Since the inception of special education legislation, the identification of severely visually impaired children has become a difficult task. Official prevalence rates for severe visual impairment currently vary from 8 per 10,000 to 120 per 10,000 school aged children. With such a large discrepancy in rates, it is difficult to plan and provide appropriate specialized services to this group of children. Given this wide variance of reporting, several questions have arisen: (1) What is the prevalence of severely impaired vision as a secondary handicap when another handicapping condition is already known and identified? (2) Is there a significant difference between the reported prevalence rates of severe visual impairment and documented prevalence? Once these questions are answered, educational implication questions arise. (1) Are students receiving services by a person trained to provide specialized assistance? (2) Is there a perception of need for such services? (3) If services are being offered, are they adequate? Such results are vitally important for visually impaired students, for the lack of vision severely restricts all areas of learning and life skills. Level of functional vision determines educational methodology, range and variety of experiences, independent travel skills, and one's ability to control the environment. Teacher training programs are running behind of current need, and should the rates of visual impairment be higher than prevailing calculations, the need for teachers and/or training could multiply several-fold. Using a cluster sampling method, 658 special education students in the Portland metropolitan area were screened for visual impairment. Eleven of the 658 had previously been identified as visually impaired, which coincided with the national rates used as comparison for this study. Upon screening, a total of 86 students were identified as severely visually impaired resulting in a prevalence rate of .130 for handicapped children, a significant difference from the numbers reported under Education of the Handicapped Act and to the American Printing House for the Blind. Perceived need for services for these children indicated a desire to have a better understanding of the implications of visual impairment. Although there was not strong evidence that each child needed a teacher of the visually impaired, respondents expressed a desire to know of curricular adaptations needed.

Binge-eating disorders are a common problem affecting up to 5 percent of the American population in any given 6-month period. Currently, the most widely accepted treatment is some variation of Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Although there is an abundance of research showing positive effects, the abstinence rates following this type of treatment are currently around 50%. A recent study by Bosch, Miltenberger, Gross, Knudson, and Brower-Breitwieser (2008) explored the effects of extinction on binge-eating behavior that was hypothesized to be maintained by relief from negative emotional responding. The study involved four women who engaged in binge-eating behavior, one of whom met the diagnostic criteria for Bulimia Nervosa. The treatment was successful, with three of the four participants obtaining abstinence. To date, this has been the only study examining this procedure and with only four participants. The purpose of the current study was to further evaluate extinction of binge eating maintained by automatic negative reinforcement with women who met diagnostic criteria for Bulimia Nervosa. Four young women enrolled in the study, three of whom met criteria for Bulimia Nervosa. The results showed that the treatment decreased binge eating to zero for all four women, although one dropped out of the study shortly after beginning the intervention.

This study presented an overview of the use of Photovoice technique as an information gathering tool that is useful in the study of aging. The processes followed in this study lead to a possible method that could be helpful when assessing needs as they relate to activities of daily living as well as wellness information for individuals. The photos collected in this study along with first person accounts of the pictures enhanced the breadth and depth of information when compared to a traditional survey tool used to study activities of daily living. This study looked at the phenomenon of staying vital in ones home in the later stages of the life span from the perspective of the person living in the situation. / Fisher Institute for Wellness and Gerontology

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:28:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-02-24Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:58:15Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 oliveira_j_me_bauru.pdf: 823647 bytes, checksum: aa43b296bcb60ebe028233da39c36d84 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A literatura em Análise do Comportamento tem demonstrado aumento nos estudos sobre procedimentos metodológicos para o ensino de parte dos repertórios que definem a avaliação funcional para não-especialistas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar se as condições metodológicas delineadas poderiam favorecer o ensino de repertórios de interpretação funcional para uma professora (P) da 3ª série do Ensino Fundamental para conteúdos curriculares do ensino de Ciências Naturais, bem como, averiguar possíveis alterações em suas práticas de ensino em sala de aula que poderiam estar relacionadas às atividades executadas neste estudo. O procedimento foi dividido em 3 etapas. Na Etapa 1 foi realizada uma entrevista inicial de rapport para conhecer a descrição de P sobre a turma. Em seguida foram gravados dois conjuntos de aulas lecionadas por P sobre sobre temas distintos e consecutivos (UDI e UD2. Ao final desta etapa, P foi submetida a um Roteiro de Entrevistas que continha questões acerca de suas próprias aulas. O Roteiro foi aplicado na ausência e na presença dos episódios selecionados da UD1. Durante a Etapa 2, P foi exposta aos modelos de interpretação funcional elaborados pelo pesquisador sobre os mesmos episódios selecionados da UD1, por conseguinte, a professora foi solicitada a executar suas próprias tentativas de interpretações funcionais para os episódios da UD2. A Etapa 2 foi finalizada com a exposição para P dos modelos de interpretação funcional elaborados pelo pesquisador para os episódios da UD2. Na Etapa 3 ocorreu a gravação de um novo conjunto de aulas (UD3). Nesta etapa foram editados novos episódios da UD3. Tais episódios foram exibidos a P conjuntamente ao Roteiro de Entrevistas utilizado nas etapas anteriores, ao final de cada episódio o roteiro foi reapresentado. Por fim foi solicitado... / The literature on behavior analysis has shown an increase in studies on methodological procedures for teaching the repertories that define the functional assessment for non-specialists. The goal of this study was to verify whether the outline methodological conditions could favor the functional interpretation repertoire teaching for a teacher (P) in the 3rd grade of elementary school for curriculum content of natural sciences discipline, as well as verify whether possible changes in their classroom teaching practices could be connected to activities performed in this study. The experiment had three steps. In step 1 was held an initial rapport interview to know P's description of her class. Then it were recorded two sets of lessons (UD1 and UD2) taught by P about distinct and consecutive themes. At the end of this step, P was submitted to n interview script with questions about her classes. The interview script was applied both in the absence or presence of UD1's selected episodes. During Stage 2, P was exposed to functional interpretation models developed by the researches onn the same UD1's selected episodes, then the teacher was asked to run her own functional interpretation of UD2 episodes. Step 2 ended with the exposure for P of the functional interpretation models developedby the researcher for UD2 episodes. In Step 3 a new set of classes (UD3) were recorded. In this step new episodes were then shown to P along with the interview scripts from previous steps, and at the end of each episode the script was presented again. Finally P was asked to compare UD2 and UD3. P reports about her practices proved to be different than functional interpretation proposal, forgone possible control relations between the operating properties of the provided teaching conditions and students performance in light of such practices. These characteristics were... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Jair Lopes Júnior / Banca: João dos Santos Carmo / Banca: Paulo Sergio Teixeira do Prado / Resumo: A literatura em Análise do Comportamento tem demonstrado aumento nos estudos sobre procedimentos metodológicos para o ensino de parte dos repertórios que definem a avaliação funcional para não-especialistas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar se as condições metodológicas delineadas poderiam favorecer o ensino de repertórios de interpretação funcional para uma professora (P) da 3ª série do Ensino Fundamental para conteúdos curriculares do ensino de Ciências Naturais, bem como, averiguar possíveis alterações em suas práticas de ensino em sala de aula que poderiam estar relacionadas às atividades executadas neste estudo. O procedimento foi dividido em 3 etapas. Na Etapa 1 foi realizada uma entrevista inicial de "rapport" para conhecer a descrição de P sobre a turma. Em seguida foram gravados dois conjuntos de aulas lecionadas por P sobre sobre temas distintos e consecutivos (UDI e UD2. Ao final desta etapa, P foi submetida a um Roteiro de Entrevistas que continha questões acerca de suas próprias aulas. O Roteiro foi aplicado na ausência e na presença dos episódios selecionados da UD1. Durante a Etapa 2, P foi exposta aos modelos de interpretação funcional elaborados pelo pesquisador sobre os mesmos episódios selecionados da UD1, por conseguinte, a professora foi solicitada a executar suas próprias tentativas de interpretações funcionais para os episódios da UD2. A Etapa 2 foi finalizada com a exposição para P dos modelos de interpretação funcional elaborados pelo pesquisador para os episódios da UD2. Na Etapa 3 ocorreu a gravação de um novo conjunto de aulas (UD3). Nesta etapa foram editados novos episódios da UD3. Tais episódios foram exibidos a P conjuntamente ao Roteiro de Entrevistas utilizado nas etapas anteriores, ao final de cada episódio o roteiro foi reapresentado. Por fim foi solicitado... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The literature on behavior analysis has shown an increase in studies on methodological procedures for teaching the repertories that define the functional assessment for non-specialists. The goal of this study was to verify whether the outline methodological conditions could favor the functional interpretation repertoire teaching for a teacher (P) in the 3rd grade of elementary school for curriculum content of natural sciences discipline, as well as verify whether possible changes in their classroom teaching practices could be connected to activities performed in this study. The experiment had three steps. In step 1 was held an initial rapport interview to know P's description of her class. Then it were recorded two sets of lessons (UD1 and UD2) taught by P about distinct and consecutive themes. At the end of this step, P was submitted to n interview script with questions about her classes. The interview script was applied both in the absence or presence of UD1's selected episodes. During Stage 2, P was exposed to functional interpretation models developed by the researches onn the same UD1's selected episodes, then the teacher was asked to run her own functional interpretation of UD2 episodes. Step 2 ended with the exposure for P of the functional interpretation models developedby the researcher for UD2 episodes. In Step 3 a new set of classes (UD3) were recorded. In this step new episodes were then shown to P along with the interview scripts from previous steps, and at the end of each episode the script was presented again. Finally P was asked to compare UD2 and UD3. P reports about her practices proved to be different than functional interpretation proposal, forgone possible control relations between the operating properties of the provided teaching conditions and students performance in light of such practices. These characteristics were... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Background: Functional Assessment (FA) in older adults is an important measure of their health status. FA using Activities of Daily Living (ADL) is a strong predictor of health outcomes, especially as we age. With the development of increasingly-connected health, we have a new opportunity for more robust and improved FA. Objective: The objective of this thesis is to collate and discuss published evidence on FA predictors and how the FA predictors can be collected using the paradigm of Connected Health (CH) architectures through an industrial case study in CHAPTER 5: INDUSTRIAL CASE STUDY. Methods: The method is to do two Systematic Literature Reviews (SLRs). The two SLRs were undertaken with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement (PRISMA) and Parsifal, an online tool for SLR. This thesis catalogs various FA and state-of-the-art Software Engineering Architectural Tactics and Styles (SEATS) used within Connected Health (CH) that focus on ADL. The results of the cataloged information were used in the industrial case study where some of the FA predictors were automated. Articles obtained from the data source during the SLRs were filtered based on the titles, abstracts, full-text provision, English language literature, including age, which must be sixty-five years and above. Another reviewer was also included in this study, while all the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria detailed in this thesis were applied. Information about FA via ADL were extracted from the articles with further extraction on the SEATS used for computer-supported FA during the industrial case study. Data Source: During the SLRs processes, database searched included PubMed, EBSCOhost, Engineering Village, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, and ScienceDirect. The conducted search contains both controlled terms called Medical Subject Headings(MeSH) such as activities of daily living and search strings such as functional assessment, older adults, geriatrics, seniors, elderly care, and aging. Results: From four hundred and ninety-five initial abstracts and titles, nineteen full-text journal articles were included in the final review for the SLR on FA predictors. Six full-text journal articles were obtained from the SLR on CH architectures after reading its 449 titles and abstracts. In the SLR on FA predictors, predictor metrics for FA via ADL were extracted from each of the articles. Gait speed, sleep quality, and movement activities were assessed as ADL predictor metrics for FA in older adults. Other FA predictors published involved self-reported metric scale measurement using Barthel-20 scale and performance-based scale through Timed-UP and Go test. This thesis reviewed each metric for sleep quality and movement activities. In the SLR on CH architectures, quick response of ADL and resource efficiency such as sensors were some of the major tactics related to performance in Software Engineering (SE) quality in CH, while confidentiality and integrity of FA measures related to security in SE quality in CH was another major concern. Conclusion: Having conducted the two SLRs, a wide range of measures were used for FA in older adults, including consideration on the SEATS used for computer-supported FA. Overall, these FA measures and SEATS provide inexpensive and easy-to-implement FA. The diversity of the FA measures and SEATS contributes towards the development of computer-supported FA. However, future work is needed to consider the result of this study as an open-source computer-supported FA tool, and such tool should also be evaluated and verified through direct examination with older adults. / Graduate

A brief reading assessment and preference assessment were conducted with three participants with developmental and learning disabilities (i.e., two participants were diagnosed with Autism, the third participant was diagnosed with intellectual disability) who did not acquire fluent reading in previous individualized instruction. The results of the brief reading assessment were analyzed in an alternating treatment design and a preference assessment was conducted to determine the participants' preferred reading intervention. Following the results of the two assessments, a reading intervention that matched effectiveness with preference when possible or favored effectiveness when a match was not possible. The selected interventions (and later combined interventions) were implemented for each participant using an A-B-A-C or an A-B-A-C-D design. The results suggest that the four reading strategies are effective options for improving reading fluency. Also, a brief reading assessment can help identify an effective reading strategy. The results are discussed in the context of fluency gains, limitations, and implications for future research.

Children with developmental disabilities often exhibit problem behaviors, such as physical aggression, tantrums, and self-injury. These behaviors can detrimentally affect the family's lifestyle. Research has shown that such families should take an active role in developing and implementing a behavior plan. However, families need support to promote effective changes in their child's behavior. This study investigated how a positive behavior support workshop that used the Family HOPE program affected behavior problems and parent/child relationships in families with children with developmental disabilities. Parents of eight children with disabilities and challenging behaviors participated in this research. A Project Director and Principal Investigator taught the six systematic steps to changing behavior. They were assisted by graduate students who provided behavioral education to families, helped families complete a Functional Behavioral Assessment, appropriate interventions, and analyze intervention data. The Parent-Child Relationship Inventory (PCRI) and Scales of Independent Behavior-Revised (SIB-R) were given to the families to study the effects of parent trainings on parents' perceptions of limit setting, parental support, and the frequency and severity of problem behaviors. Results showed a significant difference in the pre- and post-intervention data on limit setting and parental support. There were no significant differences in the frequency and severity of problem behaviors on the SIB-R. Implications for further research are suggested concerning teaching parents Positive Behavior Support principles in a workshop setting.

While functional analysis provides the standard methodology for the assessment of problem behavior, procedures still pose potential risk when assessing severe problem behavior. Previous studies have examined several strategies to improve the efficiency of and reduce risks related to the functional analysis process. The purpose of the present series of studies was to replicate and extend previous research on the assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior for one participant diagnosed with an intellectual disability. By incorporating strategies within a systematic decision-making framework, functional analysis procedures were implemented to conduct the assessment of precursors, determine maintaining contingencies for severe problem behavior, and evaluate the effects of a treatment based on the results of a functional analysis.

No description available.