The motivation of the study was to explore the problems of families in South Africa who struggle to manage their children with autism and to find out whether they were receiving appropriate assistance. This was done by assessing the needs of the parents of children with autism by means of semi-structured interviews. Through these interviews, the parents were given the opportunity to express what information or recommendations they would like to have available to them. How the parents view their experience, their feelings about these experiences, and the strategies and actions that they take in order to cope with raising their child with autism, is important information. The aim of the study was to explore the problems South African families have so that this may form the base of information supplied to professionals such as psychologists, social workers, and educators thereby assisting in improving service delivery to parents of children with autism. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

Asperger's syndrome (AS) is a pervasive developmental disorder that is associated with marked social dysfunction. Deficits in the perception of nonverbal cues of emotion may be related to this social impairment. Research has indicated that children with autism are limited in their emotion perception abilities, but studies that have addressed this issue with individuals with AS or high-functioning autism (HFA) have yielded inconsistent findings. These inconsistencies may be related to methodological differences across studies including diagnostic criteria and failure to consider the intensity of the emotion cues. It was hypothesized that children with AS and HFA would both have deficits in emotion perception compared to typically-developing children. However, children with HFA were expected to have an even greater emotion perception deficit than children with AS and this difference was hypothesized to be most pronounced for low intensity cues of emotion. It is important to clarify whether individuals with AS and HFA differ in emotion perception because most studies of this skill combine them into one group or use poorly defined diagnostic criteria. This study examined the ability of 30 8- to 15-year-old children with either AS or HFA to perceive emotion from high and low intensity cues. In order to address limitations with the differential validity of the DSM-IV criteria for AS, diagnoses were based on diagnostic criteria proposed by Klin et al. (in press). A researcher who was blind to diagnosis administered a test that presented low and high intensity cues of emotion in photographs of facial expression and audiotapes of tone of voice. Comparison of the emotion perception accuracy of children with AS to the normative means of this instrument for typically-developing children did not reveal any significant differences. In contrast, the children with HFA were significantly less accurate in their perception of facial expressions and tone of voice than the normative sample and the participants with AS. Contrary to expectations, IQ was significantly related to emotion perception accuracy. After controlling for IQ, the difference in perception of facial expressions between children with AS and HFA was not significant. On the other hand, cue intensity moderated the relation between diagnosis and emotion perception accuracy for tone of voice even after IQ was taken into account. Children with AS perceived high and low intensity tone of voice cues with similar accuracy, but children with HFA had significantly poorer performance on the low intensity tone of voice cues. Although emotion perception accuracy was related to better adjustment, it was not correlated with the most sensitive measure of current social functioning. This suggests that even when children with AS or HFA perceive cues correctly, they may not know how or be able to properly integrate them for adaptive responses in social interaction. The findings have important implications for understanding inconsistencies in past research and identifying future directions.

Neuropsychological developmental screening (NES) is a German tool (published in 2005) for assessing eight fields of development of children aged 3 to 24 months. It is designed for pediatritians, early intervention specialists and psychologists. This thesis builds on A. Klapetek's thesis and aims to verify and check accurancy of Czech translation of the tool by administring the test to a group of Czech children. A. Klapetek conducted a pilot study of the tool. 50 children (10 for every age group) were administred the translation which was being refined during the field research. She also planned further steps to applying NES. Literature review of the thesis deals with developmental characteristics of infants and toddlers. Psychological assessment of young children and its uses and risks are described. The thesis also persues developmental scales, their history and present state. Theoretical concept of the Neuropsychological developmental screening (NES) is introduced. During the field research a group of 50 children was assessed by Czech translation of the tool, and the same group was tested by Developmental screening (Kovařík). Results of the testing were used to discuss existing norms of the tool, to identify problematic exercises (both too difficult and too easy) and to statistically analyse...

Název: Augmentativní a alternativní komunikace u jedinců s pervazivní vývojovou poruchou Autor: Markéta Kohoutková Katedra: Katedra Speciální Pedagogiky Vedoucí práce: PhDr., PaedDr. Jaroslava Zemková, Ph.D Abstrakt: Monografie přináší přehled aktuálních přístupů k jedincům s pervazivní vývojovou poruchou (PVP). Nejprve jsou zde analyzovány obtíže, se kterými se tato diagnóza pojí, poté autorka objasňuje možné příčiny, možnosti intervence a prognózu. Zdůrazněn je rozdíl mezi intervencemi založenými na kognitivně behaviorální terapii a intervencemi založenými na přístupu zaměřeném na člověka. Dále práce seznamuje s novými metodami alternativní a augmentativní komunikace (AAK), které lze využít při komunikaci s jedinci s narušenou komunikační schopností. Teoretické texty doplňují praktické výsledky z longitudinálního výzkumného šetření - případové studie. Během tohoto šetření byl jedinec s pervazivní vývojovou poruchou nespecifikovanou (PVP-NOS) podroben intervenci vycházející z přístupu zaměřeného na člověka. Následně jeho verbální komunikace byla podpořena prostřednictvím metody AAK - počítačového programu s hlasovým výstupem. Získané informace jsou určeny pro využití jak odborné veřejnosti, tak rodičů k zefektivnění práce, a především komunikace, s výše uvedenými jedinci.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:40:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mariana Ferreira Leboreiro.pdf: 2285061 bytes, checksum: ea7ccf42f3bf8a1ce453dfc214d39de9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-06-18 / The increase of scientific knowledge concerning the human behaviour improves the search for more precise and effective practices. In this sense, among the several study lines, it is notable the study of the working memory defined as the temporary storage and the manipulation of particular information destined to guide a specific action. The aim of this research, carried out in the psychological knowledge field associated with the neuroscientific knowledge, is to investigate the performance of the individuals diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder with preserved intelligence regarding their semantic and visual working memory. As a specific objective it has been made an attempted to correlate their working memory performance with their intellectual quotient. Eleven individuals with the mentioned diagnosis who attend special schools catered to those diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder have taken part in this study, being 10 of them male and 1 female. Among these participants, six of them attend regular schools. The tools used to achieve the objectives were some subtests of the batteries WISC-III, WISC-IV and NEPSY-II. All the data obtained from the tests were quantitatively analyzed. The results indicated difficulties related to the semantic and visual working memory, the first of them having obtained better scores. Among the others evaluated quotients, good performance regarding the Verbal Comprehension, Performance and Perceptual Organization abilities are remarkable, as well as the difficulties concerning Freedom from Distractibility, Working Memory and Visual Memory. The correlations between the semantic aspect of the working memory and the intellectual quotients are significant, especially the items related to the evaluation of verbal abilities, in spite of the noticeable differences of scores. The visual aspect, correlated with executive abilities, in particular amongst the ones who are attending regular schools, has presented results far behind the expected. Schooling has proved to be of great importance to the data analysis, and vital to the differentiation of the results, revealing better performances amongst the ones who attend regular schools. Therefore, despite the existence of working memory deficits, the regular education system selects more cognitive-capable individuals, generating differences among the ones with the same diagnosis / O aumento do conhecimento científico a respeito do comportamento humano facilita a busca de práticas mais precisas e eficazes. Nesse sentido, dentre as diversas linhas de investigação, destaca-se o estudo da memória de trabalho definida como o armazenamento temporário e a manipulação de uma determinada informação destinados a nortear uma ação específica. Esta pesquisa, realizada dentro do campo do saber psicológico integrado ao conhecimento neurocientífico, tem como objetivo geral investigar o desempenho de sujeitos diagnosticados com Transtorno Global do Desenvolvimento Com Inteligência Preservada quanto à memória de trabalho semântica e visual. Como objetivo específico buscou-se correlacionar o desempenho desses sujeitos em memória de trabalho com o quociente intelectual. Participaram do estudo 11 sujeitos, sendo 10 do sexo masculino e 1 do sexo feminino, com o diagnóstico acima referido que freqüentam uma instituição de ensino não regular especializada no atendimento a indivíduos com diagnóstico de Transtorno Global do Desenvolvimento. Dentre esses sujeitos, seis também frequentam o ensino regular. Os instrumentos utilizados para que os objetivos fossem contemplados foram alguns subtestes das baterias WISC-III, WISC-IV e NEPSY-II. Os dados obtidos a partir da aplicação desses instrumentos foram analisados quantitativamente. Os resultados encontrados indicam dificuldades relacionadas à memória de trabalho tanto semântica quanto visual, com melhores escores da primeira. Dentre os demais quociente avaliados, destaca-se o bom desempenho em habilidades relativas à Compreensão Verbal, à Execução e à Organização Perceptual e as dificuldades em Resistência à Distração, Memória de Trabalho e Memória Visual. As correlações entre o aspecto semântico da memória de trabalho com os quocientes intelectuais são significantes, especialmente com fatores que avaliam habilidades verbais, apesar das diferenças de escores. O aspecto visual, correlacionado às habilidades executivas especialmente dentre os que frequentam ensino regular, apresenta resultados muito aquém do esperado. A questão escolaridade demonstrou ser de grande importância na análise dos dados e fator fundamental na diferenciação dos resultados, com melhores desempenhos dentre os que frequentam sistema regular de ensino. Portanto, apesar de existirem déficits quanto à memória de trabalho, o sistema de ensino regular seleciona os indivíduos mais capazes cognitivamente, promovendo diferenças entre os que possuem o mesmo diagnóstico

The motivation of the study was to explore the problems of families in South Africa who struggle to manage their children with autism and to find out whether they were receiving appropriate assistance. This was done by assessing the needs of the parents of children with autism by means of semi-structured interviews. Through these interviews, the parents were given the opportunity to express what information or recommendations they would like to have available to them. How the parents view their experience, their feelings about these experiences, and the strategies and actions that they take in order to cope with raising their child with autism, is important information. The aim of the study was to explore the problems South African families have so that this may form the base of information supplied to professionals such as psychologists, social workers, and educators thereby assisting in improving service delivery to parents of children with autism. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:31:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-03-03Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:42:48Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 brito_mc_dr_mar.pdf: 702905 bytes, checksum: e05611c0e88bf426de2ff05191ec241f (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Para a construção de um ensino inclusivo de qualidade é imprescindível compreender as condições de acolhimento de todos os alunos e promover adequações que favoreçam o ambiente social das escolas. Assim, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar o meio social em ambiente educacional inclusivo de alunos com síndrome de Asperger. Para isso foi realizada análise do meio atitudinal (estudo I) e análise do meio interacional (estudo II). No estudo I foram investigadas as atitudes sociais de professores e alunos, que compõem o ambiente escolar de alunos com síndrome de Asperger, acerca da inclusão. O estudo II consistiu na investigação do ambiente interacional de alunos com síndrome de Asperger, por meio de um estudo sociométrico com os colegas de classe e por meio da análise de situações de sala de aula. Esta pesquisa contou com 189 participantes entre educadores e alunos, de quatro escolas públicas de Ensino Fundamental, sendo duas escolas com alunos com síndrome de Asperger, do 5º. ano, gênero masculino, com 10 anos de idade, que participaram dos estudos I e II e duas escolas sem experiência de inclusão, participantes apenas do estudo I. Para caracterização dos participantes focais (P1 e P2), isto é, os alunos com síndrome de Asperger, foram utilizadas uma ficha informativa, as Provas de Pragmática e de Vocabulário e a Escala de Avaliação de Traços Autísticos. Para caracterização de suas professoras e das escolas utilizou-se uma ficha informativa e um roteiro de entrevista. No estudo I, a coleta de dados referente às atitudes sociais de 73 educadores frente à inclusão, foi realizada por meio da Escala Likert de Atitudes Sociais em relação à Inclusão. As atitudes sociais de 116 alunos foram mensuradas por meio de uma Escala Infantil de Atitudes Sociais, entre os quais, dois eram os participantes focais, 51 seus colegas de classe sem deficiências... / For building an inclusive education of quality it is essential to understand the conditions of reception for all students and promote adaptations that promote the social environment of schools. Thus, the aim of this research was to investigate the social environment in inclusive educational environment for students with Asperger syndrome. This study was conducted through analysis of attitudinal (study I) and analysis of the interaction means (study II). In study I, we investigated the social attitudes of teachers and students, who were part of the school environment for students with Asperger syndrome, about inclusion. Study II consisted of interactive research environment for students with Asperger syndrome, through a sociometric study with classmates and by the analysis of situations in the classroom. This research included 189 participants, comprising educators and students of the four public elementary schools; two schools with students with Asperger syndrome, 5th grade pupils, males, 10 years old, males, who participated in studies I and II and two schools with no experience of inclusion, which participated in study I only. For characterization of focal participants (P1 and P2), that is, students with Asperger syndrome, we used an information form, Pragmatic and Vocabulary Tests and the Scale for the Assessment of Austistic Behaviour. To characterize their teachers and schools we used a fact sheet and an interview guide. In study I, the collection of data concerning the social attitudes of 73 educators concerning inclusion, was done using the Likert scale of social attitudes to inclusion. Social attitudes of 116 students were measured through a range of Children's Social Attitudes, among which two were the focal participants, 51 classmates without disabilities and 63 students in control schools. The collection of data for the second study was done by the application of a sociometric... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Sadao Omote / Banca: Sandra Regina Gimeniz-Paschoal / Banca: Maria de Lourdes Morales Horiguela / Banca: Kester Carrara / Banca: Ana Lúcia Rossito Aiello / Resumo: Para a construção de um ensino inclusivo de qualidade é imprescindível compreender as condições de acolhimento de todos os alunos e promover adequações que favoreçam o ambiente social das escolas. Assim, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar o meio social em ambiente educacional inclusivo de alunos com síndrome de Asperger. Para isso foi realizada análise do meio atitudinal (estudo I) e análise do meio interacional (estudo II). No estudo I foram investigadas as atitudes sociais de professores e alunos, que compõem o ambiente escolar de alunos com síndrome de Asperger, acerca da inclusão. O estudo II consistiu na investigação do ambiente interacional de alunos com síndrome de Asperger, por meio de um estudo sociométrico com os colegas de classe e por meio da análise de situações de sala de aula. Esta pesquisa contou com 189 participantes entre educadores e alunos, de quatro escolas públicas de Ensino Fundamental, sendo duas escolas com alunos com síndrome de Asperger, do 5º. ano, gênero masculino, com 10 anos de idade, que participaram dos estudos I e II e duas escolas sem experiência de inclusão, participantes apenas do estudo I. Para caracterização dos participantes focais (P1 e P2), isto é, os alunos com síndrome de Asperger, foram utilizadas uma ficha informativa, as Provas de Pragmática e de Vocabulário e a Escala de Avaliação de Traços Autísticos. Para caracterização de suas professoras e das escolas utilizou-se uma ficha informativa e um roteiro de entrevista. No estudo I, a coleta de dados referente às atitudes sociais de 73 educadores frente à inclusão, foi realizada por meio da Escala Likert de Atitudes Sociais em relação à Inclusão. As atitudes sociais de 116 alunos foram mensuradas por meio de uma Escala Infantil de Atitudes Sociais, entre os quais, dois eram os participantes focais, 51 seus colegas de classe sem deficiências... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: For building an inclusive education of quality it is essential to understand the conditions of reception for all students and promote adaptations that promote the social environment of schools. Thus, the aim of this research was to investigate the social environment in inclusive educational environment for students with Asperger syndrome. This study was conducted through analysis of attitudinal (study I) and analysis of the interaction means (study II). In study I, we investigated the social attitudes of teachers and students, who were part of the school environment for students with Asperger syndrome, about inclusion. Study II consisted of interactive research environment for students with Asperger syndrome, through a sociometric study with classmates and by the analysis of situations in the classroom. This research included 189 participants, comprising educators and students of the four public elementary schools; two schools with students with Asperger syndrome, 5th grade pupils, males, 10 years old, males, who participated in studies I and II and two schools with no experience of inclusion, which participated in study I only. For characterization of focal participants (P1 and P2), that is, students with Asperger syndrome, we used an information form, Pragmatic and Vocabulary Tests and the Scale for the Assessment of Austistic Behaviour. To characterize their teachers and schools we used a fact sheet and an interview guide. In study I, the collection of data concerning the social attitudes of 73 educators concerning inclusion, was done using the Likert scale of social attitudes to inclusion. Social attitudes of 116 students were measured through a range of Children's Social Attitudes, among which two were the focal participants, 51 classmates without disabilities and 63 students in control schools. The collection of data for the second study was done by the application of a sociometric... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Syftet med studien är att beskriva och analysera grundskollärares upplevelser och erfarenheter av hur grundskollärare lyckas inkludera elever som läser efter grundsärskolans läroplan i en grundskoleklass utifrån följande forskningsfrågor.  Vilka utmaningar upplever grundskolläraren det finns med att undervisa utifrån två läroplaner?  Hur genomför och planerar grundskolläraren undervisning för den integrerade grundsärskoleeleven på individ, grupp och skolnivå?  Vilka möjligheter och hinder upplever grundskolläraren att det finns med integrerade grundsärskoleelever i grundskolan? För att nå syftet i denna studie är tolv kvalitativa intervjuer genomförda med grundskollärare som undervisar en grundsärskoleintegrerad elev inom årskurserna 1-6. Studiens teoretiska utgångspunkt är Nilholm och Göranssons (2013) tre definitioner på inkludering: den gemenskapsorienterade definitionen, den individorienterade definitionen samt den placeringsorienterade definitionen. Examensförordningen tydliggör att specialläraren bland annat ska ha kunskaper och färdigheter för att handleda och stötta kollegor i deras arbete kring grundsärskoleintegrerade elever. Studiens resultat visar att arbetet varierar hur grundskollärare arbetar med grundsärskoleintegrerade elever i grundskolan. Den största oron hos studiens forskningspersoner är ängslan och frustration över att tiden inte räcker till att planera undervisningen för den grundsärskoleintegrerade eleven. Det framkommer av studiens resultat att de integrerade grundsärskoleelever oftast är lokalintegrerad utanför klassrummet. Studien beskriver även forskningspersonernas upplevelser av möjligheter respektive hinder med att undervisa grundsärskoleintegrerade elever i grundskolan. / The purpose of this study is to describe and analyze elementary school teachers' experiences including students studying the special needs curriculum in their own class, based on the following research questions.  What challenges do elementary school teacher have integrating the two curriculums in one class?  How does the elementary school teacher implement and plan lessons for the integrated special need pupils on an individual, group and school level?  What opportunities and obstacles do elementary school teacher experience with a special needs pupil in an integrated class? To achieve the purpose of our study, we have conducted qualitative interviews with elementary school teachers who teach at a basic school for grades 1-6. As a theoretical point of departure, we have chosen to use Nilholm and Göranssons (2013) three definitions of inclusion; the community-oriented definition, the individual-oriented definition and the investment-oriented definition. The degree regulation clarifies special needs teachers with a focus on developmental disorder. The specialist teacher must, among other things, have the skills to guide and support colleagues in their work around special needs pupils that have been included in the classroom. The study's results show that work varies over how elementary school teachers work with students following the rules of the basic school law. The biggest concern of the study's research is the teachers’ anxiety and frustration that time is not enough to plan lessons for the special needs pupil. It is apparent from the study result that special needs pupils are still locally included outside the classroom. The study also describes the researchers' experiences of opportunities and obstacles to teach special need pupils in elementary school.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:39:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Beatriz Tomas da Cruz Filipe.pdf: 472846 bytes, checksum: 4a922eb9ffaba04699908bdb3b7f0a02 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-08-27 / Ministério dos Petróleos de Angola / Introduction: Autism is a development disorder with generic designation of Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) according to the criteria of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-IV). The causes are multiple, which motivates the research in various fields of knowledge. The disorder has its origin in a neurobiological pathogenesis with environmental and genetic causes, or the integration of both. The manifestations are qualitative and quantitative abnormalities that affect the areas of social interaction, communication and behavior. The current literature tends to designate them as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Among the subjects with intellectual disabilities (ID) the reports on the prevalence of ASD are unclear, ranging from 3 to 50%. This heterogeneity shows the need to determine the possible prevalence in each sample. This determination has practical implications in the care and management of these individuals. Objectives: Adapt the cultural inventory of autistic behavior (ICA) created by Marteleto e Pedremônico (2005) to the population of Angola; evaluate the applicability of the scale for students with special educational needs in Angola; estimate the frequency of symptoms of the autistic behavior by some biological and socio-demographic variables in these students. Methods: The cross-cultural and conceptual adaptation of the ICA, the operational semantics and in relation to the cultural context and lifestyle of the target population of the survey. Results and conclusion: The cultural adaptation of the ICA-BR to the ICA-Angola was easily accomplished with a high rate of general equivalence in the prestest, around 80%; the ICA-Angola applied in the target population proved to be feasible with the training of other professionals in the field; the intellectual disabled students in the sample showed high scores in ICA-Angola; it will be necessary to expand the sample and the confirmation of the diagnosis of the Autism Spectrum Disorders to better evaluate the results took into consideration the evaluation of students with disabilities. / Introdução: O autismo é um distúrbio do desenvolvimento com designação genérica de Transtornos Globais do Desenvolvimento (TGD), de acordo com os critérios da Associação Americana de Psiquiatria (DSM-IV). As causas são múltiplas, o que motiva a investigação em diversas áreas do conhecimento. O transtorno tem em sua origem uma patogênese neurobiológica com causas ambientais, genéticas ou com a integração de ambas. As manifestações são anormalidades qualitativas e quantitativas que afetam as áreas da interação social, comunicacional e comportamental. A literatura atual tende a designá-las como Transtornos do Espectro do Autismo (TEA). No Brasil existem 4 escalas de triagem para TGD traduzidas e validadas, enquanto que em Angola tais instrumentos inexistem. Objetivos: Realizar a adaptação cultural do Inventário de Comportamentos Autísticos (ICA) de Marteleto e Pedremônico (2005) para a população de Angola; avaliar a aplicabilidade da escala adaptada em alunos com necessidades educacionais especiais em Angola; estimar a frequência da sintomalogia dos comportamentos autísticos segundo algumas variáveis biológicas e sociodemográficas nesses alunos. Métodos: A adaptação transcultural levou em consideração a avaliação de equivalência conceitual, a semântica e a operacionalidade em relação ao contexto cultural e estilo de vida da população alvo da pesquisa. Resultados e conclusão: a adaptação cultural do ICA-BR para o ICA-Angola foi facilmente realizada com alta taxa de equivalência geral no pré-teste, de 80%; a aplicação da escala ICA-Angola na população alvo revelou-se factível com possibilidade de treinamento de outros profissionais; os alunos com deficiência intelectual investigados revelaram altas pontuações no ICA-Angola; será necessária a ampliação da amostra e a confirmação do diagnóstico de Transtornos do Espectro do Autismo para melhor avaliação dos resultados.