship. To reach the required goal, a number of objectives were set. This included setting up a theoretical framework by way of a literature study as well as consultation with experts in the field of cerebral palsy children, semi-structured interviews with parents of cerebral palsy children, analysing of data and conclusions and recommendations according to the parents' experiences. Five married couples participated as respondents during the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with all the participants. Each of the interviews was video-recorded and transcribed. Main themes, sub-themes and categories were identified in the transcriptions and studied in relation to the existing literature. True to the qualitative nature of the study, the aim was not to generalise the findings, but to give each couple the opportunity to tell their story. / Social Work / Thesis (M. Diac. (Spelterapie))