À la fin des années 2000, de nombreuses fédérations sportives traditionnelles se structurent pour organiser une pratique à destination des personnes handicapées. Des transformations des organisations sportives internationales et locales favorisent cette nouvelle forme d'action fédérale. Au niveau national, des politiques publiques incitent également ces fédérations à un plus grand investissement auprès des populations handicapées. Toutefois, l'action fédérale envers les personnes handicapées doit aussi être comprise à travers l'engagement d'acteurs particuliers. L'analyse de sept fédérations, en tant qu'institutions, démontre alors la construction d'une nouvelle catégorie d'acteurs souvent identifiés comme référents handicaps et pouvant être caractérisés d'entrepreneurs. Ces acteurs, soutenus par leurs dirigeants, investissent l'organisation de la pratique des personnes handicapées et rallient un nombre important d'acteurs fédéraux pour développer les projets. La mise en évidence des compétences sociales de ces entrepreneurs est également possible à travers l'analyse d'un travail de coopération avec des acteurs extérieurs à la fédération. L'étude des relations avec les fédérations spécifiques ou avec le ministère des sports, notamment par l'intermédiaire du pôle ressources national sport et handicaps, met alors en exergue des luttes pour la manière d'organiser la pratique des personnes handicapées. Ces luttes renforcent la visibilité et le positionnement des différents acteurs impliqués dans les processus d'engagements fédéraux. Elles permettent aussi la caractérisation d'un espace national « sports et handicaps » en pleine recomposition face à l'enjeu de l'intégration des personnes handicapées au sein du monde sportif. / In the late 2000s, many mainstream sports federations are structured to organize a way of practicing sports for people with disabilities. International and local transformations promote this new form of federal action. The transformation of international and local sports organizations promotes this new form of federal action. On a national level, public policies also encourage the federations to be more invested with people with disabilities. However, the federal action organized for people with disabilities must also be understood through the commitment of individual actors. The analysis of seven federations, as institutions, demonstrates the construction of a new category of actors, often identified as 'disability referents' and that can be characterized as entrepreneurs within their federation. These actors, supported by their leaders, invest the organization of with the practice of sports by disabled people and rally a large number of federal actors to develop the projects. Highlighting these entrepreneurs’ social skills is also possible through the analysis of cooperation with actors outside the federation. The study of these relationships with specific federations or with the Ministry of Sports, especially through the “pôle ressources national sport et handicaps”, highlights struggles about how to organize the practice of sports by disabled people. These struggles reinforce the visibility and positioning of the actors involved in the process of federal commitments. They also allow the characterization of a national "sports and disabilities" space in full recombining in front of the challenge of integrating people with disabilities in the sports world.

Cette analyse des stratégies mises en œuvre par une entreprise pour l’emploi des personnes handicapées est le fruit d’un travail d’observation de près de quatre années, mené dans le cadre d’une thèse « CIFRE ». Notre étude s’appuie sur des corpus d’interactions et de documents issus des activités de l’entreprise (supports de communication, mails, notes de travail, etc.). Ayant situé notre travail dans la perspective de la linguistique interactionnelle, nous nous intéressons plus particulièrement à la façon dont une entreprise définit le handicap. Des situations de réunion (préparation de communications internes, réunions « d’information-sensibilisation » destinées au personnel) et des documents réalisés dans la perspective d’une politique d’intégration de personnes permettent d’analyser un ensemble de pratiques descriptives du handicap. Ces pratiques révèlent des modes de description très éloignés des pratiques ordinaires qui traitent le plus souvent du handicap comme d’un stigmate. En effet, les pratiques des entreprises visent au contraire à le constituer en ressource afin de convaincre de l’intérêt que représente l’emploi des personnes handicapées (avantages managériaux, financiers, etc.). Les descriptions produites sont constitutives d’un savoir sur le handicap propre au contexte de l’entreprise et rendent visibles pour l’analyste les processus de catégorisation des personnes handicapées ainsi que les attentes normatives associées à cette catégorie. L’analyse des pratiques observées nous a permis de réaliser un support d’information et de sensibilisation pour la mise en œuvre d’une politique d’emploi en faveur des personnes handicapées. / This analysis of strategies used by a company in the employment of disabled persons is the product of fours years of observation, undertaken as part of a company-university doctoral partnership [“CIFRE” contract]. Our study is based on interactional data and documents produced by company’s activities (communication mediums, e-mails, meetings notes, etc...). Our work falls within the boundaries of interactional linguistics, with a specific focus on how companies define disability. We were able to analyze a series of descriptive practices of disability in the context of meetings (for the preparation of internal communication, to inform and raise awareness among personnel) and though documents produced to implement an employment policy for persons with disabilities. These practices reveal ways of describing disability that greatly differ from ordinary practices, which often treat disability as a stigma. Indeed, company practices seek to present disability as a resource, in order to convincingly convey the benefits of employing disabled persons (management and financial gains, etc.). The descriptions produced are constitutive of a knowledge about disability, unique to the company’s context, and which make visible to the analyst both the processes of categorization of disabled persons as well as presumptive knowledge concerning this category. The analysis of practices observed allowed us to design a document to inform and raise awareness about the implementation of an employment policy concerning people with disabilities.

The world has experienced a tremendous growth in its elderly population. With the aging of the population, policy makers are concerned about the health of these elderly as well as their utilization of health care and social services and perceived need for additional services. The Canadian elderly population is similar to other elderly populations in that a few tend to be the heaviest users of the available services. The predictors of this utilization behavior and perceived need primarily include need variables, such as the number of limitations of daily living -- both ADLs and IADLs, and functional limitations. In addition, enabling variables, such as income, work activity and geographic region of residence were also found to be significant.

Please read the abstract (summary) in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (MA (Alternative and Augmentative Communication))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication / MA / unrestricted

Abstract The purpose of this study was to analyse how highly educated people with physical and/or sensor disabilities (PwD) integrate in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector. The approach was the experience of PwD. In stead of earlier single approach studies, the aim of the study was to identify factors, which are influencing on ICT field study place selection, and which are improving their employment and which factors push ahead them to carry on in the ICT field. One of the interviewees summarized: Don’t give the lead to others! In general, ICT-sector work has been seen as work that does not require physical capability from an employee, and usually the work is not physically demanding. Therefore, ICT sector work can be consireded to be suitable for PWD employees. This study was carried out by using a qualitative research method. It was an empirical study that took into account elements of social research. The empirical material was based on 21 semi-structured interviews involving eight women and thirteen men, and all of them had physical and/or sensor disability. The interviewees were offered the opportunity to share their experiences as freely as possible. The severity, age and work experience of the persons involved in the study varied widely. All of the interviewees were Finnish citizens and at the time of the study they lived in Finland, and all of the interviewees had been in ICT field or suited studies in tertiary level. They had also been working or they were working in the ICT sector during the interviews. The study showed that disability has a major impact on the choice of the place where ICT is studied. The interviewees were well aware of the constraints caused by their injuries. The interviewed persons had found workplaces easily in the ICT sector. However, a few interviewees mentioned that disability had had a negative impact on individual job search processes. The study also showed that people with disabilities are able to work independently in the ICT field and integrate into the work community. Nearly all of the interviewees had a long career in the work of their first employer and they had progressed well in the career. The results of the dissertation are to encourage young people with disabilities to acquire higher education and work life more actively than before, as well as their teachers and employers to pay more attention to competence and eligibility than to disability. The encouragement of family and individual teachers was also seen as a major factor in starting the university studies. During the research, it was also found that factors relevant to employment include the networks and know-how created during the studies. This study also challenges people responsible for recruiting in companies to evaluate their own values and attitudes towards different people. / Tiivistelmä Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli analysoida, kuinka korkeasti koulutetut fyysisesti vammaiset tai aistivammaiset henkilöt integroituvat tieto- ja viestintäteknologia-alalle (ICT). Näkökulmana oli vammaisten oma kokemus. Aikaisempien yhden näkökulman tutkimusten sijaan tämä tutkimus etsi tekijöitä, jotka vaikuttavat ICT-alan opiskelupaikan valintaan, edistävät vammaisten henkilöiden työllistymistä ja kannustavat heitä jatkamaan ICT-alalla. Yksi haastateltu tiivistikin asian osuvasti seuraavasti: Älä anna muille etumatkaa! Yleisesti ICT-alan työn ei nähdä vaativan fyysisiä ominaisuuksia, eikä työ ole yleensä ruumiillisesti raskasta. ICT-alan työn voidaan katsoa soveltuvan hyvin henkilöille, joilla on rajoitteita vammoistaan johtuen. Tutkimus toteutettiin kvalitatiivisella tutkimusmenetelmällä. Kyseessä oli empiirinen tutkimus, jossa otettiin huomioon sosiaalitutkimuksen elementtejä. Tutkimusaineisto perustui 21 semi-strukturoituun haastatteluun, joihon osallistui kahdeksan naista ja 13 miestä. Haastateltaville tarjottiin mahdollisuus kertoa kokemuksistaan mahdollisimman vapaasti. Tutkimukseen osallistuneiden henkilöiden vammojen vaikeusaste, ikä ja työkokemus vaihtelivat laajasti. Kaikki haastatellut olivat suomalaisia, ja he olivat opiskelleet ICT-alaa korkeakouluissa sekä työskennelleet tai työskentelivät tutkimuksen aikana ICT-alalla. Tutkimus osoitti, että vammaisuus vaikuttaa merkittävästi ICT-alan opiskelupaikan valintaan. Haastateltavat tunnistivat hyvin vammoistaan johtuvat rajoitteet. Haastatellut työllistyivät tutkimuksen perusteella hyvin ICT-alan työtehtäviin. Muutama haastateltava tosin mainitsi, että vammaisuus oli vaikuttanut negatiivisesti yksittäisissä työpaikkahakuprosesseissa. Tutkimus osoitti myös, että vammaiset henkilöt pystyvät työskentelemään ICT-alan työtehtävissä itsenäisesti, ja että he integroituvat työyhteisöön. Lähes kaikilla tutkimukseen osallistuneilla oli pitkä työura ensimmäisen työnantajansa palveluksessa, ja he olivat edenneet työuralla hyvin. Väitöskirjan tulosten toivotaan rohkaisevan vammaisia nuoria hakeutumaan korkeakouluopintoihin ja työelämään aikaisempaa aktiivisemmin sekä heidän opettajiaan ja työnantajiaan kiinnittämään enemmän huomiota osaamiseen ja kelpoisuuteen kuin vammaisuuteen. Perheen ja yksittäisten opettajien kannustus nähtiin tutkimuksessa myös korkeakouluopintojen aloittamisen kannalta merkittäväksi tekijäksi. Tutkimuksen yhteydessä havaittiin myös, että työllistymisen kannalta tärkeitä tekijöitä ovat opiskelujen aikana luodut verkostot ja osaaminen. Tämä tutkimus haastaa myös yrityksissä rekrytoinneista vastaavia henkilöitä arvioimaan omia arvojaan ja asenteitaan erilaisia ihmisiä kohtaan.

The thesis is focused on the position of people with disabilities on the labour market in the Czech Republic, on the received arrangements for support of their employment and on their possibilities to get a job. The first part deals with characteristics of the present situation of disabled people on the labour market and with specification of various factors, which can influence their employment. The next part is focused on the supported employment service, which helps disadvantaged people on the labour market, especially people with disabilities, on the principles and advantages of this service and also on the comparison of the Czech experiences with experiences of the chosen European union countries. Only the nongovernmental non-profit organizations so far offer the supported employment service in the Czech Republic and that is why the following part discusses the topic of this organizations and their financing, especially funding from EU structural funds, which are the most important source of money for most of the mentioned organizations. The final part deals with the incentives, which can lead employers to employ the person with disability.

The use of multimodal communication by one moderately mentally retarded, nonphysically impaired teenage girl was investigated. Eighty minutes of language samples were transcribed, coded, and analysed for modes of communication, communicative intent, discourse function, and context of conversation. It was found that six different modes of communication, and various combinations of these modes, were used throughout the samples. A strong relationship between mode of communication and communicative Intent was found. Furthermore, the context of conversation influenced the mode of communication. No strong relationship was found, however, between discourse function and mode of communication. Implications of this research for a theory of multimodal communication in the nonverbal, as well as suggestions for clinical intervention with this population, are discussed. / Medicine, Faculty of / Audiology and Speech Sciences, School of / Graduate

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. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

This diploma thesis examines the factors affecting the employment of people with disabilities from the perspective of employers in the local labor market in Písek. The aim is to determine whether the employment of people with disabilities is financially advantageous. One part of this work summarizes the legislative framework and comparison of supported employment in Austria and in the Czech Republic. Data analysis of four companies focuses on several criteria such as the amount of subsidies, staff turnover rate, other administrative costs and so on. Local survey represents opinions and experiences of employers. The benefits of this diploma thesis are the quantification of financial advantages and disadvantages associated with the employment of people with disabilities and proposals for institutional provisions.

This study focused on the needs of 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students who have I.Q. scores of roughly 75-95. These students often function two or more years below grade level in school and are referred to as Marginally Learning Disabled (MLD), or slow learners. Factors which contribute to the existence of this situation were discussed as were problems of accurate identification. It was found that most school districts do not provide special help for these students. MLD students are usually placed in the regular classroom. A few school districts have experimented with special resource classes or self-contained classes. Parental involvement was found to be a major factor in the academic progress of the slow learner. Teacher effectiveness is also extremely important. An effective teacher was found to, (a) believe the child could learn, (b) be organized and run a structured program, and (c) provide direct, group instruction rather than individualized lessons.