This qualitative exploratory research study examined the experiences of older women (over age 55) whose husbands had been admitted to a personal care home (PCH) in Winnipeg, Manitoba within the previous twelve (12) months. In-depth, semi-structured, one-on-one interviews were conducted with six (6) women. Socialist feminist and feminist caregiving theoretical frameworks along with narrative analysis were used gain insight into the participants’ needs surrounding their experiences of the admission. Findings include the fact that changes in women’s formal and informal supports began occurring years before their husbands’ admissions. The all-encompassing role as caregiver for their families continued to be central in their lives even after the admission. While women met their material and emotional needs through a range of formal and informal services, the participants were more likely to see needs met through informal means. Themes emerging from the research included those of guilt, entitlement, obligation, and reciprocity.

XX a. viduryje Vakarų Europoje ir Šiaurės Amerikoje prasidėję socialiniai pokyčiai ir naujos neįgaliųjų ugdymo ir socialinės integracijos teorijos turėjo įtakos ir kuriamai Lietuvos švietimo koncepcijai. Lietuvos švietimo politika grindžiama Vakarų Europos priimtais humaniškumo, demokratiškumo principais, normalizacijos, integracijos idėjomis. R. Rose (2003) teigimu, viso pasaulio vyriausybės, pasirašydamos Salamankoje priimtus dokumentus: ataskaitą ir veiksmų planą specialiųjų poreikių vaikų integracijai vystyti (UNESKO 1994), pasižadėjo stengtis sukurti kuo nešališkesnę švietimo sistemą, apimančią geresnį moksleivių, dar dažnai nustumiamų į šalį, ugdymą. Nors ir buvo padaryti dideli žingsniai vaikų iškritimui iš mokyklos įveikti, dar vis pasitaiko atvejų, kai didelis skaičius vaikų pasijunta už tinkamo (atitinkančio vaiko gebėjimus) ugdymo ribų. Įvairūs tyrimai rodo, kad nesėkmingo mokymosi mastai įvairiose švietimo sistemose, tame tarpe ir Lietuvoje, yra ryškūs (Barkauskaitė M, 2003). Aktualiausia švietimo ir ugdymo problema ES ir Lietuvoje įvardijamas kokybiškas visų švietimas. Kiekvieno vaiko „iškritimas” iš mokyklos yra netektis valstybei, reikalaujanti papildomų investicijų. Sprendžiant šį uždavinį, specialiųjų ugdymo(si) poreikių (SUP) savalaikiškas identifikavimas tampa itin aktualus, nes šalina nesėkmingo mokymosi, neigiamai veikiančio vaiko asmenybę, priežastis, sudaro galimybes mokytis pagal individualius gebėjimus, garantuoja „nubyrėjimo” iš mokyklos prevenciją... [to full text] / The subject of master’s work – Identification of special (self)-educational needs: the aspect of special development commission’s activity. The subject is relevant because the different researches show that the scale of unsuccessful learning in different educational systems including Lithuania is telling. Dealing with educational today’s problems the well-timed identification of special (self)-educational needs (SEN) is becoming especially talking point because it eliminates the reasons of unlucky learning, which negatively affects to the child’s personality, helps to solve the most actual educational problem in EU and Lithuania – the qualitative development of all schoolchildren and guarantees the prevention of dropping out of schools. The schools must be ready to envisage the special needs of pupils, to consider the individual abilities of children and organize the service of social, psychological, special pedagogical help. The purpose of research – to show the situation (problems, reasons) of identification of special (self)-educational needs of schoolchildren in the commissions of special development and formulate the recommendations for improving this work. The purpose is realized by these goals: a) to discover the survey of development of institutions that identify SEN and the conception of special development commission (SDC), b) to discuss the conception of special (self)-educational needs and their identification as well as the matter of activity, c) to estimate... [to full text]

This study presents some teachers' views on whether today's school is a school for everybody or not. It has also looked into what special resources that are put in for children in special needs. The purpose of this study is to find out some teachers' views and thoughts on the concept of "an Education for everybody" and how these teachers said they worked with children in special needs. After taking part of and processed recent research results and literature, I chose to examine this through qualitative interviews. I interviewed three teachers, one primary school teacher, one special education teacher and one preschool teacher. The conclusions were that the concept of education could be understood in different ways. One teacher said that today’s school is for everyone because all children have the right to go to school. The other teachers said that today’s school is not a place for everybody since some children go to separate schools and special schools. The importance of including all students became clear since the teachers felt that that was the goal, but that the environment and time plays a big role when working with it. The teachers felt that more recourses would contribute to a more including and integrating environment. The school must adapt to the students' needs regardless of what they might be.

Informations- och kommunikationsteknik (IKT) är ett aktuellt ämne i skolor världen över och denna studie kan vara av intresse för lärare, specialpedagoger, skolledare och lärarutbildare. Syftet med föreliggande studie var att beskriva och analysera lärares erfarenheter och uppfattningar av användningen av IKT för elever i behov av särskilt stöd som går i vanliga klasser, och att finna sambandet mellan IKT och inkludering. Vidare identifierades omständigheter och strategier för att göra arbetet med IKT mer inkluderande. En enkätstudie genomfördes med 92 lärare och kvalitativa intervjuer gjordes med fyra lärare i tre olika kommuner i norra Sverige. Resultatet indikerade att IKT användes för elever i behov av särskilt stöd i alla åldersgrupper, vanligast användes datorn för skrivande och ordbehandling. IKT skulle kunna användas för att kompensera för olikheter och bidra till inkludering för elever i behov av särskilt stöd, men då behöver undervisningen anpassas med tanke på elevers behov samt att tekniken bör integreras med pedagogiken. Uppfattningarna om vad inkludering innebär varierar och inkludering ses huvudsakligen som kunskapsmässig, vilket kan leda till både social och fysisk exkludering. Undervisningen i vanliga klassrum anpassades inte alltid för alla elevers behov och IKT verktyg användes ofta av elever i exkluderande miljöer. För att göra IKT användningen mer inkluderande behöver kunskap till lärare, utrustning och tid. Implikationer för praktiken är att lärare behöver mer utbildning i att använda IKT för elever i behov av särskilt stöd och att specialpedagogen bör ses som en handledare för lärarna. Förslag till fortsatt forskning skulle kunna vara fler liknande studier eller studier om möjligheterna med en-till-en för elever i behov av särskilt stöd. / Information and communication technology (ICT) is a current issue in schools around the world and this study may be of interest to teachers, special education teachers, school leaders and teacher educators. The aim of this study was to describe and analyze teachers’ experiences of and perceptions on information and communication technology (ICT) use for students with special educational needs (SEN) in general educational settings and to find the relationship between ICT and inclusion. In addition to that, conditions and strategies in order to make ICT use more inclusive were identified. A questionnaire survey was carried out with 92 responding teachers and qualitative interviews were made with four teachers. The results indicated that ICT was used for SEN students in all age groups, most commonly the computer was used for writing and word processing. ICT could be used as a way to bridge the gap to inclusion and compensate for differences and contribute to inclusion of students with special needs but in order to do that teaching should be adapted to students’ needs and pedagogy ought to be integrated with technology. Though, the perceptions of what inclusion is differs and inclusion is mainly seen as didactic, which can lead to social and physical exclusion. Teaching in mainstream classrooms was not always adapted to all students’ needs and assistive technology was often used by students in exclusive settings. In order to make the use of ICT more inclusive, teachers need knowledge, equipment and time. Implications for teachers and teacher educators are that teachers should become more educated about ICT for SEN and that special education teachers should be seen as supervisors for teachers. Suggestions for further research could be more similar studies or studies about the possibilities with one-to-one for students with special educational needs.

This research investigates what rural villagers perceive as important and develops recommendations for improved electrification project implementation centring on user-perceived values (UPVs). UPVs capture more than the basic definition of value in the sense that they include benefits, concerns, feelings and underlying drivers that vary in importance and act as the main motivators in the lives of project beneficiaries as perceived at a given time. Low access to energy continues in rural sub-Saharan Africa despite significant investment by the development community. One fundamental reason is that energy infrastructure adoption remains low, as evidenced by the lack of project sustainability. To counter this, the challenge for energy project developers is to achieve sustainable long-term interventions through the creation of value for beneficiaries, rather than the traditional approach of focusing on short-term project outputs. The question of what is valuable to people in rural communities has historically not played into the design and diffusion of energy infrastructure development projects. This research drew on design and marketing approaches from the commercial sector to investigate the UPVs of rural Ugandans. To better understand the UPVs of rural villagers a new method, consisting of a UPV game and UPV framework, was developed. This method is suitable for capturing, understanding and mapping what rural populations perceive as important. Case study analyses were carried out in seven villages across rural Uganda. The case studies included the UPV game supplemented by non-energy-specific and energy-specific interviews with villagers. Additionally, interviews with experts were conducted to verify the UPV framework and to identify the gap between experts’ opinion and villagers’ perception of what is important. The research demonstrates the effectiveness of the UPV game in deducing the values of rural villagers. The findings demonstrate a disconnect in the ability to accurately capture and design projects which resonate with and respond to the UPVs of recipients of rural electrification projects. A comparison between the villagers’ statements and experts’ opinion regarding what is most valuable to rural communities reveals striking differences that point to a fundamental misunderstanding of rural community UPVs which are likely to be contributing to widespread electrification project failure.

Caregivers in children’s homes are the front-end workers who care for looked-after children daily. Looked-after children in children’s homes constitute a particularly vulnerable group, who are known to reveal mental health problems, which complicate the care-giving role. In conjunction with the lack of training and support, caregivers experience great challenges. This research study explores and describes the training and holistic care-giving needs of caregivers, by applying qualitative needs assessment design, where the responses of 12caregivers are explored and described. Data from the literature and semi-structured interviews and questionnaires was categorised into themes. Overarching findings include altruistic needs, the need for support and to be valued, with the researcher making recommendations and providing a convincing argument for immediate therapeutic support for caregivers. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

The system of care for persons suffering from schizophrenia is in a state of upheaval and the community in general is visibly frightened of an illness it knows little about except for the information acquired often from media reporting. Considering persons suffering from schizophrenia as holistic beings, this study explored and assessed the needs of these persons residing in the Mogoto Village, Zebediela District in the Northern Province. The primary purpose of the study was to explore and describe the holistic needs of persons suffering from schizophrenia thus facilitating the planning of care and care facilities for these individuals to enable them to function optimally in the community. To accomplish this purpose, specific objectives were formulated. A quantitative, exploratory and descriptive study based on the Nursing Theory for the Whole Person was carried out. Through purposive sampling 60 respondents were selected. A questionnaire was administered to the respondents. Data from questionnaires revealed that despite the diagnosis of schizophrenia, the respondents were still regarded as valuable members of the community by those who cared for them. There was also an indication that the needs of persons suffering from schizophrenia in the Mogoto Village did not differ from the needs of other persons in the rest of the world. Like any unique person they have specific needs. There was also an indication that mental illness is still rated low in the prioritisation of health problems, hence the lack of resources and support needed for the rehabilitation of persons suffering from schizophrenia, especially in the rural areas. / Advanced Nursing Sciences / M.A.(Nursing Science)

Det kommer ständigt nya studier med olika hälsoråd angående kosten och fysiskaktivitet om hur vi ska undvika fetma, högt blodtryck samt hjärt- och kärlsjukdomar.Intresset av proteinets effekt på uppbyggnad av muskelmassa vid fysisk aktivitet harökat. Detta har medfört ett stort urval av olika drycker med proteintillskott påmarknaden, främst ur animaliskt ursprung.Syftet med detta examensarbete var att ta fram en vegetabilisk proteinberikadhavredryck som förväntas hjälpa kroppen vid återhämtning. Arbetet innebar att utvecklaett recept baserat på de Nordiska Näringsrekommendationer 2004 (NNR) med fokus påprotein, kolhydrater och fett. Delmålet var även att utesluta allergener. Dryckenbaserades på ett medelvärde från de fysiskt aktiva och äldre människors näringsbehov,detta för att bredda den tilltänkta dryckens målgrupp.Fyra smaksatta drycker framställdes med olika energiinnehåll utifrån två olikahavredrycker, en naturell och en kalciumberikad. För att utvärdera konsumenternasuppfattning av de olika dryckernas sammansättning utfördes ett konsumenttest.Resultatet av testet visade att det fanns en statistiskt signifikant skillnad kringkonsistens, smak och utseende. Flertalet respondenter var positiva till dryckernassensoriska egenskaper. / There are constantly new studies with various health advice regarding diet and physicalactivity on how to avoid obesity, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The interestof the protein's effect on building muscle during physical activity has increased. Thishas resulted in a variety of different drinks with protein supplements on the market,mainly derived from animal origin.The purpose of this report was to develop a vegetable protein enriched oat drink that isexpected to help the body during recovery. The work meant to develop a recipe basedon the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2004 (NNR) with a focus on protein,carbohydrates and fat. The target was also to exclude allergens. The drink was based onan average from the physically active and older people's nutritional needs, in order tobroaden the prospective drink's target audience.Four flavored drinks were made with different energy content from two oat drinks, oneplain and one oat drink enriched with calcium. To evaluate the public's perception of thedifferent beverages composition a consumer test was performed. The results of theconsumer test showed that there was a statistically significant difference on texture,taste and appearance. However, the majority of respondents were positive about thebeverages sensory properties.

The aim of the diploma thesis is to map out the subjective view of volunteers on the psychosocial needs of patients at the Long-term care department in the Královské Vinohrady Faculty Hospital. The work first focuses on the characteristics of patients in a long-term treatment. It also provides the overview of their psychological and social needs and about those who play a role in meeting these needs. The reconnaissance survey identifies areas where volunteers complement the work of social workers and care staff. In the evaluation, the results of the interviews with volunteers are compared with the opinions of the patients themselves

M.Ed. / This study is a result of the commitment of the Eastern Cape Technikon to provide training, research and development in skills needed by the communities it serves. The Eastern Cape Technology and Entrepreneurship Centre (ECTEC) was established in association with the Enterprising Edge and Niagara College. Consequently, a curriculum was made available in order to support the small, medium, and micro entrepreneurs (SMMEs) in Butterworth by educating and training them so that they could run their businesses successfully. Some of the issues that have arisen concerning this intervention, included whether an investigation into the educational and training needs of SMMEs had been done, as well as whether the proposed education and training programme would meet the needs of the intended SMME The aim of this research is to identify and describe the educational and training needs of SMMEs in Butterworth, by conducting a needs assessment. This needs assessment attempts to understand and explain what SMMEs perceive to be their educational and training needs. The sample was composed of SMMEs who are registered learners at the ECTEC. Questionnaires as well as semi—structured interviews were used for data collection. The questionnaire items were summarised and presented in the form of tables. The interview data was then analysed by means of a constant comparative method. The findings of this study show that the educational and training needs of SMMEs are related to issues like accessing finance, keeping proper records of transactions and preparation of books of business, namely, the balance sheet, income as well as cash flow statements. SMMEs also need to know how to undertake the marketing function of their businesses so that they can identify and reach their customers. Finally, SMMEs need to know how to prepare and analyse business plans. These needs should, as far as possible, be considered when designing or modifying the education and training programmes of the SMMEs in order to ensure that training addresses these needs. It is hoped that this study will help to make the course relevant, useful and applicable to the SMMEs in Butterworth and those studying at the ECTEC.