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The study's purposes were to understand how students with physical disabilities perceive a) normative pressures identified in Weidman's (1989) Model of Undergraduate Socialization as affecting their social integration; b) their own disability as influencing their social integration; and c) their levels of satisfaction with social integration.

Physical disabilities hinder some students when performing physically demanding school subjects. Virtual reality could provide students with the maneuverability and accessibility which they lack. What do teachers think of Virtual Reality as a substitute for educational woodworking? Prior research show teachers are overall supportive of virtual reality but certain aspects make the integration difficult. As part of the project, a virtual woodworking tool will be developed. Upon watching a video of a student performing tasks in said virtual woodworking environment, to understand the opinion of teachers, the system usability scale shall be utilized. The results show a resemblance to prior research. Teachers state certain positives with virtual reality, usability for example. However they also bring up negatives, for example, the complexity of the tool. Overall teachers saw the virtual reality woodworking environment as a below-average tool.

The purpose of this study was to examine the level of relationship that existed between undergraduates with physical disabilities at East Tennessee State University and campus student organizations. The study was designated a case study as it focused on one institution of higher education. Interview and document review were the 2 methods used for data collection. People from 2 select groups were interviewed on a one-on-one basis. One group was people involved in recruiting for selected campus organizations geared toward undergraduates and the other group was undergraduates with observable physical disabilities. Constitutions, bylaws, mission statements, and other documents offered by the recruiters for the select organizations were reviewed in an effort to discover references to people with disabilities. The results of the study are intended to assist in bridging the gap between involvement in extracurricular organizations and undergraduates with physical disabilities at East Tennessee State University. It has been documented that increased campus involvement lends itself to successful college and post-graduate careers, so it is a relevant issue to resolve. Campus organizations can benefit because their recruiters will have the opportunity to view ways to reach a new pool of possible participants. The findings could also prove beneficial to any campus experiencing a similar phenomenon.

The purpose of this case study was to examine the physiological and psychosocial effects of an immersive virtual reality (VR) system in a female, young adult with right side paralysis following a left hemisphere brain bleed in order to determine the usefulness of immersive VR for children with physical disabilities, in particular, cerebral palsy (CP). The current study consisted of six sessions over a span of three weeks, with each session lasting approximately 45 minutes. Physiological factors (upper body mobility, heart rate variability) were assessed via a hand use questionnaire and a heart rate monitor, while psychosocial factors (e.g. positive mood) were assessed through post-session debriefing discussions with the participant. All measures were completed at each of the six VR sessions, with the exception of the hand use questionnaire, which was administered at baseline, and post-intervention. The VR programs selected were specifically chosen to engage upper body and arm movements. Descriptive analyses and coding of interviews were conducted to examine changes throughout the study sessions. The participant reported an increase in hand mobility and psychosocial well-being, such as improvement in mood, as a result of her participation in the VR sessions. The results of the current study suggest that the use of movement-specific VR programs may be beneficial to children with physical disabilities and CP, although due to the single-subject design of the study, further research is warranted.

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No description available.

Clothing manufacturers and distributors in the current business climate need to become more flexible and willing to adapt to consumers' changing needs and preferences in order to satisfy the market (Kincade, 1995). Clothing consumers who have special needs, such as working women with physical disabilities, comprise a group who would benefit from research into specialized products focused on a small target market (Reich & Otten, 1991). However, research shows that consumers with physical disabilities do not want to be treated as a specialized group, but the same as any other consumer group (Freeman, Kaiser & Wingate, 1986). The concept of Universal Design, typically applied to spatial and product design, provides a framework within which an item of clothing could be produced to satisfy many consumers, regardless of their physical ability. If a universally-designed clothing product can be successfully produced and marketed to many types of consumers, potential benefits could exist for manufacturers, distributors and consumers. The dissertation topic originated from the researcher's questioning the lack of easily accessible ready-to-wear clothing for consumers with physical disabilities, and was based on preliminary conversations with a few working women who encountered difficulty finding business clothing that was both functional and visually appealing. Considerable needs assessment research had already been completed in the clothing/disability area using data collected from small samples of subjects with disabilities similar in nature, but none had extended the research to include the opinions of clothing manufacturers and distributors of end-use products. The researcher envisioned a study that would encompass all parties involved in decision-making processes for a clothing product. The qualitative research process employed multiple data collection and analysis strategies in two Phases. In Phase A, detailed information was obtained about the physical limitations, clothing needs and preferences, and clothing acquisition preferences from a group of nine working women with various upper body limitations. A prototype for an upper body garment suitable for working situations was developed and wear-tested with the original group, and with a group of working women (n=6) without any known physical limitations. The second part of the study, Phase B, consisted of semi-structured interviews with clothing industry personnel (n=6) relating to issues involved in manufacturing and distributing the prototype within the existing ready-to-wear system. A framework for manufacturing clothing for a specific target market was explored and revised in the study. The framework demonstrated the need for in-depth user information to generate ideas for the study, and included an industry feasibility component in order to assess not only consumer but also industry issues. Both the principles of Universal Design and a framework for systemic change in the current business methodology acted as guideposts at various steps of the process. Results indicated that (a) a clinical definition of disability is not needed to collect user information for clothing product development, rather a categorization of disability's effect on the body can be used; (b) working women with a variety of disabilities can have similar clothing needs and preferences; (c) Universal Design can be a successful strategy for clothing product development; (d) constricting styles and fastenings present the greatest clothing problems regardless of subjects' disabilities; (e) a universally-designed clothing product can be visually appealing, functional, and easily manufactured within the existing clothing system; (f) marketing the product will prove to be the most challenging aspect of putting this product into the ready-to-wear system; and (g) although other distribution channels exist, consumers with physical disabilities prefer to use existing brick-and-mortar retail stores to shop for their clothing. The researcher concluded that although the product development process used in this study was successful, more work could be done with clothing manufacturers and distributors to encourage them to consider this target market, and to use Universal Design as a strategy that can be applicable to all consumers, regardless of their physical abilities. / Ph. D.

This diploma thesis deals with the topic of education of pupils with autism spectrum disorders at an elementary school for pupils with physical disabilities. It focuses on the methodological conditions for education that the school offers to pupils with autism spectrum disorders. The thesis is divided into the theoretical and practical part. The first chapter of the theoretical part describes autism spectrum disorders - from terminology and classification to typical manifestations of this diagnosis. The second chapter is dedicated to education of pupils with autism spectrum disorders, it presents options for their education and support measures. The third chapter of the theoretical part presents teaching methods and interventions for people with autism spectrum disorders. The practical part of the thesis includes a qualitative research survey which was carried out through semi-structured interviews with class teachers of pupils with autism spectrum disorders at the elementary school for pupils with physical disabilities. Using analysis of interviews and school documentation, I came to the conclusion that the environment of this school offers pupils with autism spectrum disorders education provided by special education teachers, and also comprehensive care, the benefit of small group, and individual...

This master's thesis is focused on the Snoezelen concept used for patients with physical or multiple disabilities. The Snoezelen concept can be applied as a therapy, an auxiliary educational method or possibility to spend free time in various facilities like schools, school facilities, rehabilitation centers or retirement homes. For that reason, Snoezelen concept can be used by many clients and professionals. However, it is mostly used for patients with mental deficiency; that is reflected in the majority of researches. Therefore, patients with physical and combined deficiency were chosen for purpose of this Master's thesis as this issue has not been yet examined enough. The Master's thesis aim is to gather relevant information of the Snoezelen concept and to make quantitative research with a questionnaire that determines rate of using the concept, awareness level and attitude of clients with physical and multiple disabilities, their representatives and professionals. From these data, a summary is created for that issue. A very low awareness level was found in clients with physical and multiple disabilities, their representatives and professionals. Therefore an information leaflet was created and is provided at the end of the Master's thesis. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)