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Aims Research suggests that people with a learning disability have difficulty processing and interpreting facial expressions of emotion. Emotion recognition is a fundamental skill and impairment in this area may be related to a number of negative, social and functional outcomes including increased frequency of aggressive behaviour, failure of community-based placements and mental illness. This thesis therefore had three aims: to review systematically the evidence for the presence of emotion recognition impairments in adults with a learning disability compared with the non-learning disabled population; to evaluate the emotion specificity hypothesis (which states that people with a learning disability perform less well on emotion recognition tasks as a result of a specific impairment in emotion recognition competence) and to evaluate the relationship between cognitive processing style and emotion recognition in people with a learning disability. Methods The first paper is a systematic review of studies that compared the performance of adults with a learning disability with that of a non-learning disabled control group on tasks of facial emotion recognition. The second paper reports on an empirical study that compared the performance of adults with a learning disability (n = 23) with adults (n = 23) and children (n = 23) without learning disability on tasks of facial emotion recognition and control tasks. The third paper reports further results from the empirical study which looks at cognitive processing style of adults with a learning disability and non-learning disabled children and adults. Results The systematic review found that all of the included studies reported evidence to support the proposal that adults with a learning disability are relatively impaired in recognising facial expressions of emotion. There are significant limitations associated with the research in this area and further studies are required in order to provide insight into the possible causes of emotion recognition deficits in this group of people. In the empirical study, adults with a learning disability were found to be relatively impaired on both emotion recognition and control tasks compared with both adult and child control groups. The availability of contextual information improved emotion recognition accuracy for adults with learning disability. The demands of the task also had an effect: identifying a target emotion from a choice of two images, rather than a choice of nine or naming the emotion also improved accuracy. Adults with learning disability were more likely to adopt a local processing style. A global processing style was associated with greater accuracy on the emotion recognition tasks. Conclusions Adults with learning disability are relatively impaired in facial emotion recognition when compared with non-learning disabled adults and children. This relative impairment was also evident on control tasks and therefore no evidence for the emotion specificity hypothesis was found. A number of issues in relation to future research are raised, specifically regarding the development of control tasks with comparable levels of difficulty to emotion recognition tasks.

Ne taip seniai intelekto sutrikimą turintys asmenys Lietuvoje vis dar buvo izoliuota, stigmuota visuomenės dalis. Šiandien jų padėtis pasikeitusi. Siekiama bei įstatymais garantuojama kiekvieno neįgalaus asmens teisė į visapusišką ugdymą(si), socializaciją ir jo galimybes atitinkančią gyvenimo kokybę. Priklausomai nuo intelekto sutrikimo laipsnio, proto negalia lemia didesnius ar mažesnius pažeidimus visose bendrųjų gebėjimų raidos srityse (kognityvinėje, emocinėje, fizinėje, socialinėje) ir tuo riboja žmogaus galimybes. Dėl vidutinio intelekto sutrikimo sukeltų pažeidimų vaikai patiria kalbos, motorikos, aplinkos pažinimo, bendravimo sunkumų. Šokamieji žaidimai – veikla, kurioje persipina poezija, muzika, drama ir choreografija. Neįgaliųjų ugdymo kontekste šie žaidimai turėtų būti grindžiami ne judesių atlikimo kokybe, o tapti viena iš ugdymo ir komunikavimo priemonių, kurios užtikrintų pilnavertį, praktinį mokinių funkcionavimą. Tyrimo objektas – šokamųjų žaidimų atranka vidutinį intelekto sutrikimą turintiems vaikams. Darbo tikslas – atskleisti šokamųjų žaidimų ypatumus pritaikant vidutinį intelekto sutrikimą turintiems vaikams. Uždaviniai: išanalizuoti sutrikimų specifiką ir pateikti vidutinį intelekto sutrikimą turinčių vaikų psichologinę ir pedagoginę charakteristiką; išryškinti šokamųjų žaidimų taikymo galimybes šokio ugdymo procese; atskleisti šokamųjų žaidimų taikymo ypatumus vidutinį intelekto sutrikimą turinčių vaikų šokio veikloje; pagrįsti šokamųjų žaidimų... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Not long ago people with intellectual impairment were an isolated and stigmatised part of society in Lithuania. The situation has changed. Depending on the degree of intellectual impairment, mental disability determines minor to serious impairment in all areas of development of general abilities (cognitive, emotional, physical and social), thus limiting human capabilities. Children suffering from moderate intellectual impairment experience linguistic, motor, cognitive and communication difficulties. Dancing games encompass poetry, music, drama and choreography. In the context of the education of disabled people, instead of being based on the quality of movements, these games should become a means of education and communication ensuring full practical functioning of students. The subject matter of the thesis is selection of dancing games for children with moderate intellectual impairment. The purpose of the thesis is to reveal the specific features of dancing games adapted for children with moderate intellectual impairment. Objectives: to analyse the specific features of this type of impairment and provide the psychological and educational characteristics of children with moderate intellectual impairment; to highlight the applicability of dancing games in the dance training process; to identify the specificity of the use of dancing games in the dancing activities of children with moderate intellectual impairment; to justify the criteria for the selection of dancing games for... [to full text]

Inledning: Personer med intellektuell funktionsnedsättning drabbas oftare än andra av psykisk ohälsa och hamnar lätt i destruktiva livsmönster. De upplever ofta att de har svårt att få adekvat och anpassad behandling. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka psykoterapeuters upplevelse av psykodynamisk psykoterapi med personer med lindrig till måttlig intellektuell funktionsnedsättning som lider av psykisk ohälsa. Frågeställningar: Hur beskriver psykodynamiskt inriktade psykoterapeuter den psykoterapeutiska processen i arbetet med personer med lindrig till måttlig intellektuell funktionsnedsättning? Vad beskriver terapeuterna som verksamt och hur ser de på behandlingsresultaten med målgruppen? Metod: Sex psykoterapeuter intervjuades utifrån en kvalitativ, deskriptiv ansats. Resultat: Vid analys av materialet framträdde ett antal teman. 1. Terapeuternas beskrivning av de olika faserna i den terapeutiska processen. 2. Yttre faktorer som kan påverka terapierna med målgruppen. 3. Den intellektuella funktionsnedsättningens betydelse. 4. Terapeutiska utmaningar i arbetet med målgruppen. 5. Det verksamma i terapierna. 6. Förutsättningarna runt terapeuten. Diskussion: Resultatet visar att de intervjuade terapeuterna upplever att psykodynamisk psykoterapi med lindrig-måttlig intellektuell funktionsnedsättning kan vara meningsfullt och verksamt. Vissa aspekter och behovet av att anpassa det terapeutiska arbetet beskrivs som centrala i arbetet med målgruppen. / Introduction: People with intellectual disabilities are affected more than others by mental illness and can easily fall into destructive patterns of life. They often feel that they have difficulty getting adequate and appropriate treatment. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate psychotherapists experience of psychodynamic psychotherapy with individuals with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities who suffer from mental illness. Issues:How do psychodynamic oriented psychotherapists describe the psychotherapeutic process in working with people with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities? What do the therapists describe as active and helpful and how do they look at the results of treatment? Method: Six psychotherapists were interviewed based on a qualitative, descriptive approach. Results: When analyzing the material a number of themes appeared: 1. The therapist description of the phases of the therapeutic process. 2. External factors that can influence therapies with the target group. 3. The intellectual disabilities significance. 4. Therapeutic challenges in the work with the target group. 5. The active and helpful. 6. The conditions around the therapist. Discussion: The result shows that the interviewed therapists feel that psychodynamic psychotherapy with mild-moderate intellectual disabilities can be meaningful and effective. Some specific aspects and the need to adapt the therapeutic work is described as central in the work with the target group.

The purpose of this study is to describe some teachers´views on integration of students with intellectual disabilities in elementary school. The study is based on qualitative semistructures interviews with eight teachers who have experience of working with students with intellectual disabilities. The result of the study were analyzed on the basis Nilholm (2014) special educational perspective, which consists of the compensatory perspective, the critical perspective and the dilemma of perspective. The result show that teachers are very positive about the integration of students with intellectual disabilities. They see more advantages than disadvantages integration. The teachers se see as main benefit of the integration of differences and diversity among students enrich business, and benefits all students. Educators belive that it will be more difficult to integrate student with intellectual disabilities, the older student becom, then the differences become larger both socially and interms of knowledge. My study can help to create understanding and knowledge of how the process of integration regarding students with intellectual disabilities cab work in primary class.

Worldwide, the estimated prevalence of intellectual disability in developed countries is between 2% and 3% (Foskett, 2014). As a developing country, the South African Government show signs of taking the necessary steps in including persons with disabilities in the general workforce (Department of Social Development of the Republic of South Africa, 2015). Forthrightly, post school options for learners from special schools are limited (DSD, DWCPD & Unicef, 2012) and, historically, they have been encouraged to pursue work encompassing basic skills, with little or no autonomy – and denied opportunities in the formal sector. The study aims to explore the value of implementing life design counselling as a means to educate and prepare learners from the vocational school setting (learners with intellectual/mental disability) for opportunities after the completion of their formal schooling; and encourage debate around the training of the relevant role players. Moreover, to counter the adverse thinking the learners – and teachers and parents – may be participating in. Through the comparison of the value the learners ascribe to their current career guidance/counselling and when supplementing life design counselling to the already implemented model; the learners are introduced to innovative/novel options and guided through the process with support. The quantitative findings of the study did not confirm nor refute the assumption of the intervention resulting in an increased career adaptability for the participant. Even so, the qualitative findings supported the aims of the intervention. The participant was able to, and expressed wanting to continue to, construct his concept of self within his systems of functioning, while also actively pursuing his vocational choices and the means to attaining them. Overall, the researcher found the life-design approach used in the study highly applicable to the participant and the context in which the study was conducted. The possibilities and limitations from this study could promote further research in the vocational schooling sector, equipping the role players to better service the demarcated category of learners (learners with intellectual disability). / Mini Dissertation (MEd (Educational Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2021. / Educational Psychology / MEd (Educational Psychology) / Unrestricted

The needs of the severely disabled, especially in communities where there is a paucity of professional manpower inspired this research aiming at the refinement and validation of a play package consisting of a daily multiple measurement instrument and a package of play activities for the facilitation of communication-related behaviours. This intervention programme is based on theoretical underpinnings derived from various scientific disciplines' explanations of sensorimotor, cognitive, communication and social-emotional development, as well as the role of play as a facilitator of childhood development. Within this theoretical context a model for the development of communication-related behaviours as adaptive responses is put forward. Through a process of operationalisation of the relevant constructs, observable behavioural indicators are identified and applied to the developmental needs of the intellectually impaired. Play is described as a tool for the facilitation and measurement of communication-related behaviours and within this framework an authentic daily multiple measurement instrument (DMMI) was developed and a package of play activities (previously developed) refined for validation through experimentation. The main aim of the empirical research was to validate the play package for the facilitation of communication-related skills by the refinement of the play package consisting of specifically selected activities and presentation methods during a pre-experimental phase, as well as experimentation to establish a cause-effect relationship between the activities and changes in single, gradually acquired behaviours of children with intellectual impairments. In the pre-experimental phase face and content validity were investigated by a group of experts who evaluated the daily multiple measurement instrument and the package of play activities, as well as the audio-visual recordings of the measurement and treatment of intellectually impaired children in two pilot studies. During the experimental phase construct and convergent validity were investigated. Data were collected from five intellectually impaired participants over an eight week period in which week 1 was used for pre-intervention measurements, weeks 2, 3 and 4 for intervention, week 5 for post-intervention measurements, weeks 6 and 7 for a period of withdrawal and week 8 for post-withdrawal measurements. External raters were involved to assure reliability and three additional authentic measurement instruments were included for the establishment of convergent validity. Based on the findings of the research face, content, construct and convergent validity of the play package was established, thus proving that the daily multiple measurement instrument measures the behaviour that it claims to measure and the package of play activities facilitates the development of communication-related behaviours that it claims to facilitate. A valid and reliable play package, catering for the individual needs of the heterogeneous population of disabled children, was thus established. The play package is structured in such a way that it can be applied by any member of a transdisciplinary team, and even (with some prior training) by non-professional caregivers and parents, thus alleviating the burden on a handful of professional therapists who cannot cope with the needs of the large population of severely disabled children. / Dissertation (PhD (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) / unrestricted

Tidigare forskning visar att stödpersonal till brukare som har ett utmanande beteende har en komplex och ibland svår arbetssituation och yrkesroll. Stödpersonalen upplever känslor som rädsla, maktlöshet, sorgsenhet, ilska och tidlöshet i mötet med en brukare som har ett utmanande beteende. Utmanande beteende hos brukare har identifierats som en anledning till att stödpersonal blir utbränd. Stödpersonal kan tillskriva brukarna intentionen att de vill skada andra eller sig själv och att det är möjligt att kontrollera detta beteende. Utbildningsnivån hos stödpersonalen påverkar attityden till brukare som har ett utmanande beteende. Syftet med denna studie är att skapa en förståelse för hur stödpersonal upplever och ser på individer med ett utmanande beteende samt upplever sin arbetssituation. Med fokus på stödpersonalens känslor och yrkesroll. För att besvara syfte och frågeställningar har kvalitativ metod med semistrukturerad intervju används. Empirin har analyserats med tematiskanalys metod. Hochschilds teorier om emotionellt arbete, känsloregler och socialt utbyte har använts för att skapa förståelse. Resultatet tyder på att det troligtvis är svårt att uppnå ett djupagerande emotionellt arbete i de situationer där brukare har ett utmanande beteende och att en emotiv dissonans uppstår. Det fanns känsloregler på arbetsplatserna skapad av utbildning, kurser, diskussioner och handlingsplaner. Informanterna hade en god människosyn likt en humanistisk människosyn. Outbildad personal har ofta ett annat tankesätt. Denna kunskap, eller brist på kunskap, kan tänkas påverka stödpersonalens syn på och attityd till brukaren. Arbetssituationen beskrevs som jobbig, påfrestande, utmanande men även bra, kul, omväxlande och positiv. En del informanter ansåg att stödet de fick från chefer inte var tillräckligt. Det kan tänkas att det är lättare för chefer att ge stödpersonalen stöd i form av utbildningar, handlingsplaner, teammöten och uppföljningar än att ge stöd i emotionshantering. Ett bra stöd innehåller även ett stöd i emotionshantering, då det är en stor del av arbetet med brukare som har ett utmanande beteende. / Previous research shows that care staff for individuals who have challenging behavior have a complex and sometimes difficult work situation and professional role. Care staff experience feelings like fear, powerlessness, sadness, anger and timelessness in the encounter with an individual who has a challenging behavior. Challenging behavior by clients has been identified as a reason why the care staff burns out. Care staff can assign clients the intention that they want to hurt others or themselves and that it is possible to control this behavior. The education level of care staff affects the attitude towards clients who have a challenging behavior. The purpose of this study is to create an understanding of how care staff experience and see individuals with a challenging behavior and experience their work situation. Focusing on the care staff's emotions and professional role. To answer purpose and questions, qualitative method with semi structured interview has been used. Hochschild's theories about emotional labor, feeling rules and emotions as social exchanges have been used to create understanding. Empire has been analyzed with the thematic analysis method. The result suggests that it is probably difficult to achieve a deep acting emotional labor in those situations where clients have challenging behavior and that an emotive dissonance occurs. There are feeling rules in the workplace created by education, courses, discussions and action plans. The informants have a good view of human beings, similar to a humanistic view of humanity. Uneducated staff often have a different mindset. This knowledge, or lack of knowledge, may affect the support staff's views and attitude towards the client. The work situation is described as difficult, stressful, challenging but also good, fun, varied and positive. Some informants felt that the support they received from managers wasn’t enough. It might be that its easier for the managers to support care staff in the form of education, action plans, theme meetings and follow-up than support them in emotion management. A good support also includes support in emotion management, as it is a major part of the work with users who have a challenging behavior.

Since 1994, the South African education system has undergone a number of paradigm shifts culminating in the implementation of the policy of Inclusive Education as highlighted in Education White Paper 6: Building an Inclusive Education and Training System. The purpose of this research was to explore how foundation phase learners who experience severe intellectual barriers to learning are provided with high levels of support at special schools in the Pietermaritzburg district. A case study design was embarked upon as this allowed for an in-depth exploration of the above research question. Three special schools in the Pietermaritzburg district that cater for learners who experience severe intellectual barriers to learning were chosen for this investigation. Quantitative and qualitative research methods, consisting of questionnaires, interviews and observation were utilised. The findings reveal that educators at these schools do provide high levels of support to foundation phase learners who experience severe intellectual barriers to learning. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

The main assertion in this dissertation is that there is a lack of adequate and appropriate parental involvement in the education of learners with mild intellectual impairment in mainstream schools in Sisonke District. Empirical research was conducted to understand the perceptions of parents and teachers of the involvement of parents in the education of learners with mild intellectual impairment in mainstream schools. The focus was on parents and teachers in an extreme poverty context in Sisonke District of KwaZulu-Natal. A qualitative investigation of parental involvement in five mainstream schools was conducted by collecting data through interview, observation and documents analysis with ten parents and five teachers. The literature that was reviewed focused on the factors that increase and hinder parental involvement, prevalence of intellectual impairment, theories related to family, school and community partnership and inclusive education. The research has revealed that the lack of adequate and appropriate parental involvement at mainstream schools admitting learners with mild intellectual impairment is influenced by factors such as poor socio-economic background, high illiteracy, cultural beliefs, and parents’ denial of intellectual impairment, diversity, lack of teacher training in parental involvement, lack of healthy inclusive climate characteristics, parents’ attitudes and perceptions. The investigation further found that there is an urgent need for teachers to acquire knowledge, skills and strategies for active involvement of parents in inclusive mainstream schools. Each School Management Team (SMT) should strive to create a climate of inclusion that displays healthy school characteristics in order to improve parental involvement in mainstream schools. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)