People with disabilities often have limited communication abilities. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is a widely spread method that allows people with communication difficulties to express themselves. People with disabilities are often reliant on care from people in their environment. The law ensures that everyone has the right to a communication and that people with disabilities have a right to self-determination and complicity. However the implementation and outcomes of AAC depend on the conditions in the users environment. The purpose of our study is thereby to understand how personal, relational and organizational conditions can affect care-staffs work with AAC. Data has been gathered doing semi-structured interview with nine informants who work in organizations that carefor people with disabilities. The data has then been analyzed using a thematic analysis. The main result of our study shows that care-staff perceive their role as an enabler for communication. The study also concludes that there are various organizational factors, such as access to resources, that affect the care-staffs work with AAC.

La technologie MID (Molded Interconnect Device), fait de leur performance électrique, la flexibilitédans les circuits RF, le potentiel de réduire le nombre de composants, les étapes du processus et laminiaturisation du produit final, a conduit à de nouvelles contraintes à la RF (Radio Frequency) et ledomaine des micro-ondes. Composants moulés sont interconnectées avec des substratsthermoplastiques et les pistes conductrices sont injectés sur la surface. L'objectif de cette thèse estd'étudier la compatibilité de MID pour les applications RF. Les avantages de la technologie MID dansle domaine RF est exploitée pour les lignes de transmission, filtres passifs, coupleurs directionnels etantennes réalisation. La caractérisation RF de différents matériaux de substrat MID et l'étude de laperformance des composants RF ci-dessus sur la base de différentes technologies de fabrication MIDsont inclus dans la thèse. Enfin, le concept d'une étude d'amélioration de la permittivité de certainsthermoplastiques sont également étudiés. / MID (Molded Interconnect Devices) technology, owing to their electrical performance,flexibility in RF circuits, its potential to reduce the number of components, process steps andminiaturization of the final product, has led to some new constraints to the RF (RadioFrequency) and microwave domain. Molded components are interconnected withthermoplastic substrates and conductive traces are injected on the surface. The objective ofthis thesis is to study the compatibility of MIDs for RF applications. The advantages of MIDtechnology in the RF domain is exploited for transmission lines, passive filters, directionalcouplers and planar and 3D antennas realization. The RF characterization of various MIDsubstrate materials and the study of the performance of the above RF components based onvarious MID fabrication technologies are included in the thesis. Finally, an permittivityimprovement study of some thermoplastics are also studied.

La technologie MID (Molded Interconnect Device), fait de leur performance électrique, la flexibilitédans les circuits RF, le potentiel de réduire le nombre de composants, les étapes du processus et laminiaturisation du produit final, a conduit à de nouvelles contraintes à la RF (Radio Frequency) et ledomaine des micro-ondes. Composants moulés sont interconnectées avec des substratsthermoplastiques et les pistes conductrices sont injectés sur la surface. L'objectif de cette thèse estd'étudier la compatibilité de MID pour les applications RF. Les avantages de la technologie MID dansle domaine RF est exploitée pour les lignes de transmission, filtres passifs, coupleurs directionnels etantennes réalisation. La caractérisation RF de différents matériaux de substrat MID et l'étude de laperformance des composants RF ci-dessus sur la base de différentes technologies de fabrication MIDsont inclus dans la thèse. Enfin, le concept d'une étude d'amélioration de la permittivité de certainsthermoplastiques sont également étudiés. / MID (Molded Interconnect Devices) technology, owing to their electrical performance,flexibility in RF circuits, its potential to reduce the number of components, process steps andminiaturization of the final product, has led to some new constraints to the RF (RadioFrequency) and microwave domain. Molded components are interconnected withthermoplastic substrates and conductive traces are injected on the surface. The objective ofthis thesis is to study the compatibility of MIDs for RF applications. The advantages of MIDtechnology in the RF domain is exploited for transmission lines, passive filters, directionalcouplers and planar and 3D antennas realization. The RF characterization of various MIDsubstrate materials and the study of the performance of the above RF components based onvarious MID fabrication technologies are included in the thesis. Finally, an permittivityimprovement study of some thermoplastics are also studied.

Syftet med denna studie var att analysera förändringsprocesserna i samband med de nya bestämmelserna för dygns- och veckovila samt att se hur detta har påverkat medarbetarnas arbetssituation och deras syn på sitt arbete i de aktuella LLS-organisationerna. Inledningsvis presenterar vi en inledning till ämnet och studiens bakgrund. Därefter presenteras studiens syfte, frågeställningar, avgränsning och disposition. Vidare presenteras de teorier som använts som verktyg för att analysera det empiriska materialet. Dessa är motstånd, vårt offentliga etos, förändringsprocesser och förändringsagenter. Studiens metodologi beskrivs sedan tillsammans med insamlingen av empirin genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med de tolv intervjupersonerna. Därefter presenteras analysen och resultatet av empirin, som visar att genomförandet skett på ett sätt som inte fullt ut har skapat en känsla av delaktighet och förståelse hos medarbetarna. Detta har lett till konflikter kopplat till deras offentliga etos och ansvar som tjänstemän gentemot organisationen, kollegorna och brukarna som yttrar sig iform av olika typer av motstånd. Avslutningsvis presenteras studiens slutsats tillsammans med en reflektion samt förslag på fortsatt forskning. / The purpose of this study was to analyze the change processes in connection with the new regulations for 24-hour and weekly rest and how this has affected the employees' work situation and their view of their work in the LSS-organizations in question. Initially, we present an introduction to the subject and the background of the study. Then the study's purpose, questions, delimitation and outline are presented. Furthermore, the theories used as tools to analyze the empirical material are presented. These are resistance, our public ethos, change processes and change agents. The study's methodology is then described together with the collection of empirical evidence through semi-structured interviews with the twelve interviewees. Then the analysis and the results of the empirical work are presented, which show that the implementation took place in a way that has not fully created a feeling of participation and understanding among the employees. This has led to conflicts linked to their public ethos and responsibilities as officials towards the organization, colleagues and users who express themselves in the form of various types of resistance. Finally, the study's conclusion is presented together with a reflection and suggestions for further research.

Denna uppsats belyser hur medarbetare på ett gruppboende inom LSS upplever hur det är att arbeta med äldre intellektuellt funktionsnedsatta personer. Syftet med undersökningen är att beskriva medarbetarnas subjektiva upplevelser av att bemöta åldrande brukare och samtidigt förhålla sig till lagstiftningen samt arbetsgivarens riktlinjer. Den teoretiska grunden i uppsatsen bygger på symbolisk interaktionism då en central del i studien handlar om att beskriva social interaktion. De underliggande teorierna och begreppen berör byråkrati och social handling samt rolltagande, empati och bemötande, där de två förstnämnda har valts eftersom de på ett relevant sätt kan bidra med förståelse vid tolkning av medarbetarnas beskrivningar av att bemöta brukarna och samtidigt förhålla sig till lagar och riktlinjer. De tre sistnämnda valen har gjorts då ett stort fokus ligger på bemötande, vilket i sin tur hänger ihop med empati och rolltagande. Vidare baseras det teoretiska utgångsläget på Trost och Levins definition av symbolisk interaktionism, där underliggande teorier och begrepp bygger på Webers diskussion om byråkrati och social handling, Trost och Levins tolkning av Meads teori om rolltagande, samt Henriksen och Vetlesens beskrivning av empati och bemötande. Uppsatsens metodologiska ansats är dubbel hermeneutik som innebär tolkning av något som redan är tolkat, och som ansågs lämplig eftersom studien gjorts genom att jag tolkat medarbetarnas beskrivningar, vilka i sin tur bygger på deras tolkningar av olika situationer. Studien har genomförts med intervjuer med personal på ett gruppboende, där det framkom att medarbetarna antingen ser bemötandet av brukarna som rutinmässigt eller som en utmaning. De flesta upplevde att det i vissa hänseenden är problematiskt att bemöta brukarna enligt arbetsgivarens riktlinjer, enligt någon berodde det på att riktlinjerna var otydliga, medan flera uppgav att de inte var praktiskt genomförbara. Medarbetarnas olika upplevelser kunde till stor del bli förståeliga med stöd av Webers diskussion om olika handlingstyper. I stort sett rådde det enighet om att svårigheterna att praktiskt tillämpa arbetsgivarens riktlinjer innebar negativa konsekvenser för brukarnas rätt till självbestämmande, eftersom de både är äldre och omfattas av LSS.

Following Toyota's dramatic rise to prominence within the automotive industry in the late 1980's, firms around the globe have widely sought to adopt Lean Six Sigma (LSS) as a means of reducing costs, improving quality, and gaining an overall competitive advantage. While the operational benefits of LSS are largely undisputed, there are criticisms of the movement with regards to its effect on firm innovation capability. Prior academic studies investigating the relationship between LSS and innovation are largely conceptual in nature, rely heavily on qualitative data, and display a high degree of variability in results. The objective of this work was to empirically confirm whether LSS adoption had a positive, negative, or neutral impact on firm innovation performance.Financial data was collected for 151 publicly traded firms over the period from 1985 to 2018. The year of company-wide adoption of LSS was identified for each sample firm. Firms were paired with industry rivals using Coarsened Exact Matching (CEM), and statistical regressions were performed to show correlations between LSS implementation (as measured by inventory turns) and innovation performance (as measured by Total Factor Productivity, Research Quotient, and Tobin's Quotient). Regression results indicated that LSS implementation had a positive correlation with firm process innovation performance and the overall market perception of firm innovation and value, and a negative-to-neutral correlation with firm product innovation performance. Additional regressions performed at the industry-sector level revealed that the LSS-innovation relationship varies greatly by industry environment and is subject to unique industry effects and management implementation decisions.

In Sweden there is a limited research about adults with intellectual disabilities and their sexuality through a social work perspective. This study aims to study how workers in group homes and their managers describes the residents sexuality and describes how they approaches their sexuality at work. And if there’s any facilities or hindrance that affects the sexual space. 5 semi-structured interviews with managers and coordinators, and 3 focus groups with carers where made. For analysis script theory and the charmed circle have been used. The result shows that people who works at group homes has no guidance or collective ways to approach sexuality in their work. They talk about an open approach but often describes the residents as asexual and connects sexuality with the level of disabilities. The respondents acknowledge that they need more knowledge. The conclusion is that there’s a need for more knowledge and guidance for people who work at group homes to extend the space for sexuality for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Previous research shows that people with severe disabilities often are neglected in the work of enhancing user participation. It is shown that even though professionals increase the possibility for user participation in their work, it is not necessary that the users receive it. This study aims to show how professionals working for people with disabilities applies user participation in their everyday work. We used a qualitative exploratory method and interviewed ten social workers within service administration and supportive housing, located at three different municipalities in the region of Stockholm. Using Shier’s participation model in combination with theory of recognition we got similar results as previous research. The social workers have a great intention in enhancing user’s participation in their work, though organizational structures stand in their way. That drives them to use what is known as “silent knowledge”, a combination of their personality, previous experience and their ingenuity.

Prior studies have shown that individuals with disabilities, especially those with communication disabilities, are at higher risk for being exposed to domestic violence. The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare recommend the municipal social services to use Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) as a means to facilitate communication with such individuals. Further, it is recommended that the social services use a standardized instrument called FREDA-risk assessment to ask clients about domestic violence. However, little is known about the use of those instruments among LSS administrators who handle service and support for individuals with disabilities, who may also have communication disabilities. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of FREDA- risk assessment and AAC among LSS administrators, and to explore whether the use of AAC affects the use of FREDA-risk assessment. In order to do so, a digital survey was conducted, in which 366 respondents spread over 144 municipalities participated. The results show that both instruments are not use at their full potential and that the use of AAC could facilitate the use of FREDA- risk assessment. Implications for social work practice and further research are discussed.

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