In the United States, nearly 30% of children experience a moderate to severe chronic illness or disability, and nearly all of these children live in a household with at least one sibling (Cox, Marshall, Medleco, & Olsen, 2003). Having a child with a disability in the family can create several demanding and permanent changes for each member of the family (Fisman, Wolf, Ellison, & Freeman, 2000). Empirical and theoretical research have revealed that having a child with a disability impacts each member of the family, both in regard to long-term functioning and day-to-day activities (Cox et al., 2003).There are relatively few studies that explore the sibling relationship between a non-disabled child and a child with a disability. Not surprisingly, there are even fewer studies that evaluate the impact of specific types of disabilities, such as visual impairment, on the sibling relationship (Stoneman & Brody, 1993). Because of the uniqueness of each type of disability, more research should focus on specific types of disabilities, such as visual impairments. This study was conducted in an effort to better understand the experiences and opinions of children with a visual impairment and their non-disabled siblings.Utilizing a qualitative approach, ten children with visual impairments and ten sighted siblings were interviewed. Through these interviews, several themes emerged, including the following: closeness, conflict, impact of disability, responsibility/assistance, understanding of disability, and coping strategies. Within each of these themes were related subthemes. From these themes and interrelationships of the themes emerged an integrated theory of sibling relationships when one sibling has a visual impairment, which included the dimensions of the non-disability sibling dyad, the shared disability experience, and coping-related strategies.Based on the reports of children with visual impairments and their sighted siblings, visual impairment can have both positive and negative implications toward the sibling relationship. Children with visual impairments and their siblings have the challenge of managing a "typical", non-disability related, sibling relationship along with their shared disability experience. Implications for professionals include assisting with coping-related strategies, such as increased communication, teaching advocacy, and assisting with education and social support. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Our research posits a context-sensitive, adaptable, assistive services and technology system (CAAST) that takes advantage of the advancements in mobile computing to provide barrier-free access to environmental information and devices. To inform our research we explore the following topics: the deficiencies associated with current assistive technologies; the advances in wireless sensor node technology; the interference and accuracy problems associated with wireless location detection; the coordination problems associated with service discovery; the management and coordination problems associated with decentralized sensor nodes; the separation of information and activities from the human interface; the efficiency and abstraction problems associated with interface description languages; and the adaptation of information and activities to meet the needs of those with disabilities. As a result of our research into these areas we devise an assistive technology, CAAST, that intends to be a comprehensive approach to universal access to information and activities for those with disabilities. / Department of Computer Science

Visuomenėje šalia įvairių socialinių grupių egzistuoja specifinė grupė – neįgaliųjų mažuma. Anksčiau visuomenėje neįgaliųjų lyg ir nebuvo, nes jie gyveno uždarose institucijose, už socialinio gyvenimo ribų. Lietuvai atkūrus nepriklausomybę įvyko daug esminių pokyčių. Demokratiniams procesams atvėrus uždarų specialiųjų institucijų duris, nuo užuojautos neįgaliesiems pereita prie praktinės socialinės integracijos. Nors visoje Lietuvoje galioja palankūs neįgaliųjų įdarbinimą reglamentuojantys teisės aktai, o darbdaviams sudaromos sąlygos neįgaliųjų įdarbinimui, ryškėja nauja neįgaliųjų mažos motyvacijos dirbti problema, kuri iki šiol nebuvo nagrinėta ir yra neabejotinai aktuali. Magistro darbe teoriškai analizuojama neįgalių asmenų integracijos samprata, apžvelgiami neįgaliųjų integraciją darbo rinkoje reglamentuojantys teisės aktai. Pristatomas tyrimas, kuriuo nustatytos neįgalių asmenų mažos motyvacijos dirbti priežastys ir darbdavių požiūris į neįgalų darbuotoją Vilniaus mieste. Tyrimo hipotezė, kad neįgaliųjų integraciją į darbo rinką Vilniaus mieste riboja pačių neįgaliųjų motyvacijos dirbti stoka, pasitvirtino iš dalies. Daugumos darbdavių nuomone, neįgalieji stokoja motyvacijos dirbti, kvalifikacijos ir kompetencijų, bijo būti atstumti ir neįvertinti. Tačiau išaiškėjo, kad daugelis neįgaliųjų jau yra bandę dirbti ir save realizuoti profesinėje veikloje, dirbti jiems yra svarbu. Integruojantis į darbo rinką neįgaliesiems nėra svarbiausi tik finansiniai motyvai... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / In the society among various social groups there is a specific group – the disabled minority. Previously, people with disabilities in society lived in closed institutions for social life outside. After restoration of independence took place in a number of significant changes. From compassion disabled transition to practical social integration. Throughout Lithuania in favor of persons with disabilities is valid legislation, and employers to employ people with disabilities. However, people with disabilities, a new low motivation to work for a problem that so far has not been considered and is certainly relevant. Ihe Master work theoretically analyzes the concept of the integration of people with disabilities and this people an overview of labor market legislation. The survey, which provides people with disabilities to work in low motivation and reasons, analyzed employers' attitudes to disabled worker in Vilnius. The research hypothesis, that the people with disabilities integration into the labor market in Vilnius limited by the disabled lack of motivation to work, proved in part. Most of the employers says, that people with disabilities lack the motivation to work, skills and competencies that are afraid of being rejected and unappreciated. However, it turned out that many people with disabilities are already trying to work and realize their professional life, their work is important. Integration into the labor market for disabled people is not only the most important... [to full text]

The purpose of the study was to assess programs, activities and facilities for physically handicapped students at Ball State University.Study participants included eighty-five individuals identified by University officials. Participants included fifty-six physically handicapped students, nine non-handicapped undergraduate students, ten administrators and ten faculty. Physically handicapped students were divided into seven disability groups including: (1) blind; (2) visually impaired; (3) deaf; (4) hearing impaired; (5) wheelchair confined; (6) limited ambulatory and (7) "other" disabilities.An interview assessment instrument was developed consisting of fifty items divided into five sections. Participants were interviewed for assessment of specific accommodations, general information, legislation, communication and attitudes concerning programs, activities and facilities for physically handicapped students at Ball State University. Fourteen trained interviewers conducted interviews with assigned participants.Physically handicapped students completed assessments from all five sections of the assessment instrument. Non-handicapped undergraduate students, administrators and faculty completed assessments from general information, legislation, communication and attitudes sections.Analyses of assessment data included-profile comparisons by number and percentage of participant responses. Response choices to assessment instrument items were: (1) a great degree; (2) moderate degree;(3) small degree; (4) none and (5) I don't know also collected from all study participants.The following summary of findings is based on analyses of assessment responses received from the study population.1. University transportation services were not as useful for handicapped students as non-handicapped students.2. Physical education facilities were not as useful for handicapped as for non-handicapped.3. Intramural sports provisions were not adequate for handicapped participation.4. Nobility impaired students reported difficulty with University door accommodations.5. Blind and visually impaired reported a greater need for brail and auditory information in public places at the University.6. Deaf and hearing impaired students reported a greater need for visual fire alarms and amplified telephones at the University.7. Wheelchair confined, limited ambulatory and "other" disability students reported little convenience in use of University parking facilities.8. Twenty of fifty-six handicapped students reported inconvenience in use of library card catalogs.9. Six wheelchair confined, one limited ambualtory, one blind, one visually impaired and three "other" disability students reported a need for more appropriate University Health Services.10. Handicapped students reported limited participation in social organizations and special interest groups.11. Twenty-two percent of the handicapped reported a greater need in consideration of handicapped for employment at the University.12. Limited ambulatory students reported a greater need for non-slip floors and surfaces at the University.13. All but five handicapped participants were not familiar with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.14. Participants reported that all institutions of higher education should be accessible to the handicapped.15. Non-handicapped persons reported that handicapped students had more personal adjustment problems than non-handicapped students.16. A greater number of handicapped than non-handicapped students reported that handicapped college graduates secure jobs as easily as non-handicapped college graduates.17. Thirty-six percent of the handicapped students had no information on which to base an opinion concerning career and vocational counseling services at Ball State University.18. Forty-seven percent of the handicapped students had no information on which to base an opinion concerning placement services at Ball State University.Study findings were dispersed to University officials for use in University accessibility development for the handicapped.

Using a questionnaire sample of 980 eleven to sixteen year olds and a small number of interviews, this study explores what young people do to help at home. Research carried out over the last decade has provided considerable insight into the lives of children and young people involved in caring for family members who are ill or who experience disabilities. What is less well understood are the pathways for young people’s involvement into caring and the nature of the links between routine helping out at home and caring for a parent with a serious illness or disability. Young people's involvement in informal care causes concern, as such young people often carry a significant burden of both work and responsibility. This study seeks to identify the extent to which young people may be involved in different kinds of responsibilities and to assess the impact this has on their lives. The theoretical foundation for the research draws upon current social theory, focusing especially on the sociology of childhood and the sociology of social problems. The data gathered indicates that the family situation has little effect upon patterns of routine helping out, but significantly influences whether or not young people will become involved in greater levels of home responsibility. The key findings suggest that young people assume responsibility for others in a variety of circumstances and that it is useful to use the concept of a home responsibility continuum when considering young people’s helping behaviour in the home

The U.S. disability population is growing at significant rates among adults as well as youth. According to the 2000 Current Population Reports, approximately 54 million Americans about 1 in 5 - are affected by the presence of a disability stemming from birth or life incident. Demographic increases are also noted among American youth as well, with one in 166 children is diagnosed with autism - estimated 67 children each day. Consequently, there have been federal-level responses in the form of legislation, executive orders and local-level program flinding such as REMS grants - addressing various disability issues. Likewise in recent years, another critically important matter has emerged with increasing priority on the nation s policy agenda: school emergency preparedness planning. A broad spectrum of crises incidents, ranging from student-initiated assaults to natural or man-made disasters, has become a well-documented reality where schools have experienced tragic impacts sometimes as severe as mass casualties These occurrences, coupled with an expected increase in potential evacuees with special needs, demonstrate the critical need for inclusive school evacuation planning at all levels of administration that actively considers its impact on vulnerable populations. This is of particular importance to public schools today; the presence of disabled students can be deduced from U.S. Census and NOES statistics while studies conducted by Georgia Tech s Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA) illustrate the presence of teachers with disabilities. As the scope of interest in this field expands, the availability of related literature becomes more prevalent as well. While disability preparedness planning in schools is briefly mentioned in some articles and reports on emergency preparedness in general, it has yet to be the sole focus of one to date. Policymakers and practitioners in preparedness planning would likely benefit by broadening to its literature scope to include research that focuses solely on analyzing policy strategies and processes used in school emergency preparedness planning for students and teachers with disabilities. Therefore, this thesis project will compile available related literature into a topology in aimotated bibliography form through the lens of disability preparedness planning and policy in public schools. The research goal is to provide a qualitative assessment of available literature in the form of a reference guide of strategies and recommendations on disability preparedness, specifically intended for public school settings. Additionally, this compilation will outline the rationale supporting a more inclusive policy and planning formulation processes that actively engage the needs students and teachers with disabilities prior to the implementation stage.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 242-246) / Microfiche. / ix, 246 leaves, bound 29 cm

Clinical research has shown that patients experience difficulty in adjusting to their pre-morbid worker roles after they have been through a back rehabilitation programme. The pressure and competitiveness of modern day society to achieve competence and to survive has proven to be stressful, both for the injured and uninjured, the unemployed and employed. Back rehabilitation and the successful return of the injured worker to the workplace have been of great interest to industry for the last decade, due to the ever-increasing support of legislature for the injured. There is a range of medical interventions available but few of these achieve successful outcomes due in part to the fact that many intervention strategies do not take the patients perspectives into consideration. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to explore back rehabilitated clients perceptions and experiences of the challenges they face in adapting to their worker roles.

With the passage of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) it has become a civil rights violation to deny access to persons with disabilities to public transportation. The ADA requires transit agencies to provide accessible buses or equivalent services to persons with mobility, sensory or cognitive impairments. This study examines issues concerning persons with sensory and cognitive impairments, and their access to fixed route transit services. The goal of this report is: to specify operating guidelines, suggest technological changes, offer operating policy and training programs modifications that solve problems of transit access for persons with sensory and cognitive impairments. To determine where the access problems exist in fixed route transit systems, an examination was undertaken of existing technologies and programs that are in use by transit agencies in North America. Upon review of the available literature it was noted that there were available technologies and policies for persons with visual and hearing impairments, however, little appeared to be available for persons with cognitive impairments. To fill in this knowledge gap, surveys and interviews were conducted with persons with cognitive and other impairments, persons who trained persons with sensory and cognitive impairments, and persons who provide transportation services. A major conclusion of this study is that for persons with cognitive impairments, technological solutions are not the answer to increase bus accessibility. Personal interaction is needed to solve each individual circumstance with the transit user. Training for transit personnel is needed so personnel become aware and more sensitive to the needs of all transit users. Training for the transit user is necessary so use of the transit system is accomplished with grace, speed, efficiency and dignity. Training for the trainers of persons with disabilities is necessary so transit travelers will be informed of all the available services the transit agencies are offering. Another conclusion is visual signage must be standardized to be effective. This includes location, lighting, contrast, and content. / Graduation date: 1993

The Australian Disability Rights Movement (ADRM) developed slowly during the century, with a major spurt of growth in the 1980’s, resulting in the formation of two national advocacy organisations controlled by people with disabilities. This thesis uses the insider perspective of the researcher, feminist research methodology, review of relevant theory, and the views of self-selected board members to explore the history and common themes of the ADRM, and the relationship of these organisations to social change. Theoretical sources have been explored concerning past and present status of people with disabilities, new social movements, and second wave feminism. / Participants identifies individual experiences of disability and most felt the formation of such collective action groups had positive effects on social change. Respondents named major significant events in the achievement of disability rights, most naming the development of the two national organisations Disabled People’s International (Australia) (DPI(A) and Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) as essential to positive outcomes. / Sexism was experienced by most women involved in the more traditional organisation. This, and recognition of feminism, gave impetus to the formation of WWDA. / Opinion was divided about the best way the disability movement could continue without a peak body for both genders. The movement was perceived as ongoing, but less organised in its confrontation of challenges to the citizenship of people with disabilities posed by social and economic changes and governments’ weakening of the concept of advocacy.