Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal disorder, occurring in 1 out of every 700 births in the United States (Skotko et al., 2009). After receiving the initial Down syndrome diagnosis, the majority of mothers reported feeling frightened and anxious, and very few rated the experience as positive. Parents reported feeling that their physicians focused on the negative aspects of Down syndrome and rarely provided enough resources (Skotko, 2005). The purpose of this literature review was to identify current community resources for families of children with Down syndrome and identify the most effective ways for medical professionals to support parents through the diagnosis process. A comprehensive literature review was performed using research articles from 2012 to 2022, exploring community resources for children with Down syndrome and coping mechanisms for parental stress in families with Down syndrome. Ten articles met the inclusion criteria. Six themes were identified; coping process and skills, resiliency, coping process for fathers, religion, community support systems and services, and support from the medical community. It was found that parents lack knowledge about available resources and need more education focusing on early interventions for their child and support services for the parents.

No description available.

The purpose of this study is to examine how social workers and police work to prevent juvenile delinquency, and how the cooperation between professional work functions to identify and support young people at risk of crime. Using a qualitative approach, we conducted interviews with six respondents with experience in preventive measures against juvenile delinquency. By identifying and addressing these factors, the professionals strive to tailor interventions and allocate resources to effectively meet the challenges that youth face. By integrating knowledge of risk and protective factors into their daily work, social workers and police aim to create a protective and preventive strategy to reduce juvenile delinquency and promote youth well-being. The study emphasizes the importance of identifying and understanding, in order to implement effective preventive measures and support to reduce the risk of juvenile delinquency. The study highlights the collaboration between social workers and police and emphasizes the importance of early interventions and relationships-building to prevent young people from engaging in criminal activities. With the help of the results, we gained an overall understanding of the working methods used by both social workers and police and the challenges that arose in preventive work.

O estudo dos mecanismos neurobiológicos associados a memórias aversivas tem aplicações potenciais à prevenção e ao tratamento de patologias psiquiátricas associadas a memórias traumáticas. Em particular, o processo de reconsolidação, através do qual memórias evocadas são novamente estabilizadas, tem sido visto como um possível mecanismo na origem desses transtornos e, ao mesmo tempo, um alvo para estratégias terapêuticas. Experiências precoces influenciam o desenvolvimento e a maturação de circuitos encefálicos, e a sua interação com a carga genética do indivíduo, pode influenciar as estratégias de enfrentamento de situações aversivas ao longo da vida, gerando indivíduos resilientes ou vulneráveis ao desenvolvimento de transtornos psiquiátricos. Dentro deste contexto, o objetivo principal desta tese foi estudar diferentes experiências precoces, em modelos animais, e seu efeito sobre o processo de reconsolidação de memórias aversivas e, consequentemente, sobre o desenvolvimento de padrões de conduta de resiliência ou vulnerabilidade. Foram utilizados dois modelos, em ratos: a manipulação neonatal e a separação materna. Os resultados obtidos mostram que ambas intervenções levaram a um aumento dos cuidados que a mãe dedica à prole, mas a separação materna induziu um comportamento mais inconsistente, que reflete menor qualidade; consistentemente, a prole de ambos os sexos exibiu alterações na secreção de corticosterona frente a um contexto previamente pareado com um estímulo aversivo, e os machos mostraram generalização do medo a um contexto novo após a experiência. A manipulação neonatal, além de gerar um aumento do cuidado materno, levou a um aumento dos níveis centrais de ocitocina nas mães. A prole do sexo masculino exibiu comportamento de congelamento diminuído no contexto condicionado a um estímulo aversivo. Ambas intervenções geraram resistência à reconsolidação da memória aversiva condicionada, através de um mecanismo que parece envolver o hipocampo dorsal mas não a amígdala basolateral; o hipocampo ventral de ratos machos separados no período neonatal mostrou uma diminuição de espécies reativas de oxigênio e nitrogênio, sugestivo de atenuação de alguns mecanismos de plasticidade. Estes resultados apontam que os padrões de comportamento frente a situações aversivas são afetados pelas experiências neonatais, como reportado anteriormente, e que a manipulação parece gerar uma conduta mais resiliente enquanto a separação está associada ao surgimento de um padrão de comportamento mais vulnerável. A reconsolidação de memória de medo alterada em conjunto com a generalização da memória e a inconsistência comportamental da mãe encontrados neste trabalho e as alterações estruturais e funcionais na amígdala nestes animais, reportadas anteriormente, tornam a separação materna um modelo promissor para o estudo de mecanismos neurobiológicos dos transtornos psiquiátricos associados a memórias traumáticas. / The prevention and treatment of psychiatric pathologies associated with traumatic memories benefits from the study of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying aversive memories. In particular, the reconsolidation process, through which retrieved memories are restabilized, has been regarded both as a possible mechanism at the origin of these disorders and as a target for therapeutical strategies. Early life experiences impact the development and maturation of brain circuits, and their interaction with the individual’s genetic load may influence the coping mechanisms throughout life, generating individuals that are resilient or vulnerable to psychiatric disorders. Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to study, in an animal model, different early interventions and their effect on fear memory reconsolidation, and consequently the development of behavioral patterns of resilience or vulnerability. Neonatal handling and maternal separation in rats were used as early intervention models. The results obtained show that both interventions led to an increase in the amount of care the dam provides to the offspring, but maternal separation increased behavioral inconsistency, which reflects low quality behavior; consistently, both male and female offspring exhibited changes in corticosterone secretion in response to a context that was previously paired with an aversive stimulus and males showed fear generalization to a novel context after the experience. Neonatal handling increased both maternal care and central oxytocin levels in the dam. The male offspring showed reduced freezing behavior in the context conditioned to an aversive stimulus. Both interventions generated resistance to conditioned fear memory reconsolidation, through a mechanism that appears to involve the dorsal hippocampus but not the basolateral amygdala; the ventral hippocampus of males that were separated in the neonatal period had decreased reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, suggesting attenuated plasticity mechanisms. These results suggest that behavioral patterns which emerge when facing aversive situations are affected by neonatal experiences, as reported previously, and that neonatal handling appears to result in resilience while maternal separation appears to be associated with a pattern of vulnerability. Changes in fear memory reconsolidation together with memory generalization and maternal behavior inconsistency, found in this work, and the structural and functional changes in the amygdala, reported earlier, suggest that maternal separation is a promising model to study the neurobiological mechanisms of psychiatric pathologies associated with traumatic memories.

O estudo dos mecanismos neurobiológicos associados a memórias aversivas tem aplicações potenciais à prevenção e ao tratamento de patologias psiquiátricas associadas a memórias traumáticas. Em particular, o processo de reconsolidação, através do qual memórias evocadas são novamente estabilizadas, tem sido visto como um possível mecanismo na origem desses transtornos e, ao mesmo tempo, um alvo para estratégias terapêuticas. Experiências precoces influenciam o desenvolvimento e a maturação de circuitos encefálicos, e a sua interação com a carga genética do indivíduo, pode influenciar as estratégias de enfrentamento de situações aversivas ao longo da vida, gerando indivíduos resilientes ou vulneráveis ao desenvolvimento de transtornos psiquiátricos. Dentro deste contexto, o objetivo principal desta tese foi estudar diferentes experiências precoces, em modelos animais, e seu efeito sobre o processo de reconsolidação de memórias aversivas e, consequentemente, sobre o desenvolvimento de padrões de conduta de resiliência ou vulnerabilidade. Foram utilizados dois modelos, em ratos: a manipulação neonatal e a separação materna. Os resultados obtidos mostram que ambas intervenções levaram a um aumento dos cuidados que a mãe dedica à prole, mas a separação materna induziu um comportamento mais inconsistente, que reflete menor qualidade; consistentemente, a prole de ambos os sexos exibiu alterações na secreção de corticosterona frente a um contexto previamente pareado com um estímulo aversivo, e os machos mostraram generalização do medo a um contexto novo após a experiência. A manipulação neonatal, além de gerar um aumento do cuidado materno, levou a um aumento dos níveis centrais de ocitocina nas mães. A prole do sexo masculino exibiu comportamento de congelamento diminuído no contexto condicionado a um estímulo aversivo. Ambas intervenções geraram resistência à reconsolidação da memória aversiva condicionada, através de um mecanismo que parece envolver o hipocampo dorsal mas não a amígdala basolateral; o hipocampo ventral de ratos machos separados no período neonatal mostrou uma diminuição de espécies reativas de oxigênio e nitrogênio, sugestivo de atenuação de alguns mecanismos de plasticidade. Estes resultados apontam que os padrões de comportamento frente a situações aversivas são afetados pelas experiências neonatais, como reportado anteriormente, e que a manipulação parece gerar uma conduta mais resiliente enquanto a separação está associada ao surgimento de um padrão de comportamento mais vulnerável. A reconsolidação de memória de medo alterada em conjunto com a generalização da memória e a inconsistência comportamental da mãe encontrados neste trabalho e as alterações estruturais e funcionais na amígdala nestes animais, reportadas anteriormente, tornam a separação materna um modelo promissor para o estudo de mecanismos neurobiológicos dos transtornos psiquiátricos associados a memórias traumáticas. / The prevention and treatment of psychiatric pathologies associated with traumatic memories benefits from the study of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying aversive memories. In particular, the reconsolidation process, through which retrieved memories are restabilized, has been regarded both as a possible mechanism at the origin of these disorders and as a target for therapeutical strategies. Early life experiences impact the development and maturation of brain circuits, and their interaction with the individual’s genetic load may influence the coping mechanisms throughout life, generating individuals that are resilient or vulnerable to psychiatric disorders. Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to study, in an animal model, different early interventions and their effect on fear memory reconsolidation, and consequently the development of behavioral patterns of resilience or vulnerability. Neonatal handling and maternal separation in rats were used as early intervention models. The results obtained show that both interventions led to an increase in the amount of care the dam provides to the offspring, but maternal separation increased behavioral inconsistency, which reflects low quality behavior; consistently, both male and female offspring exhibited changes in corticosterone secretion in response to a context that was previously paired with an aversive stimulus and males showed fear generalization to a novel context after the experience. Neonatal handling increased both maternal care and central oxytocin levels in the dam. The male offspring showed reduced freezing behavior in the context conditioned to an aversive stimulus. Both interventions generated resistance to conditioned fear memory reconsolidation, through a mechanism that appears to involve the dorsal hippocampus but not the basolateral amygdala; the ventral hippocampus of males that were separated in the neonatal period had decreased reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, suggesting attenuated plasticity mechanisms. These results suggest that behavioral patterns which emerge when facing aversive situations are affected by neonatal experiences, as reported previously, and that neonatal handling appears to result in resilience while maternal separation appears to be associated with a pattern of vulnerability. Changes in fear memory reconsolidation together with memory generalization and maternal behavior inconsistency, found in this work, and the structural and functional changes in the amygdala, reported earlier, suggest that maternal separation is a promising model to study the neurobiological mechanisms of psychiatric pathologies associated with traumatic memories.

O estudo dos mecanismos neurobiológicos associados a memórias aversivas tem aplicações potenciais à prevenção e ao tratamento de patologias psiquiátricas associadas a memórias traumáticas. Em particular, o processo de reconsolidação, através do qual memórias evocadas são novamente estabilizadas, tem sido visto como um possível mecanismo na origem desses transtornos e, ao mesmo tempo, um alvo para estratégias terapêuticas. Experiências precoces influenciam o desenvolvimento e a maturação de circuitos encefálicos, e a sua interação com a carga genética do indivíduo, pode influenciar as estratégias de enfrentamento de situações aversivas ao longo da vida, gerando indivíduos resilientes ou vulneráveis ao desenvolvimento de transtornos psiquiátricos. Dentro deste contexto, o objetivo principal desta tese foi estudar diferentes experiências precoces, em modelos animais, e seu efeito sobre o processo de reconsolidação de memórias aversivas e, consequentemente, sobre o desenvolvimento de padrões de conduta de resiliência ou vulnerabilidade. Foram utilizados dois modelos, em ratos: a manipulação neonatal e a separação materna. Os resultados obtidos mostram que ambas intervenções levaram a um aumento dos cuidados que a mãe dedica à prole, mas a separação materna induziu um comportamento mais inconsistente, que reflete menor qualidade; consistentemente, a prole de ambos os sexos exibiu alterações na secreção de corticosterona frente a um contexto previamente pareado com um estímulo aversivo, e os machos mostraram generalização do medo a um contexto novo após a experiência. A manipulação neonatal, além de gerar um aumento do cuidado materno, levou a um aumento dos níveis centrais de ocitocina nas mães. A prole do sexo masculino exibiu comportamento de congelamento diminuído no contexto condicionado a um estímulo aversivo. Ambas intervenções geraram resistência à reconsolidação da memória aversiva condicionada, através de um mecanismo que parece envolver o hipocampo dorsal mas não a amígdala basolateral; o hipocampo ventral de ratos machos separados no período neonatal mostrou uma diminuição de espécies reativas de oxigênio e nitrogênio, sugestivo de atenuação de alguns mecanismos de plasticidade. Estes resultados apontam que os padrões de comportamento frente a situações aversivas são afetados pelas experiências neonatais, como reportado anteriormente, e que a manipulação parece gerar uma conduta mais resiliente enquanto a separação está associada ao surgimento de um padrão de comportamento mais vulnerável. A reconsolidação de memória de medo alterada em conjunto com a generalização da memória e a inconsistência comportamental da mãe encontrados neste trabalho e as alterações estruturais e funcionais na amígdala nestes animais, reportadas anteriormente, tornam a separação materna um modelo promissor para o estudo de mecanismos neurobiológicos dos transtornos psiquiátricos associados a memórias traumáticas. / The prevention and treatment of psychiatric pathologies associated with traumatic memories benefits from the study of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying aversive memories. In particular, the reconsolidation process, through which retrieved memories are restabilized, has been regarded both as a possible mechanism at the origin of these disorders and as a target for therapeutical strategies. Early life experiences impact the development and maturation of brain circuits, and their interaction with the individual’s genetic load may influence the coping mechanisms throughout life, generating individuals that are resilient or vulnerable to psychiatric disorders. Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to study, in an animal model, different early interventions and their effect on fear memory reconsolidation, and consequently the development of behavioral patterns of resilience or vulnerability. Neonatal handling and maternal separation in rats were used as early intervention models. The results obtained show that both interventions led to an increase in the amount of care the dam provides to the offspring, but maternal separation increased behavioral inconsistency, which reflects low quality behavior; consistently, both male and female offspring exhibited changes in corticosterone secretion in response to a context that was previously paired with an aversive stimulus and males showed fear generalization to a novel context after the experience. Neonatal handling increased both maternal care and central oxytocin levels in the dam. The male offspring showed reduced freezing behavior in the context conditioned to an aversive stimulus. Both interventions generated resistance to conditioned fear memory reconsolidation, through a mechanism that appears to involve the dorsal hippocampus but not the basolateral amygdala; the ventral hippocampus of males that were separated in the neonatal period had decreased reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, suggesting attenuated plasticity mechanisms. These results suggest that behavioral patterns which emerge when facing aversive situations are affected by neonatal experiences, as reported previously, and that neonatal handling appears to result in resilience while maternal separation appears to be associated with a pattern of vulnerability. Changes in fear memory reconsolidation together with memory generalization and maternal behavior inconsistency, found in this work, and the structural and functional changes in the amygdala, reported earlier, suggest that maternal separation is a promising model to study the neurobiological mechanisms of psychiatric pathologies associated with traumatic memories.

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka om och när lärare implementerar tidiga insatser för läs- och skrivsvårigheter hos elever i årskurs 1-3, samt inom vilken tidsram dessa anpassningar sker. Studien belyser de nuvarande framgångsfaktorerna i skolor och de brister som behöver åtgärdas i arbetet med läs- och skrivsvårigheter. Webbenkäten från 2023 besvarades av 163 lärare och den bestod av kvantitativa och kvalitativa frågor. Resultaten visar att majoriteten av respondenterna påbörjar tidiga insatser, men när insatserna sattes in varierar. Studien belyser också behovet av tydligare riktlinjer angående tidsramen för extra stöd och anpassningar samt vikten av ökad lärarkompetens inom neuropsykiatriska funktionsnedsättningar (NPF). Respondenterna uttryckte ett behov av ytterligare utbildning inom läs- och skrivsvårigheter och NPF. Studien föreslår en revidering av skollagen med en specificerad tidsram för extra stöd och anpassningar, utökad lärarutbildning inom NPF och obligatorisk fortbildning för yrkesverksamma lärare. Studien betonar även vikten av välutbildade elevassistenter, samarbete mellan lärare, speciallärare och elevassistenter samt mindre klasser för att underlätta individanpassad undervisning. Framtida forskning kan fokusera på vårdnadshavares perspektiv, effektiviteten av olika insatser samt utforskande av tidigare identifiering av elever med läs- och skrivsvårigheter. / The aim of this study is to investigate when and if teachers implement early interventions for reading and writing difficulties in students in grades 1-3, as well as the timeframe within which these adjustments occur. The study highlights the current success factors in schools and the shortcomings that need to be addressed in the work with reading and writing difficulties. A total of 163 teachers participated in the study, responding to a survey with quantitative questions. Results show that the majority of respondents initiate early interventions, but the timeframe varies. The study also highlights the need for clearer guidelines regarding the timeframe for providing extra support and adjustments, and the importance of increased teacher competence in neurodevelopmental disorders. Respondents expressed a desire for further training in reading and writing difficulties and neurodevelopmental disorders. The study suggests revising school law with a specified timeframe for extra support and adjustments, expanded teacher education in neurodevelopmental disorders, and compulsory continuing education for practicing teachers. Future research could focus on the perspective of guardians, improved collaboration between teachers, special education teachers, and teaching assistants, and exploring earlier identification of students with reading and writing difficulties.

Arbetsrelaterad psykisk ohälsa orsakar årligen en ansenlig mängd sjukskrivningar. Behovet av allt tidigare åtgärder, som fokuserar på att anpassa arbetskrav med arbetsförmåga samt samhälleliga strukturer som stödjer dessa har framlyfts. En utmaning är den otillräckliga kunskapen om tidiga arbetsplatsnära åtgärder. Arbetsterapi blir oftast inte aktuellt förrän de negativa konsekvenserna av både tillståndet och sjukskrivningen är betydande. Syftet i denna studie var att utforska och beskriva hur personer som drabbats av arbetsrelaterad psykisk ohälsa, men som inte är sjukskrivna, upplever sin arbetsmiljö samt att undersöka hindrande och stödjande faktorer i arbetsmiljön. Metod: Studien genomfördes med en Mixed Methods design. Data samlades in med Work Environment Impact Scale (WEIS). Analys av kvalitativa data kombinerade deduktiv och induktiv ansats. Kvantitativa data analyserades med deskriptiv statistik. Resultatet framlyfte en flerdimensionell och individuellt varierad miljöpåverkan både i och utanför arbetet som bidrog till upplevelsen av nedsatt arbetsförmåga. Detta är implikationer för behovet av att i ett tidigt skede stödja arbetsförmåga ur ett perspektiv som beaktar den drabbade individens vardagliga helhetskontext. Anpassning av arbetssituationen baserad på en analys av faktorer kopplade till individen, arbetet och miljön, behövs i större utsträckning. Arbetsterapeuters metoder och kompetens kan bidra till ökad kunskap om tidiga åtgärder samt till at stödja individer att undvika sjukskrivning. Denna kompetens berikar och kompletterar de arbetssätt som redan är praxis inom företagshälsovård. Arbetsterapeuters expertis borde i tidigare skede och högre grad finnas tillgänglig som stöd vid arbetsrelaterad psykisk ohälsa. / Work related mental disorders continue to cause significant amounts of work absenteeism. The need of matching working conditions to the individuals’ work ability has been emphasized. The lack of knowledge concerning early interventions is though challenging. Occupational therapy is often offered at too late a point when the negative consequences of the sick-leave or the condition already are significant. The aim of this study was two-fold. Firstly, to explore and describe how people affected by work related stress but not on sick leave, experience their working environment. Secondly, to investigate interfering and supporting aspects in the working environment. A Mixed methods design was chosen, and data collected using the Work Environment Impact Scale (WEIS). The qualitative content analysis employed both deductive and inductive approach. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse gradings. The results reflected a multidimensional environmental influence in and outside the work leading to an experience of decreased work ability. The results imply the necessity to early support of work ability embracing the general daily context of the individual affected. Matching the individual and the work to each other, based on an analysis of individual, environmental and work-related factors, should be more common. The methods and the competence occupational therapists possess can contribute to gaining knowledge concerning early interventions and also support individuals to avoid sick leave. This expertise enrichens customary occupational health services practice and should be more commonly provided.

Sammanfattning: Introduktion: Tidig upptäckt av cerebral pares (CP) möjliggör tidig behandling, när hjärnans plasticitet är bäst, vilket optimerar barnets utveckling. I Sverige erbjuds alla barn motoriska utvecklingsuppföljningar inom barnhälsovården (BHV). Barn med kända riskfaktorer för CP följs dessutom inom neonatala uppföljningsprogram, där evidensbaserade bedömningsmetoder används vid motorisk bedömning. För en patientsäker vård behöver nedsatt motorik och CP tidigt identifieras, oberoende vart barnen följs. Syfte: Undersöka skillnader mellan barn med CP tillhörande högriskgrupp (HR) eller lågriskgrupp (LR), gällande första kontakt med fysioterapeut och motorisk bedömning, i Region Uppsala. Metod: Kvantitativ journalstudie med deskriptiv, retrospektiv och komparativ design valdes. Barn födda 2010-2016, diagnostiserade med CP 2010-2018 i Region Uppsala inkluderades. Barnen delades in i HR/LR för CP. Mätvariabler: motorisk nivå och kvalitet, funktionsnivå, typ av CP, ålder första kontakt med fysioterapeut samt ålder remittering till habiliteringsverksamheten. Deskriptiv statistik och icke-parametriska statistiska test användes, p-värde ≤0.05. Resultat: Trettiosju barn inkluderades, 22 HR/15 LR för CP. Barnen med högrisk bedömdes av fysioterapeut, erbjöds behandling samt remitterades till habiliteringsverksamheten signifikant tidigare. Barn med sämre funktionsnivå remitterades signifikant tidigare till habiliteringsverksamheten. Slutsats: Barn med CP i Region Uppsala har ojämlik tillgång till fysioterapeutiska bedömningar och behandlingar. Barn med högrisk för CP bedömdes av fysioterapeut och remitterades till habiliteringsverksamheten tidigare.  Barn med sämre funktionsnivå remitterades också tidigare. Evidensbaserade bedömningsmetoder verkar möjliggöra tidig upptäckt av motoriska avvikelser och därigenom möjlighet till tidiga interventioner. Ett sätt att erbjuda patientsäker och jämlik vård för barn med utvecklingsavvikelser, kan vara att använda evidensbaserade bedömningametoder inom verksamheter vars mål är identifiering av utvecklingsavvikelser. / Abstract: Introduction: Early detection of cerebral palsy (CP) allows for early treatment, when brain plasticity is at its best, which optimizes the child's development. In Sweden, all children are offered motor developmental surveillance in child health services. In addition children with known riskfactors of developing CP are enrolled in neonatal follow-up, using evidence-based assessment methods. In order to provide patientsafe and quality of care, early identification of impaired motor function and CP is needed, regardless of where the children are monitored. Aims: Investigate differences between children belonging to high or low riskgroup for CP regarding first contact with physiotherapist and assessed motorskills, in Region Uppsala. Methods: A quantitative journalstudy with descriptive, retrospective and comparative design was selected. Children born 2010-2016 diagnosed with CP 2010-2018 in Region Uppsala were included and divided into children with high or low risk to develop CP. Measures: motor performance, level of disability, type of CP, first visit at physiotherapist, age of reffered to habilitation-services. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric statistical tests were used, p-value ≤0.05. Results: Thirty-seven children were included, 22 with high-risk and 15 with low-risk for CP. Children with high-risk were assessed by physioterapist and referred to habilitation-services significantly earlier. Children with more severe disability were also referred significantly earlier. Conclusion: Children with CP in Region Uppsala have unequal access to timely physiotherapy and habilitation-services. Evidence-based assessment methods enable early detection of motor abnormalities and allows for early treatment. To provide safe and equal care, all professionals performing developmental surveillance should use evidence-based assessment methods.

Syftet med den här kvalitativa studien var att studera några specialpedagogers uppfattningar angående mer eller mindre väl fungerande stöd till elever i språk-, skriv- och lässvårigheter i grundskolans senare år. Datamaterialet består av semistrukturerade intervjuer med sju specialpedagoger och har i en första analys tolkats utifrån hermeneutisk metod. Därefter har resultaten i den slutgiltiga analysen förklarats utifrån en teoretisk utgångspunkt som utgörs av två perspektiv på specialpedagogisk verksamhet, enligt Bengt Perssons (2013) modell: det relationella och det kategoriska perspektivet. Resultatet visade på flera faktorer för väl fungerande stöd, där vikten av en tillitsfull relation mellan lärare och elev sticker ut, liksom kunskap om specialpedagogiskt stöd hos lärare samt tidiga insatser såsom pedagogisk kartläggning och digitala verktyg. Samarbete och goda relationer mellan specialpedagog, pedagoger och vårdnadshavare var ytterliga faktorer som bidrog till fungerande stöd medan elevens egen inre vilja och drivkraft; sk grit var en annan intressant framgångsfaktor i uppfattningarna. Faktorer som hittades för mindre väl fungerande stöd var motsatsen; nämligen brist på specialpedagogisk kunskap hos rektorer, lärare men även hos specialpedagoger själva. Värt att uppmärksamma var också avsaknad av studiehandledning på modersmålet samt försummelse att sätta in stöd till elever i avvaktan på utredningsbeslut. Sammanfattningsvis så är de viktigaste resultaten från studien om faktorer för fungerande stöd följande: a) kunskap om specialpedagogiskt stöd hos rektorer och pedagoger, b) goda relationer och samarbete mellan lärare, elever, specialpedagoger och vårdnadshavare, c) tidiga insatser samt d) elevers drivkraft; sk grit och inre vilja att lyckas. Den faktor som utkristalliserades tydligast i studien för mindre väl fungerande stöd var just bristen på specialpedagogisk kunskap hos rektorer och skolans pedagoger, vilket förstärker det omvända resultatet, att specialpedagogisk kunskap hos rektorer och pedagoger är en framgångsfaktor för fungerande stöd. De flesta uppfattningar i resultatet utgick från ett relationellt perspektiv på specialpedagogisk verksamhet. / The aim of this qualitative study was to examine the perceptions of some special educators concerning more or less well functional support to students in language-, writing- and reading difficulties in secondary education. The data consists of semi structured interviews with seven special educators, which has been analyzed according to hermeneutic analysis method in the primary analysis. In order to explain the results, a theoretical framework was used in the final analysis, which proceeds from two perspectives on special education practices according to Bengt Perssons’ (2013) model: the relational and the categorical perspective. The result indicated several factors for well functional support, where the importance of a trusting relation between teacher and student stands out as well as knowledge about special educational support within teachers but also early interventions, such as pedagogical surveys and the use of digital tools. Good relations and collaboration in between special educators, teachers, students and caregivers were other important factors contributing to functional support while the student´s own will and inner urge to succeed; the so called grit was another interesting finding among the perceptions. Factors found working less well for functional support were the opposite; lack of knowledge concerning special educational support within principals, teachers but also within special educators themselves. Noticeable was lack of study guidance in the mother tongue and negligence to insert support to students in special education needs while awaiting results of inquiry. In summary; the most important results from this study concerning factors for functional support were a) knowledge about special educational support within school staff, b) good relations/collaboration between teachers, students, special educators and caregivers, c) early interventions and d) students’ grit and inner will to succeed. The most important result indicating less well functional support was the lack of knowledge about special educational support within staff, which stretches the opposite result, that knowledge about special educational support within principals and teachers is a success factor for functional support. Most perceptions in the result proceeded from a relational perspective on special education practices.