Independent Living Transition Assistance for Young Adults Who Have Special Needs. Rhonda L. Russell, 2016: Applied Dissertation, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education. Keywords: special education, disadvantaged youth, economically disadvantaged This research focused on young adults who have disabilities and their transition and career planning for post-secondary life. The study sought to identify best practices in transition planning, transition planning services, and to determine the types of resources and support needed by young adults who have disabilities. For youth who have disabilities, the transition to adulthood is extremely challenging. Policies, systems, and services tend to be uncoordinated or fragmented, and youth who have disabilities and their families lack the information needed to navigate the transition successfully, which limits opportunities for full participation in adult life. It was concluded from the study results that transitioning from secondary education programs to post-secondary education or training programs and employment is most aided by (a) positive support from family, (b) the introduction of transition services early in the young adults’ secondary education experience, and (c) young adults availing themselves of services provided by disability service agencies such as job skill development, self-advocacy training, independent living, etc. Additionally, it was concluded from the study results that maintaining employment is as equally challenging as is obtaining employment. Interview respondents reported facing challenges such as discrimination and compromised privacy. Impediments to transition included low self- esteem, independence discouraged by family members, limited transportation, access to services, and limited knowledge about available services. Recommendations to expand the use of rehabilitation and employment services included interagency collaboration and innovative marketing approaches.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore female teachers' experiences regarding their authority and legitimacy in socio-economically vulnerable areas in Stockholm. The research questions used were: 1. How do female teachers experience their authority regarding students, legal guardians, co-workers and executives? 2. How do female teachers experience that their physical attributes and gender affects their authority regarding students, legal guardians and co-workers? 3. How do female teachers experience that their legitimacy affects their authority in regards to students, legal guardians and co-workers?  Method: A qualitative hermeneutic approach was used. Eight female teachers working in two different schools in socio-economically vulnerable areas in and outside of Stockholm were interviewed. The interviews were executed digitally after requests of the respondents and they were audibly recorded in order to be able to transcribe them in direct connection to the interviews. Since the study has an inductive work procedure, the theoretical framework was not determined until after the interviews, which turned out to be hermeneutics. Hermeneutics lets our pre-understandings and interpretations reflect the result. We have tried to find connections between the experiences of the female teachers regarding their authority and legitimacy in relation to students, legal guardians, co-workers and executives. Result: Female teachers are struggling with/and maintaining authority in regards to students. Authority seems to grow as time passes, which is in line with previous research. The female teachers in our study experience a difference in who is given authority: white, Swedish men seem to be advantageous in regards to authority, over others. We can also determine that female teachers do not experience problems in regards to authority or legitimacy in relation to legal guardians, though it differs from students, co-workers and executives where the female teachers in some degree do experience questioning.  Conclusion: We interpret the results as some of the female teachers seem to struggle in order to keep their subject legitimized. Lastly, authority seems to be in parallel to personal characteristics where gender, ethnicity and physical attributes are crucial in order to experience authority and legitimacy. / Syfte och frågeställningar: Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur kvinnliga lärare upplever sin auktoritet och legitimitet i socioekonomiskt utsatta områden i Stockholm. Forskningsfrågorna som använts är: 1. Hur upplever kvinnliga lärare sin auktoritet gentemot elever, vårdnadshavare, kollegor och ledning på sin arbetsplats? 2. Hur upplever kvinnliga lärare att deras fysiska attribut och könstillhörighet påverkar auktoriteten gentemot elever, vårdnadshavare och kollegor? 3. Hur upplever kvinnliga lärare att deras legitimitet påverkar deras auktoritet i förhållande till elever, vårdnadshavare och kollegor?  Metod: Åtta kvinnliga lärare intervjuades för att besvara studiens syfte och frågeställningar vilka alla utfördes digitalt efter respondenternas önskemål. Intervjuerna spelades in efter respondenternas godkännande och transkriberades i direkt anslutning till intervjuerna. Eftersom studien har ett induktivt arbetssätt formulerades den teoretiska referensramen först efter intervjuerna var genomförda. Hermeneutiken, som var det teoretiska begrepp som ansågs mest användbart, grundar sig i att våra förståelser och uppfattningar har färgat resultatet. Vi har försökt hitta samband mellan de kvinnliga lärarnas upplevelser gällande auktoritet och legitimitet gentemot elever, vårdnadshavare, kollegor och ledning.  Resultat: Resultatet i studien visar att de kvinnliga lärarna har svårt att uppnå auktoritet och att hålla kvar auktoriteten i relation till elever. Auktoritet är något som verkar förstärkas ju längre tid en lärare är yrkesverksam, vilket även är i linje med tidigare forskning. De kvinnliga lärarna i vår studie ser en skillnad i vilka som får auktoritet, de menar att det är fördelaktigt att vara en vit svensk man. Vi har även sett att de kvinnliga lärarna i vår studie inte upplever en problematik gällande auktoritet och legitimitet gentemot vårdnadshavare. Däremot framgår det att några av lärarna upplever en viss begränsning i upplevd auktoritet gentemot både elever, kollegor och ledning.  Slutsats: Vi tolkar resultatet som att vissa av kvinnorna i vår studie upplever det svårt att hålla deras ämnen legitima. Slutligen verkar auktoritet ges i förhållande till personliga karaktärsdrag där framförallt kön, etnicitet och fysiska attribut är direkt avgörande för att uppleva auktoritet och legitimitet.

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Underrepresentation among those identified for gifted programs has been a concern in the field of gifted education for over a century, affecting students of color, students with disabilities, English language learners, and economically disadvantaged students. Universal screening has emerged as a possible strategy to increase referrals of students from underrepresented populations and to produce gifted population demographics more reflective of total student enrollment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of universal screening measures on the diversity of students found eligible for gifted education services. The study examined the following research questions: 1. What is the relationship between a referral source and the gifted identification of elementary school students? 2. To what extent do universal screening measures influence the diversity of students eligible for gifted education services? This study used existing referral and eligibility data of elementary school students in a medium-sized school district who were administered a universal screening measure during the 2019-2020 school year. Pearson chi-square tests with Yates' continuity correction were used to determine the existence of possible associations between referral source and gifted identification status, and Cramér's V was used as a measure of effect size. Referral rates, accuracy, and effectiveness of referral sources were also computed. Across all demographic groups, universal screeners referred more students than any other referral source, and the highest number of students identified gifted after the full gifted evaluation came from universal screener referrals. Teacher referrals and universal screener referrals produced the most diverse identified gifted results after evaluation. Universal screeners displayed the highest referral rates and were the most accurate and effective referral source across all demographic groups. This study provides the field of gifted education further research on universal screening, and the findings of this study provide educational leaders data to inform practice. Implications for school and district leaders involve multiple stakeholders and address different areas to promote diversity among the gifted student population. The implications center on parent and community engagement, professional learning, best practices in gifted education, and evaluation of gifted identification processes. / Doctor of Education / Historically, students of color, students with disabilities, English language learners, and economically disadvantaged students have been underrepresented in gifted programs. Universal screening has emerged as a potential practice to refer more students from underrepresented populations and consequentially identify a more diverse gifted population, but few studies exist to support adoption of the practice and to justify the financial expense and amount of instructional time devoted to administering the assessments. This study used existing data of elementary school students in a medium-sized school district who were administered a universal screening measure to investigate the influence of universal screening measures on the diversity of students found eligible for gifted education services. Possible associations between referral source and gifted status were determined, and referral rates, accuracy and identification rates, and effectiveness of various referral sources were calculated. Across demographic groups, universal screeners referred more students than any other referral source, and the highest number of students identified gifted after the full gifted evaluation resulted from these referrals. Teacher referrals and universal screener referrals were found to produce the most diverse identified gifted populations after evaluation; universal screeners displayed the highest referral rates and were the most accurate and effective referral source across all demographic groups. This study adds further research on universal screening to the field of gifted education, and the findings of this study provide educational leaders information regarding the effectiveness of universal screening to translate into institutional practice.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the instructional outcomes in the independent school districts and charter schools in relation to the expenditure of public funds for instruction and total operating expenditures from the general fund. The study considered Texas elementary charter schools and independent school districts, whose school populations were identified as having greater than or equal to 50% of economically disadvantaged students, according to the Texas Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS). The study made use of multiple regression and was an ex post facto cross-sectional analysis utilizing production function theory. The study’s outcomes reported the difference in student achievement between elementary schools in independent public school districts and charter schools were small to negligible for math and reading achievement. The study also reported, there is no statistically significant difference in per pupil expenditure of public funds between elementary schools in independent public school districts and charter schools. Furthermore, there is no statistically significant relationship between student achievement and per pupil expenditure of public funds on elementary schools in independent public school districts and charter schools.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T14:43:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gisele Cristina de Oliveira.pdf: 1691667 bytes, checksum: 807305a811d17702bcb677f1cb8c8966 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-10-31 / The aim of this research is to analyse the possibility of access to justice by the economically vulnerable through the Public Defender‟s Office of State University Ponta Grossa and the its familiar conflicts solutions. The interest in this subject occured through the practice experience of the author as a collaborator professor of Civil Forensic Practice, acting in NPJ/UEPG between 2007 and 2010. The research has a quantitative characteristic, and it is performed through the following methodological procedure: referential systematization of methodological theoretical from the main analytics categories: economic vulnerability, access to justice, full legal assistance, Juridical Practice Center and familiar conflicts. Through this referential we can visualize the debate about the justice access in Brazil, in special for the economically vulnerable, identifying the access possibility for this group in relation to the Justice System, mainly by Juridical Practice Center of Law Courses. In this systematization was of fundamental importance the analyses about the access to Justice theory from Mauro Capelletti and Bryan Garth lessons and also the study about the new configurations of Brazilian contemporary family. In the sequence, it was made the documental research analyses based on Juridical Activities Report of NP/UEPG and in petitions under judgement by NPJ/UEPG between 2007 and 2010. The synthesis of this process resulted in positive results identification in relation to justice access through NPJ/UEPG for economically vulnerable who search this organ for familiar conflicts resolution. / A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar a possibilidade de acesso à justiça pelos vulneráveis, economicamente, por meio do Núcleo de Prática Jurídica da Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa (NPJ/UEPG) e a solução dos conflitos familiares por esse órgão. O interesse pelo assunto foi despertado pela experiência prática da autora como professora colaboradora de Prática Forense Civil, atuante junto ao NPJ/UEPG, entre os anos de 2007 e 2010. A pesquisa tem caráter quantitativo, sendo realizada por meio do seguinte procedimento metodológico: sistematização de referencial teórico-metodológico a partir das principais categorias analíticas: vulnerabilidade econômica, acesso à justiça, assistência jurídica integral e gratuita, núcleos de prática jurídica e conflitos familiares. Por meio deste referencial, se pode visualizar o debate sobre o acesso à justiça no Brasil, em especial, pelos vulneráveis economicamente, identificando as possibilidades de acesso por esse grupo ao sistema de justiça, em especial, por meio dos Núcleos de Prática Jurídica dos cursos de Direito. Nesta sistematização, foi de fundamental importância a análise da sobre a teoria do acesso à justiça, a partir das lições de Mauro Capelletti e Bryan Garth, como também, o estudo sobre as novas configurações da família contemporânea brasileira. Na sequência deste processo, realizou-se a análise da pesquisa documental efetivada com base nos Relatórios de Atividades Jurídicas do NPJ/UEPG e nas petições ajuizadas pelo NPJ/UEPG, no período compreendido entre os anos de 2007 e 2010. A síntese deste processo culminou na identificação de resultados positivos para a questão do acesso à justiça por meio do NPJ/UEPG pelos vulneráveis, economicamente, que buscam esse órgão para a resolução dos seus conflitos familiares.

Barnfattigdomen är ett samhällsproblem som är högaktuellt i media och i samhällsdebatten. Syftet med studien var att få en ökad kunskap om de fattiga barnens situation i Sverige, detta för att kunna ta fram empowermentstrategier som skulle kunna underlätta för dem, utifrån ett socialpedagogiskt förhållningssätt. Uppsatsen är upplagd som en litteraturstudie och genom textanalys har vi sökt svar på frågorna: Vilken problematik möter de fattiga barnen i hemmet, i skolan och på fritiden? Hur hanterar barnen sin situation? Hur ser barnens behov ut? Kan vi underlätta för barnen och i så fall på vilket sätt? I vår resultatdel tittade vi på vilken problematik fattiga barn möter och hur de hanterar det.  Resultatet visar att de möter begränsningar och upplever känslor av skam, i jämförelse med andra barn. Skolan visade sig vara en central arena där problematiken var tydlig. Barnen bär mycket inom sig och har en ekonomisk medvetenhet. För att hantera problematiken använder de sig av olika strategier som att minska sina behov, dölja sin situation osv. I analysen lyfts barnens behov fram utifrån empowerment och tidigare forskning.  Det framkom att barnen behöver stärkas och få möjligheter till deltagande. Vi avslutar med en diskussion om hur vi kan underlätta för de fattiga barnen. De professionella, t.ex. inom skolan, behöver bli medvetna om strukturer som finns och som skapar ett utanförskap. / Child poverty is a social problem that is highly topical in the media and in public debate.The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the situation of the poor children in Sweden, this in order to develop empowerment strategies that could help them, from a social pedagogic approach. Our essay is written as a literature review and through text analysis we have sought answers to the questions: What problems do the children living in poverty face in their homes, at school and in their spare time? How do they handle their situation? What are the needs of these children? Can we make it easier for them and if so, in what way? In our result we looked at the problems poor children face and how they handle them. The result shows that they encounter limitations and experience feelings of shame, in comparison with other children. The school was found to be a central arena where the problems were obvious. Children bear much inwardly, and have an economic consciousness. To deal with problems they use different strategies to reduce their needs, to hide their situation and so on. In the analysis the children's needs, based on empowerment and previous research, are highlighted. It was found that the children need to be strengthened and given opportunities to participate. We conclude with a discussion on how we can facilitate for the children living in poverty. The professionals, for example at schools, need to be aware of structures that exist and which create a sense of exclusion.

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of middle school students particularly focusing on the academic achievement of economically disadvantaged students. Existing data show that there is an increasing cohort of school children experiencing poverty, either short or long term. For poor middle school students, the risk for school failure is amplified by the general risks associated with middle school transition and early adolescence development. The cumulative nature of these risks is often associated with undesirable school outcomes including grade retention, behavior problems, absenteeism, delinquency, teenage pregnancy, school dropout, fewer years of schooling, and lower academic achievement. However, there is evidence that some students succeed in spite of adversity, which is often attributed to protective factors present in the students’ own immediate environment – school, home, and community. This current study, therefore, examined the relationship between two potential protective factors–parent involvement and school belonging–and student achievement. Previous research has established that parent involvement and school belonging are both associated with positive school outcomes including academic motivation, self-efficacy, internal locus of control, pro-social and on-task behavior, school engagement, educational aspirations and expectations, and better academic achievement. Consequently, this study examined three main questions: (a) How is parental involvement associated with academic achievement for economically disadvantaged eighth grade students? (b) How school belonging associated with academic achievement for economically disadvantaged eighth grade students? (c) Do the relations between parent involvement, school belonging, and eighth grade achievement vary as a function of prior achievement and middle school? To answer these research questions, this study used the nationally representative longitudinal data from Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten (ECLS-K) Class of 1998/99. The findings for this study showed that when parent involvement and school belonging were considered together, the association between parent involvement and student achievement diminished while school belonging consistently emerged as a significant predictor of achievement. However, while school belonging emerged as a significant predictor of achievement, this study established that students’ prior achievement was the single strong and significant factor explaining achievement for poor eighth grade students. / text

The global move towards human rights, the publication of King 11 reports and the post democratic legislations coerced the South African mining industry to diversify its workforce. The Employment Equity Act was the major driving force behind this, aimed at eliminating discrimination in the workplace and implementing Affirmative Action measures so that the workforce would reflect the economically active population. The question remains as to whether it could achieve a representative workforce, since the Commission of Employment Enquiry reports (2009-2010) and the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (second quarter, 2010) indicated that progress is very slow throughout all the industries. The mining industry is still predominantly White-controlled and emphasis is being placed on stimulating Black empowerment in the industry. Since the early 1990s the industry has seen significant restructuring and changes, including the phasing out of the traditional mining houses and the incorporation of the designated groups (females and Blacks) in ownership and management. However, rising gold prices and pressures on the global economy have forced the industry to embark on measures which impacted badly on the employment equity, leading to measures such as downsizing both the operations and staff, limiting training, centralising and outsourcing through contractual work. Migrant labour still plays an integral part. In order to analyse the application of Employment Equity Act and workplace diversity in the mining industry, a literature review was conducted to conceptualise the major constructs, and a survey through a close-ended questionnaire was administered to establish the progress made in this regard. The questionnaire was divided into three sections: section A was a biographical/demographic analysis focussing on the personal attributes ranging from gender, age, race, education and job grade. Section B and C were in the form of five-point likert scale to analyse the extent of understanding and knowledge, as well as attitudes and behaviour of the respondents respectively. The results were compared to secondary data in the form of reports collected from the senior metallurgy human resource manager. The convenience sample was taken from a sample of employees staying in the mining complex known as the 'Quarters', which comprised 345 houses, of which a response rate was 54%. Findings from the primary data indicated some progress in changing the organisational culture, with the majority of the respondents giving positive perceptions towards gender, disability and language used, while they identified the following as barriers (negative perceptions): lack of commitment by management; unfair labour practices in recruitment, promotions, training and development; insufficient knowledge about EEA and diversity; racial discrimination; and negative turnover intentions. They believed that diversity could improve productivity. The secondary data revealed that there was slow progress in attaining the numerical targets, especially in the D-band upwards (senior and top management levels). The females and people with disability were under-represented in all categories. The majority of employees in the skilled (C-band), semi-skilled and unskilled (B1-B7) were terminating their services. It is suggested that training of personnel about EEA and diversity be considered to get their active support and to prepare them for the change from the status-quo, extensive development of management on labour relations and good practices, as well as formation of committees to steer and monitor the adherence to policies. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The global move towards human rights, the publication of King 11 reports and the post democratic legislations coerced the South African mining industry to diversify its workforce. The Employment Equity Act was the major driving force behind this, aimed at eliminating discrimination in the workplace and implementing Affirmative Action measures so that the workforce would reflect the economically active population. The question remains as to whether it could achieve a representative workforce, since the Commission of Employment Enquiry reports (2009-2010) and the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (second quarter, 2010) indicated that progress is very slow throughout all the industries. The mining industry is still predominantly White-controlled and emphasis is being placed on stimulating Black empowerment in the industry. Since the early 1990s the industry has seen significant restructuring and changes, including the phasing out of the traditional mining houses and the incorporation of the designated groups (females and Blacks) in ownership and management. However, rising gold prices and pressures on the global economy have forced the industry to embark on measures which impacted badly on the employment equity, leading to measures such as downsizing both the operations and staff, limiting training, centralising and outsourcing through contractual work. Migrant labour still plays an integral part. In order to analyse the application of Employment Equity Act and workplace diversity in the mining industry, a literature review was conducted to conceptualise the major constructs, and a survey through a close-ended questionnaire was administered to establish the progress made in this regard. The questionnaire was divided into three sections: section A was a biographical/demographic analysis focussing on the personal attributes ranging from gender, age, race, education and job grade. Section B and C were in the form of five-point likert scale to analyse the extent of understanding and knowledge, as well as attitudes and behaviour of the respondents respectively. The results were compared to secondary data in the form of reports collected from the senior metallurgy human resource manager. The convenience sample was taken from a sample of employees staying in the mining complex known as the 'Quarters', which comprised 345 houses, of which a response rate was 54%. Findings from the primary data indicated some progress in changing the organisational culture, with the majority of the respondents giving positive perceptions towards gender, disability and language used, while they identified the following as barriers (negative perceptions): lack of commitment by management; unfair labour practices in recruitment, promotions, training and development; insufficient knowledge about EEA and diversity; racial discrimination; and negative turnover intentions. They believed that diversity could improve productivity. The secondary data revealed that there was slow progress in attaining the numerical targets, especially in the D-band upwards (senior and top management levels). The females and people with disability were under-represented in all categories. The majority of employees in the skilled (C-band), semi-skilled and unskilled (B1-B7) were terminating their services. It is suggested that training of personnel about EEA and diversity be considered to get their active support and to prepare them for the change from the status-quo, extensive development of management on labour relations and good practices, as well as formation of committees to steer and monitor the adherence to policies. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.