Children with special needs grow and become mature according to common principles of evolution. However, physical characteristics and motor development fall behind. Various studies show that physical capability of those with special needs (mentally handicaped) in all age groups is 20-40% lower than of those who are healthy. (Fernhall et. Al., 1998). Lack of agility and balance or disability to remember things or forsee the changed conditions to perform the tasks can prevent them from performing various motor tasks well. (Pitetty, Fernhal, 1997). It has benn noted that exercising can improve physical capability (power) of people with special needs. The intensity level and duration of exercising influence it, as well. (Mikelkevičiūtė, 2002; Sherill, 1998). Physical capability (power) of students is usually tested by EUROFIT tests (physical capability of mentally handicaped students, as well). The aim of this research work was to evaluate physical power of students with special needs from Kužiai Secondary School (5 th-9th forms). The objectives: 1. Generalize the characteristics of the tested students. 2. Define physical capability of students with special needs by EUROFIT test: balance, flexibility, sudden power, waist power, functional power, running speed, quickness. 3. Compare physical capability of children with special needs and healthy students of the same age. 4. Define the level of efficiency of this experiment. Hypothesis: Students with special... [to full text]

Children are being used as marketers and consumers for the purpose of financial gain. Although much research exists about children's stance as consumers, very little is known about their role as marketers. Such lack of information indicates that children's authentic voices about their experiences are seldom articulated, heard, listened to, and acted on. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological heuristic study was to explore the lived experiences of former child participants in commercial activities in order to understand their perceptions as well as, the meaning, and impact of the experiences on their childhood development. The theoretical framework used included the theories of Bandura's social learning, Bronfenbrenner's ecological system, Vygotsky's social constructivism, Knowles' andragogy, and Meziro's transformative learning. The primary questions focused on participants' perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes, as well as the meaning, and impact such lived experiences had on their childhood development. The final sample consisted of 13 adults above age 18 who participated in commercial activities during their childhood and were selected through the snowballing technique. Data were collected, analyzed, and manually coded from multiple individual and focus group interviews. The thematic results and findings are necessary labor, cultural practice, belief system, power of tangible and intangible rewards, independent mobility factor, social dangers of risk factor, participants' affective response, and experiential learning. Implications for social change include the establishment of partnerships among schools, children, parents, and commercial industries to strengthen advocacy for, and effect improved conditions and treatment of child participants in commercial activities.