The aim of this study is to illuminate images and discourses, in which media describe people with disabilities. The purpose of the study will be fulfilled, by answering the following questions: Is it possible to discern categories of how people with disabilities are described in the media and is it possible to find associations to handicap models? We have chosen to focus on how media describe people with physical impairments and have made a content analyses of articles, based on the theoretic aim of this study, social constructionism, handicap models and earlier research. Underlying the analyses, are six articles from two Swedish news papers. The results of our research are divided in three categories: assumptions which are taken for granted, hidden meanings and contradicted categories. To sum up the results, we have found several categories in Media’s description of people with disabilities, and in the articles we have also found associations to handicap models. One of the assumptions which are taken for granted is that the disability/impairment defines the person. Hidden meanings are found which indicates, that people with disabilities doesn’t share the same social position as other groups. The articles used in this study are characterised by contradicted categories, the most common is where deviations are compared with what is considered to be normal, by the prevailing discourses. The articles also show associations to the social and the individual model.

The design of Assistive Technology (AT) products that are highly functional as well satisfactory is presents many challenges. Various types of input are used in design of AT products to help overcome them. A study was conducted to gather data on the impact that different types of input (from simulation tools, a professional therapist, and end users) during the design of an AT product has on the effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction of the final design. The results show that input from stakeholders (end users or a therapist) can be very effective. However, effectiveness of the input is influenced by many factors and its impact on the design can be highly variable. Input from simulation tools was also found to be equally effective. Implications of these findings for the process of designing AT products are discussed.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Instructional Systems, Leadership, and Workforce Development. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D)--Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2010. / Committee Chair: Kemp, Charles; Committee Member: Glass, Jonathan; Committee Member: Griffin, Paul; Committee Member: Howard, Ayanna; Committee Member: Thomaz, Andrea. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.

Individuals with blindness or visual impairments as a major cause of disability are at an extreme disadvantage to obtain and maintain employment and thus may seek the assistance of vocational rehabilitation counselors. Information on these individuals, encompassing demographics, disability, public support, and vocational rehabilitation services, is collected by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and becomes a part of the RSA-911 data file. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among demographics, service provisions, competitive employment, and earnings of vocational rehabilitation consumers with blindness or visual impairments. Using a sample of 3,610 cases from the RSA-911 data file from Fiscal Year 2006, logistic regression was utilized to examine the relationships among 20 consumer demographic and 14 case service variables related to competitive employment outcomes. With a sample of 2,320 cases, multiple regression was used to examine which 20 consumer demographic and 14 case service variables predicted weekly earnings at closure for those consumers with competitive employment outcomes. Results from the logistic regression indicated the most important consumer demographic predictors of competitive employment were age, gender, receipt of Medicaid, severity of vision loss, source of referral, and weekly earnings at application. Specifically, those aged 36 or younger who were self-referred, male, had lesser severity of vision loss, and did not receive Medicaid were more likely to find competitive employment. Among case service variables, receiving job-placement assistance and maintenance services were related to competitive employment; receipt of disability-related augmentative skills training and miscellaneous training had a negative impact. Multiple regression revealed that the consumer demographics of gender, higher level of education at closure, receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and weekly earnings at application were important predictors of weekly earnings at closure. Disability-related augmentative skills training was the only case service related to weekly earnings, with a negative impact. Based on these findings, males with earnings at application who did not receive disability-related augmentative skills training were most likely to reach competitive employment outcomes and to have higher earning potential at closure. Limitations of the study as well as implications for practice and future research are discussed. / text

Section A provides a review of the current research literature on religion and parenting a child with a learning disability. Religion is generally associated with positive outcomes, although there are some mixed views regarding religious communities. Most literature is carried out abroad and differences between study designs make it difficult to compare between studies, indicating a strong need for UK research. Implications for services are discussed and suggestions provided for future research. Section B is a research study exploring the role of religion for parents of children with a learning disability in the UK. Existing research shows religion plays an important role for some parents of children with a learning disability. To date, most studies have been carried out in America and have focussed on religious observance. This study aimed to assess the personal role of religion for parents in the UK. Eight parents of Christian, Muslim and Jewish faith were interviewed. Data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, a method designed to capture lived experiences. Religion was found to help some parents make sense of their child’s disability and their role as a parent. Having faith gave parents hope and was an important part of their personal identity. The religious community was generally perceived as supportive, although there were barriers to participation for many families, including limited time and lack of family support. Further research assessing parents with other faiths and from specific ethnic groups and religious denominations may broaden understanding in this area. Section C outlines further issues pertaining to the research study including research skills acquired and lessons learned during the completion of the project, implications for future clinical practice, and ideas for future research.

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Education / Master / Master of Science in Information Technology in Education

This research study aimed to explore the impact on individuals of becoming physically disabled through being victims of crimes of violence. The study begins with a literature review related to issues of disability and to victims of crime. The main focus of the research, however, was to gather information regarding the experiences and needs of persons disabled through being victims of crime and to establish the rehabilitation and trauma counselling services that they have had access to. An exploratory, descriptive, research design guided the study. A purposive sampling procedure was used to identify twenty persons known to the Durban branch of the Association for the Physically Challenged, which provides services to physically disabled persons. Individual, face-to-face interviews were held with the respondents, using a semi-structured interview schedule. Interviewer observations were also undertaken in the process. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used in analysing the results, from which conclusions and recommendations were drawn. The study findings indicate that the majority of persons had become severely disabled through being victims of crimes of violence. The majority of respondents were young when they became disabled, and were mostly single persons who experienced a high degree of dependence on others for various types of assistance, particularly their families and friends. The respondents also experienced a variety of unmet needs as both disabled persons and as victims of crimes of violence, through a lack of and/or inaccessibility to services. Disability, as seen within the context of the "social model", emphasises the role of a disabling environment in contributing to the meaning of disability. Resulting from the findings, it is proposed that social workers are ideally placed to foster empowerment initiatives of disabled persons and victims of crime through facilitating their active involvement in directing services that are both accessible and relevant to their needs. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

The purpose of this study was to investigate a program model in which parents and adolescents examine personal values, career decisions and plans. The subjects were visually impaired students enrolled in regular secondary school and their parents. Twenty volunteer adolescents with visual impairments and their parents from 18 school districts in the province of British Columbia participated in the study. The program consisted of four Partner’s Program (Cochran, 1985) booklets: a parent guideline manual, activity self-exploration exercises, career decisions framework, and a planning workbook designed to facilitate parent involvement in career development activities. Two special career reference publications which described a variety of occupations and necessary adaptations and technical devices designed for individuals with visual impairment were also included. These materials were presented in audio tape, large print and braille. Adolescent subjects and their parents were randomly assigned to two experimental groups. Each group received materials and were given five weeks to complete the program. The Career Decision Scale (Osipow, 1976), Parent Adolescent Communication Scale (Barnes & Olson, 1982), and Career Salience Scale (Greenhaus, 1971, 1977) were employed. All participants were interviewed following the program. A multivariate analysis of variance was computed, and the combined five dependent variables were significantly affected between groups upon completion of the program by the first group. The combined dependent variables were significantly affected again with the second group upon completion of the program. Examination of effect sizes for each dependent variable attributed the differences to gains in measures of career planning and career salience and a decline in career indecision. The effects on the measures of communication were inconclusive. The results indicated that students in both experimental groups confirmed their career choices and became more aware of personal career values. The subjects felt they were encouraged to plan and prepare for a career, explore options, and consider their visual disabilities. Career planning was deemed important by all participants. The importance of work and career were confirmed for participants. Students’ attitudes improved with confirmation of plans and career alternatives. The effects of the program in career development of adolescents with visual impairments and the importance of parent-student communication were positive. The comments of the parents suggested that they had acquired understanding of their child’s career choices.

Temos aktualumas. Mokymas(is) – visą žmogaus gyvenimą trunkantis procesas, kurio tinkamas organizavimas ir vykdymas, lemia kiekvieno gyvenimo kokybę. Žmogus vystosi ir mokosi nuo pat gimimo, o pagrindinė ir svarbiausia mokymosi vieta – mokykla. Remiantis kadenciją baigusio prezidento V. Adamkaus mintimis: „Tikra mokykla niekada nebuvo ir negali būti vien žinių kalvė“. [32] Pasak jo: „Mokykloje žmonės mokosi bendrauti, gerbti šalia esantį, tikėti juo ir savo tauta, čia prasideda tikrasis žmogiškumas ir tikrasis patriotizmas“. [32] Ypatingo tikėjimo ir pasitikėjimo iš šalia esančio laukia vaikai, turintys specialiųjų poreikių, todėl negalima pamiršti, jog neįgalieji, specialiuosius poreikius turintys žmonės yra mūsų visuomenės nariai, turintys tokias pačias teises kaip ir kiti mūsų visuomenėje. Jiems pagal neįgaliųjų integracijos į visuomenę požiūrį turi būti sudaromos tokios pat ugdymo, darbo, laisvalaikio leidimo, dalyvavimo visuomenės, politiniame ir bendruomenės gyvenime galimybės. Kiekvieno žmogaus integracijos į visuomenę procesas prasideda mokykloje, kurioje, remiantis švietimo memorandumo dokumentu, yra siūloma plačios apimties individuali pagalba organizuotu būdu. Lietuvoje meno terapijos elementai pradėti taikyti palyginti neseniai. Tik po Lietuvos nepriklausomybės atkūrimo pradėjo kurtis pirmosios organizacijos, besirūpinančios neįgaliųjų meniniu, estetiniu ugdymu. Svarbu tai, jog meno terapijoje ne tiek svarbus rezultatas, kiek pats kūrimo procesas, leidžiantis... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / People with disabilities, people with special needs in our society have the same rights as other members of the public. People with disabilities must have the same education, work, leisure, participation in the social life, political and community options. Art therapy is interpreted differently in different countries and in different scientific literature. Art therapy can be appreciated as one of the integration dimension of the disable people into the society. Art is emerging as the most perfect language for all people to communicate, especially while verbal communication is difficult or impossible. Art therapy is applied recently in Lithuania. Art therapy is an effective and useful. But there is problems how to apply it, how to organize the work, what programs and methodological materials you can use in work, how to evaluate the effectiveness, who is suitable professionals for this job, how to adapt art therapy to the general curriculum? Master's paper objective is to analyze and evaluate the art education process peculiarity in the special needs schools. To implement the objective the following tasks were raised: to analyze the general methodological recommendatory documents of the primary and general education programs; to disclose the peculiarity of organizing art education in special needs schools; evaluate the peculiarity of organizing art education in special needs schools and to do the to do the questionnaire research. The object of the research is art education... [to full text]