Young adults with autism transitioning from school to adulthood are commonly described as exhibiting poor outcomes. Although there has been research efforts measuring quality of life and life satisfaction in individuals with autism, these conceptualizations of well-being are still predominantly deficit-focused and based on normalizing ideals of the dominant culture. Only by incorporating individuals with autism’s perspectives and involving their meaningful participation in research can we better understand and promote well-being among individuals with autism. The present study aims to explore young adults with autism’s ideas about well-being. I conducted a Photovoice project using a participatory action research approach with 14 young adults with autism in a post-school transition program and their three instructors. Results revealed a broad sense of young adults with autism expressing their differences while having a strong desire to be connected with others. Specifically, three themes depicted young adults’ ideas of well-being in terms of (1) showing their self-expression, understanding, and strengths as well as exhibiting personal growth and learning, (2) having close relationships with their family, friends, and animals, and (3) developing different ways of engagement and connections with the community and environment. The research process itself also supported their experiencing of self-expression and forming connections with other people, which were integral to their well-being. The young adults intended to use the project results to present their personhood in a positive manner and to promote better understanding of autism in society. I drew from critical disability studies to discuss the findings in relation to the academic literature and inform advocacy work at a broader sociocultural level. This study has implications for researchers to conduct research that is ethically appropriate and sensitive to the needs of the autism community. Practitioners working with transition-age youth with autism can also draw upon from this study to reflect on their relationships and engagement with these youth to better support their well-being.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-07T14:27:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1245575 bytes, checksum: 2a54fbc8519cac8517b9952b46d9affd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-04-06 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / What happens when an experience that enables the understanding and operationalization of Law by rural populations, historically detached to work with and reflect on the legal phenomenon, is created within a hegemonic conservative course and impervious to the popular classes and groups? The objective of this study is to analyze and systematize a unique initiative: a Special Class of Law Studies to beneficiaries of Land Reform and Family Farming at the Federal University of Goiás (UFG- BRAZIL), founded in 2007 and currently under development at campus of Goiás city. This is the first initiative of Law Education at the shape of the National Education Program in Agrarian Reform (PRONERA) and was named by the students "Class Evandro Lins e Silva", an eminent Brazilian jurist. Through field research and critical-dialectical approach, we examined the reasons why a single Class, 60 students, sparked so many conflicts, understood as dialectically articulated themes that allow us to reflect on the bigger context that conditions and influences it. At first, we set out some details about the reality of the campus of Goias and the idealization of the proposal, following the administrative procedures until its approval and pointing out several conflicts that arose during this process. Soon after, we analyzed the so-called central pattern of Law Education established in Brazil, in order to characterize, from a little historical background, its basic points: dogmatism, decontextualization and unidisciplinarity. In the fourth chapter, we reflected on two conceptions of human rights - one traditional and other critical and dialectic - applying this discussion to the socio-historical context of the Brazilian Countryside, noting the statement of legal and constitutional rights to Territory and to Education as an insight into the so-called "Paradigm of Rural Education" as a Human Right. Finally, we returned to the experience with other informations from field research, by reviewing the arguments contained in court cases involving the class, systematized by the researcher. The opinions of the Class students were exposed, pointing difficulties for achievement of the proposal. On concluded that the Class "Evandro Lins e Silva" beyond legally appropriate represents a symbolic and material alternative landmark to the central model of Law Education, allowing a "pedagogical conflict" between these two models of "Education" Law Education and Rural Education. These results keep a great potential to reflect upon a redirectionment of Law Education in a more critical and emancipator way, given by the fact the discussions about the affirmative actions politics for the rural population in Law Education are recent in academic circles, at least in Brazil. The specificity of the Class indicates a possibility of expanding the debate beyond the traditional curricular 'solutions', enabling us to formulate hypotheses and questions only existent in practice of this initiative, which alone would justify its existence, with social and academic consequences of great importance. / O que acontece quando uma experiência que possibilita a compreensão e instrumentalização do Direito por parte das populações do Campo, historicamente apartadas de atuar com e refletir sobre o fenômeno jurídico, é criada dentro de um curso hegemonicamente conservador e impermeável às classes e grupos populares? O objetivo desta dissertação é justamente analisar e sistematizar uma iniciativa singular: a Turma Especial de Direito para beneficiários(as) da Reforma Agrária e da Agricultura Familiar na Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), criada em 2007 e atualmente em desenvolvimento no campus da cidade de Goiás (GO). Esta é a primeira iniciativa de Educação Jurídica nos moldes do Programa Nacional de Educação na Reforma Agrária (PRONERA) e foi intitulada pelos próprios estudantes de Turma Evandro Lins e Silva . Através de uma pesquisa de campo e de abordagem crítico-dialética, examinaram-se os motivos pelos quais uma única Turma, de 60 estudantes, desencadeou tantos conflitos, compreendidos enquanto temas articulados dialeticamente, que permitem refletir sobre o contexto mais amplo que o condiciona e influencia. No início, apresentaram-se alguns detalhes sobre a realidade do campus de Goiás e da idealização da proposta, seguindo-se os trâmites administrativos até sua aprovação e apontando diversos conflitos que surgiram durante este processo. Logo após, analisou-se o chamado modelo central de Educação Jurídica estabelecido no Brasil, buscando caracterizar, a partir de um pequeno apanhado histórico, seus pontos fundamentais: o dogmatismo, a descontextualização e a unidisciplinaridade. Já no quarto capítulo, refletiu-se sobre duas concepções de Direitos Humanos uma tradicional e outra crítico-dialética , aplicando essa discussão ao contexto sóciohistórico do Campo brasileiro, observando a afirmação jurídico-constitucional dos direitos à Terra/Território e à Educação como elementos para compreender o chamado Paradigma da Educação do Campo enquanto um Direito Humano. Por fim, retornouse à experiência com os demais dados da pesquisa de campo, analisando criticamente os argumentos judiciais presentes nos processos que envolvem a Turma, sistematizados pelo pesquisador. Foram expostas algumas opiniões de estudantes que compõem a Turma, indicando as dificuldades e desafios para a concretização da proposta. Concluise que a Turma Evandro Lins e Silva além de juridicamente adequada representa um marco simbólico e material de alternativa ao modelo central de Educação Jurídica, permitindo um conflito pedagógico entre estes dois modelos de Educação a Jurídica e a do Campo. Tais reflexões resultam em grandes potencialidades para refletir sobre uma reorientação da Educação Jurídica num sentido mais crítico e emancipatório, dada a novidade do debate sobre as políticas afirmativas para a população do campo na Educação Jurídica. A especificidade da Turma indica uma possibilidade de ampliação do debate para além das tradicionais soluções curriculares , permitindo formular hipóteses e perguntas somente existentes, na prática, nesta iniciativa, o que, por si só, já justificaria sua existência, com conseqüências sociais e acadêmicas de grande relevância.

A questão agrária acompanha a história do país, marca a base da organização da sociedade brasileira e permanece distante de ser resolvida. Tendo como pano de fundo essa questão, vários movimentos sociais surgiram ao longo da história, inclusive aquele que é considerado hoje o mais importante e vigoroso movimento social que luta pela transformação da sociedade: o Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem-Terra (MST). Neste trabalho, pretendemos observar as relações que se estabelecem dentro do movimento social, em sua atuação concreta em um assentamento de reforma agrária, analisando os aspectos que contribuem e os que atrapalham o desenvolvimento de práticas emancipatórias e a construção de uma nova sociedade, utilizando para isso a psicologia social de T.W. Adorno. Como metodologia de pesquisa, optamos por uma abordagem qualitativa, um estudo de caso. Os dados indicam que frente à totalidade reinante nesta sociedade, o MST se constitui em uma possibilidade de que os indivíduos tenham uma experiência (Erfahrung), ou seja, que se coloquem de uma maneira reflexiva frente ao mundo administrado, que tenham uma possibilidade de desenvolvimento do pensamento não tutelado e questionador, ao mesmo tempo em que criam um conteúdo coletivo e um significado partilhado para suas ações. Por outro lado, com a entrada da lógica da mercadoria e do princípio do equivalente no assentamento, a vivência (Erlebnis) tende a tomar o lugar da experiência (Erfahrung), e os indivíduos tendem a voltar a se adaptar ao mundo administrado, o que causa uma série de rompimentos e desencontros. Isso, somado ao ingresso dos agentes estatais no assentamento, faz com que o MST passe a ter dificuldade de manter sua influência junto aos assentados, o que pode levá-lo a assumir uma postura que incentiva a adesão não refletida aos seus princípios e, portanto, remete ao pensamento em bloco, à mentalidade do ticket. Finalizamos salientando que para o MST continuar contribuindo para a emancipação dos sujeitos no assentamento, deve atentar para a importância da autodeterminação e da liberdade dos indivíduos, problematizando o já dado, explicitando as contradições e fomentando a construção de espaços coletivos que contribuam com o esclarecimento, com a autonomia. / The property of the land question is a permanent issue in the history of the country. It characterizes the basis of the organization of the Brazilian society, and remains as an issue far from being solved. Having this question as a background, several social movements have emerged. Among them, there is one which today is considered the most important and vigorous social movement struggling for a change in society; that is the Landless Rural Workers Movement (Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem-Terra MST). This study attempts to observe the relations that are established within the social movement, in its concrete action in a land reform settlement. It will also analyze the different aspects that contribute or hinder the development of their emancipation and the construction of a new society. This study is based on the social psychology theories of Theodor Wiesengrund Adorno. As a methodology of research, a qualitative approach and case study were used. All informations, gathered through interviews and practical observation, indicate that in relation to the reigning totality in this society, the MST has become a possibility in which the individuals may have a experience (Erfahrung). This is to say, that these individuals assumed a reflective position in relation to the administered world, and that they had the possibility of developing their own thinking and questioning. At the same time, they created a collective content and a shared meaning for their activities. On the other hand, with the upcoming of the logic of merchandise and the equivalent principle in the settlement, the apprehension of reality (Erlebnis) tends to take the place of experience (Erfahrung) and the individuals tend to go back and adapt themselves to the administered world. This fact causes a series of misunderstanding and ruptures. In addition, the participation of government representatives in this new reality of the settlement, causes problems to the MST. The Movement has difficulties in keeping its influence on the settler. Such a situation may take the MST to assume a position which leads to non-reflective actions not in agreement with its principles, and therefore leads to mass thinking, the so-called ballot mentality. To finish up, the study emphasizes that the MST should continue to contribute towards the emancipation of the individual in the settlement; it should ponder the importance of autodetermination and freedom, pointing out the real cause of problems; it should explain all contradictions; and it should motivate the construction of collective spaces which will contribute to enlightenment, and lead to more autonomy.

The purpose of the study is to review the short stories of S M Mofokeng and M P Pelo critically in an attempt to interrogate their skills and techniques with a view to establishing how they complement each other. Furthermore the approach to the study will be informed by an integrated comparison and contrasting process. In the main, this study deals with how the authors who wrote at different time periods differ in style, albeit on the same discipline, the short story. The study comprises the introductory section, which includes the aims, method of approach, forerunners of the short stories, biographical sketches of the authors and organisation of the study. The setting, functions of the setting and definitions of keywords are also discussed. Characterization and the method of presenting characters is explained and the elements of style are identified and dealt with. A summary of the findings as well as the conclusion of the study is provided. / African Languages

The purpose of the study is to review the short stories of S M Mofokeng and M P Pelo critically in an attempt to interrogate their skills and techniques with a view to establishing how they complement each other. Furthermore the approach to the study will be informed by an integrated comparison and contrasting process. In the main, this study deals with how the authors who wrote at different time periods differ in style, albeit on the same discipline, the short story. The study comprises the introductory section, which includes the aims, method of approach, forerunners of the short stories, biographical sketches of the authors and organisation of the study. The setting, functions of the setting and definitions of keywords are also discussed. Characterization and the method of presenting characters is explained and the elements of style are identified and dealt with. A summary of the findings as well as the conclusion of the study is provided. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)

No description available.

The thesis "Controlling and managing a music production in the period of normalization on the example of rock music and its media portrayal" describes and analyses the system of controlling and managing Czechoslovak music production in the period of normalization with a particular attention to the mechanisms that deployed socialist ideological and aesthetical standards in the area of rock music. Additionally, this included a prescriptive media coverage highlighting socialist values using coordinated and centralised management through state institutions. The goal of the thesis is then to reveal a modus operandi of communist cultural policy on the examples of media approach to the trials with leading underground music protagonists in 1976 as rock music was a vehicle for expression their dissent attitude toward the system in an artistic way.

Sex-education in Canada has predominantly been informed by an abstinence-based content, leaving the sexual literacy of adolescents hanging in the balance. As public health statistics indicate, sexually transmitted infection, early and unwanted pregnancy, and rates of HIV/ AIDS are staggeringly high. At the center of these statistics is the young Black female, as they are disproportionately over-represented in negative public health statistics. Many factors have been theorized to be the cause; from socioeconomic factors to educational limitations, it has been historically concluded that the individual failings and class issues of Black women are the root cause of sexual decision making that causes negative health implications. However, adopting a critical perspective may lead to a different conclusion. This qualitative study sought to explore if the lack of comprehensive, racially attentive, and reflective sex-education as well as the influential societal discourse that shapes Black women and their sexuality in stereotypical lights, may have an impact on the sexual decision making of Black women. Through centering and highlighting the lived experiences, perspectives, and insights of a diverse pool of Black women, the stereotypes and scripts of Black femininity and sexuality, their root causes, and the impacts on young Black girl’s sexual decision making were captured to collaboratively redefine and reclaim Black femininity and sexuality while capturing what would be helpful to include in sex-education, specific to Black girls and women. This study’s theoretical underpinnings are Black Feminist Theory, Critical Race Theory, and Hip-Hop Feminism, which has been coined by me as “the trifecta”. A focus group with Black female-identified participants was conducted and facilitated through open-ended question and discussion based processes. Thematic analysis was adopted to explore themes, meanings and to gain a better understanding of the participant’s collective perspectives regarding sex-education and Black femininity and sexuality. The main finding of this study, based in the lived experiences and insights of the participants, were that harmful societal scripts and stereotypes about Black femininity and sexuality historically and as they are presented in popular media, coupled with inconsistent and bare sex education, has the ability to affect the sexual decision making of young Black girls in a way that feeds participation in unsafe sexual practices. This study fills gaps in literature because it contributes to the limited critical body of research that paramount the voices and insight of Black women in regards to sexual practice. This study also fills gaps by extending the conversation of Black women and sexual decision making, by suggesting tangible solutions of how the participant’s insights can be injected into larger policy and practice as well as social work research. The information supplied by the participants of this study will help social workers, policy makers, and educators create racially attentive, comprehensive, and accessible sex-education. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW) / Sex-education in Canada has predominantly been informed by an abstinence-based content, leaving the sexual literacy of adolescents hanging in the balance. As public health statistics indicate, sexually transmitted infection, early and unwanted pregnancy, and rates of HIV/ AIDS are staggeringly high. At the center of these statistics is the young Black female, as they are disproportionately over-represented in negative public health statistics. Many factors have been theorized to be the cause; from socioeconomic factors to educational limitations, it has been historically concluded that the individual failings and class issues of Black women are the root cause of sexual decision making that causes negative health implications. However, adopting a critical perspective may lead to a different conclusion. This qualitative study sought to explore if the lack of comprehensive, racially attentive, and reflective sex-education as well as the influential societal discourse that shapes Black women and their sexuality in stereotypical lights, may have an impact on the sexual decision making of Black women. Through centering and highlighting the lived experiences, perspectives, and insights of a diverse pool of Black women, the stereotypes and scripts of Black femininity and sexuality, their root causes, and the impacts on young Black girl’s sexual decision making were captured to collaboratively redefine and reclaim Black femininity and sexuality while capturing what would be helpful to include in sex-education, specific to Black girls and women. This study’s theoretical underpinnings are Black Feminist Theory, Critical Race Theory, and Hip-Hop Feminism, which has been coined by me as “the trifecta”. A focus group with Black female-identified participants was conducted and facilitated through open-ended question and discussion based processes. Thematic analysis was adopted to explore themes, meanings and to gain a better understanding of the participant’s collective perspectives regarding sex-education and Black femininity and sexuality. The main finding of this study, based in the lived experiences and insights of the participants, were that harmful societal scripts and stereotypes about Black femininity and sexuality historically and as they are presented in popular media, coupled with inconsistent and bare sex education, has the ability to affect the sexual decision making of young Black girls in a way that feeds participation in unsafe sexual practices. This study fills gaps in literature because it contributes to the limited critical body of research that paramount the voices and insight of Black women in regards to sexual practice. This study also fills gaps by extending the conversation of Black women and sexual decision making, by suggesting tangible solutions of how the participant’s insights can be injected into larger policy and practice as well as social work research. The information supplied by the participants of this study will help social workers, policy makers, and educators create racially attentive, comprehensive, and accessible sex-education.