published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

This thesis examined the experiences and perspectives of immigrant Chinese Canadian mothers of children with disabilities in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia in the areas of parental involvement in education and coping with parenting stress. In-depth interviewing, supplemented by questionnaires, was utilised to gather data. Ten women, most of whom were newly immigrated, whose school-age sons had various disabilities and who spoke English as a second language, participated in the study. The mothers' acculturation level to Canadian ways of living was generally low. Devotion to the children was at the heart of parent involvement and coping. Inability to speak English fluently posed a major barrier to the involvement of these women in their children's education. It also restricted their ability to seek community resources. These women valued their children's education and worked with them at home. The degree of the mothers' participation in school was generally less than that of their involvement at home. The women made comparisons of education in Canada and that in the Asian countries where they came from, and stated their preferences for qualities possessed by teachers. The mothers expressed some conflicts with the schools, and they mostly tried to avoid confrontation. Self-reliance, self-control, a belief in family support, as well as a belief in fate helped them to cope. Readily available interpreter services and information in Chinese about service agencies serving children with disabilities and their families would be helpful to Chinese Canadian women like them.

The study examined the literacy practices, general resources, and technological tools being used by parents to promote literacy at home. The primary purpose was to determine if differences existed in the literacy practices used by parents of preschool children with and without disabilities. The study also sought to determine if the age and education of parents had any effect upon the literacy practices utilized by parents.The population for the study consisted of 384 parents from six counties in Indiana. Each participant had a child between the ages of 3- to 6-years old who attended a preschool program. Over half of the participants had a child with disabilities. Preschool administrators who were selected for the study distributed the data-collection instrument, Parent's Views on Literacy Survey, which was developed by the researcher. The survey instrument consisted of demographic questions that addressed the study's independent variables and 20 questions that were designed to act as the study's dependent variables. The questions pertained to the types of literacy activities being provided in the home.A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was performed and a significant difference between parents of preschool children with disabilities and parents of preschool children without disabilities was determined. Parents of preschool children without disabilities used significantly more general literacy practices and literacy activities using technology. There was a significant difference in the types of activities and in the quantity of activities provided. It was also determined that the differences were not due to the factors of age or education of the parents. The second part of the questionnaire directed questions specifically to parents of preschool children with disabilities. The type of disability of the child, the types of assistive technology (AT), and the frequency in which AT was utilized to promote literacy activities were identified. A simple cross tabulation between the types of disabilities and the categories of AT revealed that there were also differences among the categories of AT used and disability types.Three open-ended questions were used to determine additional information about parents' literacy practices. The data collected was stratified and analyzed for emergent themes. Parents of typically developing children reported the need for more technological tools and resources while parents of preschool children with disabilities reported that more information on specific skill development was needed. Furthermore, parents of preschool children with disabilities expressed the belief that the greatest barrier for their child in developing literacy skills related to factors that were associated with the disability. It was also determined that parents of children with disabilities underutilized assistive technology devices for facilitating literacy skills.This research further supports the differences in the literacy practices among parents. Parents of preschool children without disabilities use general literacy practices and technological literacy practices with greater frequency than do the parents of preschool children with disabilities. / Department of Special Education

Exploring the resilience construct is highly relevant for the field of learning disabilities. Resilience is a dynamic process of adaptation that involves interactions between a range of risk and protective factors. This research presents recent learning disability and resilience literature, focussing on the risk and protective factors in the lives of those with learning difficulties. Children with a learning disability often have associated emotional, behavioural and social difficulties that may become major obstacles to positive future outcomes. Historically little attention has been paid to the experiences of mothers of children with a learning disability and how the mother-child relationship may or may not foster the development of resilience in the learning disabled child. This research explores the issue within a qualitative framework / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

The Early Childhood Development (ECD) policy of White Paper 5 protects the development right of children and to learn at an early age. In line with this, the Inclusive Education (IE) policy of White Paper 6 (2001) acknowledges that all children hold the potential of learning within all bands of education and they all require support. The purpose of this research was to investigate the practices of Inclusive Education in mainstream schools in Grade R, Nylstroom circuit, Limpopo in South Africa. Practicing IE in Grade R classes has become a challenge because teachers have to identify different strategies so as to accommodate the diverse needs of all learners. According to the Department of Education (2010:22) practicing IE needs a teacher with knowledge and skills to be able to adapt the curriculum and use differentiated strategies to accommodate the diverse needs of all learners. Most practitioners and teachers have not been trained to teach in IE classes; hence they experience challenges of accommodating the diverse needs of all learners. Even though mainstream schools with Grade R classes are being encouraged to practice Inclusive Education, learners are not receiving the education based on their educational needs. Based on the assumption that challenges may be caused by the education system and other related factors, Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and the qualitative research design were used in this study to explore the practices of IE in selected Grade R classes in primary schools, with nine teachers being interviewed and observed. Yin’s method of data analysis was applied and factors affecting the practices of IE in Grade R were highlighted. The following factors were identified: curriculum policy factor, classroom factors, parents’ involvement and collaboration with NGOs and health professionals, teaching strategies, education matters and resources. It was recommended that Grade R teachers needs to be trained in inclusive practices so that they can respond appropriately to the learners’ needs. The involvement and support of parents should be encouraged in the education of young learners so that learners could succeed in their academic careers. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

The policy of Inclusive Education (IE) in White Paper 6 (2001) acknowledges that all children can learn with support. The aim of this study is to explore the experiences of Learning Support Teachers (LSTs) in supporting Foundation Phase teachers in implementing Inclusive Education (IE) in Gauteng Province, South Africa. A lack of support for teachers and learners in IE has dominated current discussions on education. According to the Department of Education (DoE, 2000:28), the establishment of an IE system in schools would require appropriate district as well as institution level support services, and more than just accepting learners with different learning needs in mainstream classrooms. Many teachers have not had the benefit of being trained to teach learners who experience barriers to learning, hence most find it difficult. Although specialist teachers in the form of Learning Support Teachers (LSTs) have been employed in the Foundation Phase to fill that gap and assist classroom teachers, the learners are not receiving the assistance hoped for. Based on an assumption that the failings may largely be systemic, this study therefore uses Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and a qualitative research design to examine the implementation of IE in selected schools, with seven LSTs being interviewed and observed, while documents pertaining to the support rendered were analysed. Seven principals and seven classroom teachers were also interviewed. The analysis employed Creswell’s method and the findings highlighted factors affecting the implementation of IE. The factors include inadequate district support, socio-cultural issues, classroom and management factors, lack of resources and inadequate collaboration between the stakeholders. The study makes recommendations and suggests further areas of research. / Teacher Education / D. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges that are met by the teachers in selected secondary level special schools, catering for physically impaired learners in South Africa, when they teach Environmental Education. The study was qualitative in nature. In order to meet the qualities of a qualitative research, a multiple case study design was employed in this research study. The data was collected from four special schools, two from Gauteng Province and the other two from the Eastern Cape Province. The sample consisted of 5 Grade 10 teachers, teaching Life Sciences from these 4 schools. Data was collected through interviews, document analysis and learners’ books. The interviews were analysed through the phenomenological approach by Giorgi (1975). The study revealed that most of the teachers in the study did not have the relevant educational qualification to teach environmental education nor do they have adequate training in the subject, for the workshops were conducted for only three days. The study also revealed that even though the teachers welcomed the integration of environmental education into the school curricula, they experienced challenges in teaching the subject, which included curriculum related, learner related, teacher related, policy related, administration related and office based related. The study also revealed that teachers’ knowledge of EE was superficial and that they only taught in and about environmental education, they did not teach for environmental education which is the main goal of environmental education. The results also showed that the teachers were unable to translate the policies of inclusive education and by implication, they could not adapt the mainstream curriculum for special needs learners, as expected from teachers in special schools. It was also found out that the teachers lack knowledge of the philosophy that underpins the CAPS curriculum, which is social constructivism. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

Acompanha: Ângulos: o ensino de geometria / Esta pesquisa, de abordagem qualitativa, apresenta como tema o ensino de Geometria e a inclusão de alunos com Múltiplas Deficiências em classes de ensino regular. Busca-se, por meio dessa, evidenciar as contribuições que as Tecnologias Assistivas trazem para o ensino e aprendizagem do conteúdo matemático de Geometria para esses alunos, de forma a favorecer sua autonomia na realização de atividades comuns nas turmas de ensino regular. A revisão de literatura, nesta investigação, considerou estudos relacionados ao tema ensino de geometria e a inclusão escolar, utilizando Tecnologias Assistivas. Na intervenção pedagógica foram abordados conceitos matemáticos em Geometria, retas, semirretas, construção e medição de ângulos, em uma turma do quinto ano do Ensino Fundamental de uma escola pública, do interior do Paraná, que contava com uma aluna com Múltipla Deficiência inclusa. Para o desenvolvimento das atividades, elaborou-se o material didático “Transferidor Adaptado”, para auxiliar alunos com Múltiplas Deficiências e/ou com alunos com Deficiência Física Neuromotora. Após a aplicação das atividades, foi possível observar a contribuição do uso da Tecnologia Assistiva para o ensino de geometria, aos alunos com Múltiplas Deficiências, permitindo a eles a compreensão e aprendizagem de conceitos matemáticos. / This paper, in a quality approach, aims to present the teaching of Geometry and the inclusion of students with Multiple Disabilities in classes of regular education. It also aims to elucidate the contributions of Assistive Technologies in teaching and learning mathematical contents of Geometry encouraging students’ autonomy when carrying out regular activities in regular education classes. The revision of literature in this investigation contemplated studies on teaching Geometry and scholar inclusion, using Assistive Technologies. In the pedagogical intervention mathematical concepts in Geometry were addressed, straight lines, semistraight lines, construction and measurement of angles, in a fifth grade class of the Primary Education in a public school, in the countryside in the state of Paraná, which has included a girl student with Multiple Disabilities. In order to develop those activities, a didactic material “Adapted Protractor” was elaborated, to help the students with Multiple Disabilities and/or students with Neuromotor Physical Disabilities. After the application of activities, it was possible to observe the contribution of the use of Assistive Technology to the teaching of Geometry for students with Multiple Disabilities, allowing them to understand and learn mathematical concepts.

Acompanha: Ângulos: o ensino de geometria / Esta pesquisa, de abordagem qualitativa, apresenta como tema o ensino de Geometria e a inclusão de alunos com Múltiplas Deficiências em classes de ensino regular. Busca-se, por meio dessa, evidenciar as contribuições que as Tecnologias Assistivas trazem para o ensino e aprendizagem do conteúdo matemático de Geometria para esses alunos, de forma a favorecer sua autonomia na realização de atividades comuns nas turmas de ensino regular. A revisão de literatura, nesta investigação, considerou estudos relacionados ao tema ensino de geometria e a inclusão escolar, utilizando Tecnologias Assistivas. Na intervenção pedagógica foram abordados conceitos matemáticos em Geometria, retas, semirretas, construção e medição de ângulos, em uma turma do quinto ano do Ensino Fundamental de uma escola pública, do interior do Paraná, que contava com uma aluna com Múltipla Deficiência inclusa. Para o desenvolvimento das atividades, elaborou-se o material didático “Transferidor Adaptado”, para auxiliar alunos com Múltiplas Deficiências e/ou com alunos com Deficiência Física Neuromotora. Após a aplicação das atividades, foi possível observar a contribuição do uso da Tecnologia Assistiva para o ensino de geometria, aos alunos com Múltiplas Deficiências, permitindo a eles a compreensão e aprendizagem de conceitos matemáticos. / This paper, in a quality approach, aims to present the teaching of Geometry and the inclusion of students with Multiple Disabilities in classes of regular education. It also aims to elucidate the contributions of Assistive Technologies in teaching and learning mathematical contents of Geometry encouraging students’ autonomy when carrying out regular activities in regular education classes. The revision of literature in this investigation contemplated studies on teaching Geometry and scholar inclusion, using Assistive Technologies. In the pedagogical intervention mathematical concepts in Geometry were addressed, straight lines, semistraight lines, construction and measurement of angles, in a fifth grade class of the Primary Education in a public school, in the countryside in the state of Paraná, which has included a girl student with Multiple Disabilities. In order to develop those activities, a didactic material “Adapted Protractor” was elaborated, to help the students with Multiple Disabilities and/or students with Neuromotor Physical Disabilities. After the application of activities, it was possible to observe the contribution of the use of Assistive Technology to the teaching of Geometry for students with Multiple Disabilities, allowing them to understand and learn mathematical concepts.

The education of intellectually disabled (ID) people is constructed within mass education systems as a problem requiring specialised intervention, separation from “normal” school contexts and the application of professional expertise. A social model of disability resists these practices from a human rights perspective and underpins an inclusive education approach. In this study, a post-structuralist disability studies theoretical framework, drawing particularly on the work of Foucault, was used to examine discourses that construct the intellectually disabled person as a subject of education. The study was conducted in Buffalo City, South Africa at a time when an inclusive education policy is being implemented in the country. The research questions were: What discourses are deployed in the representation and educational practices of those identified as ID? What are the effects of these discourses in constructing the ID subject and associated educational practice? The study utilises Q-methodology, a factor analytic method that yields whole patterns of responses for analysis. A process of sorting selected statements along the dimension of agree to disagree was completed by three groups of participants, namely adults with ID, parents of people with ID and professionals working with ID. Discourses of representation and of educational practice were identified through statistical and interpretive analysis, following the discourse analysis school of Q-methodology. The findings of this study reveal the operation of power in a medico-psychological gaze that makes ID visible and supervises disability expertise within education. Representations of ID suffused with religious notions support the exercise of pastoral power by disability experts. Human rights discourses in education can marginalise ID people if applied uncritically. Fixed notions of impairment constrain an intellectually disabled subject who is vulnerable and incompetent. This study argues instead for a theory of (poss)ability, underpinned by an understanding of the situational and shared nature of competence and a fluid conception of impairment. Human rights should be supplemented by an ethics of care and belonging in the community (ubuntu). A research agenda supporting this effort would examine the ways in which ID people work on themselves as subjects (subjectivisation) and explore the potential for resistance in this process.