The overall aim of the research presented here is to examine challenges in the special needs support tradition and the consequences of these challenges with the aim of increasing knowledge regarding the opportunities and constraints that are created as partof the support. In addition, the overarching study aims to highlight issues of democracyand inclusion in the social practices that are focused here and in what manner theseemerge and are framed. These aims are examined through three separate studies. The first study theoretically examines the central concepts of democracy and inclusionin school policy. The central query here relates to what possible consequences differentmodels of democracy imply vis-à-vis inclusive processes and what possibilities exist forchallenging traditions in special need education? Tradition has often been recognized asan important factor for compensating individuals in a reactive and segregating way. The second study takes an ethnographic point of departure and focuses five languagepre-schools that are instituted with the primary aim of teaching Swedish to children fromhomes where Swedish is not spoken. The institutional intention is to prepare these pupilsfor inclusion in future school arenas. One query here relates to what types ofconsequences such a proactively conceptualized activity gives rise to? A case-study that focuses the analysis of a course to prepare teachers for writingremedial plans constitutes the third research foci. The course is offered by a national stateauthority, the older Institute of Special Education (Specialpedagogiska institutet). Theactivity of working on remedial plans is a challenge for the special educational traditionand its individualization of school related problems. A central issue here relates to whatconsequence such a challenge gives rise to when it is formulated by a school-authority? The results of the studies presented in this thesis indicate that traditions resist changeeven though there is an ambition to challenge these. Old patterns of providing support ininstitutional arenas are difficult to reshape. In both empirical studies individual deficits isa common understanding of school-problems. The results of the empirical studies are alsodiscussed in relation to the conceptual analysis presented in the first article.

Introduction: Patient education is an important part of the management of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. Given that patients with diverse diseases do not have the same needs, it is crucial to assess the educational requirements of targeted groups to provide tailored educational interventions. The aim of our study was to assess educational needs of a large cohort of patients with different rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases attending a health facility in Austria. Methods: We assessed educational needs, via an online survey of patients with fibromyalgia (FMS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) recruited from an Austrian health-care facility, using the Austrian version of the Educational Needs Assessment Tool (OENAT). Results: For our sample of 603 patients, AS (62%), RA (15%), and FMS (24%), there were no educational need differences for the domains of movements, disease process, and self-help measures. Patients with FMS had less need for pain management education and greater need for education about feelings, than other disease groups. Patients with RA had a greater need for education related to treatments than other groups, and patients with AS had a greater need for treatment education than patients with FMS. Patients with AS reported greater need for support system education than other patient groups. Conclusion: Educational needs vary by disease groups, suggesting that health-care professionals should assess disease-specific needs for education to provide optimal assistance in disease management for patients.

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Title: Locally Integrated Groups – A special education alternativeAuthor: Jennie ArvidssonType of essay: Exam essay, second level (15 credits)Supervisor: Barbro Bruce, Examiner: Lisbeth OhlssonProgram: Special Education Program at Malmö Högskola, SwedenDate: 2012-01-12Present study is an attempt to describe how staff perceive their working operations in seven locally integrated groups, for pupils in special educational needs. By submitting a questionnaire to all professions within the groups I have tried to find similarities and differences in their statements from both structured and unstructured questions. The study is an attempt to contribute knowledge about how these groups can be understood and developed, based on a special education perspective, systems theory and sense of coherence (KASAM). The results shows that there is a consensus among the majority of staff opinions of the systems’ opportunities as well as dilemmas. On the other hand, it is possible to discern some differences in how the different professions describe their working operations according to how satisfied they are with didactic activities, interaction with others and the resources the groups has at its disposal. The basis for these differences lies in a variety of factors that have an effect on the staff opinions.Retrospectively, the study shows that the staff of the local integrated groups are looking for a central control of operations, and a clearer formulation of goals and visions. The staff also expressed a desire to establish a network between the groups, which may contribute to an exchange of experiences and increase the feeling of togetherness. More time for planning, developing further skills and continuous supervision are other resources that are sought after.

Schools closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic with the expectation that learning continue from home. This presented a unique challenge for parents of children with special educational needs as during this time levels of stress were high and access to supports were low. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore and describe parents of children with SEN's experiences with at-home learning as it relates to their learning-specific parental self-efficacy, perceived stress and perceived support from their child’s school. Quantitative analysis revealed that learning-specific PSE was significantly and negatively related to perceived stress. Parents did not differ in their perception of school supports. While qualitative analysis revealed many similarities between groups, it also revealed nuanced differences that show that parents of high and low PSE experienced the school closures differently. Overall, the findings of this study provide evidence that parents with high and low parental self-efficacy differ in their experiences of supporting the learning of their children with SEN. This study serves to add to the limited body of literature on learning-specific PSE, as well as inform the efforts of schools and other professionals in supporting the parents of children with SEN and their families.

For refugee children with disabilities, international agencies largely provide humanitarian assistance, including education. However, the obstacles associated with refugee existence can impede progress in the movement towards educating children with disabilities in inclusive settings. Perceptions of inclusive education in schools operated by the Jordan field of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East were explored through multiple embedded case studies. Each of the three schools examined included a student with a special educational need. The researcher also investigated strategies and supports provided by education stakeholders to students with special educational needs in inclusive classrooms. The study was framed by four research questions aligned to a theoretical model of inclusive education and guided by propositions. Findings from interviews, classroom observations, and document reviews, suggest that all stakeholders believe education for students with special educational needs is a human right. However, perceptions of inclusion differed based on several factors including the student’s level of need and the disability, the teacher’s self-efficacy and feeling of preparedness towards meeting the needs of students, and the impact of overcrowded classrooms and limited instructional time. In comparing results between stakeholders, differences existed in perceptions of benefits and challenges associated with inclusive education.

This study presents a new framework for designing pedagogy in an informed and controlled way. It considers the importance of progression of pedagogy during a learning episode, so that an instructor can modify the pedagogical approach as well as the content in a lesson. The significance and novelty of this research lie in the proposals to provide support for ADHD learners and assist them to overcome their academic weaknesses/challenges through appropriate pedagogically sound interventions. Therefore, in order to contribute to the development of a suitable pedagogical approach for children who diagnosed with ADHD, issues of having ADHD are discussed within the scope of the research. In this respect, an aetiological model of ADHD has been developed to identify different levels of impairments as well as to clarify areas in which educational pedagogies must address the limitations of ADHD learners. Early stage results described here consider evidence to determine the viability of two literature-based models, named the ‘6Ms pedagogy model’ and the ‘aetiological model of ADHD’. In identifying the need to explore an accurate pedagogical model for ADHD children, two models have been evaluated. The analysis is based on a combination of secondary analysis, qualitative, and quantitative data analysis, which covered data, collected from expert advice, including that from professionals, coaches, and teachers and from those involved in the education of learners with ADHD and parents. Evidence from findings on ADHD is married to a new model of pedagogy named the ‘7Ms pedagogy model’. The ADHD pedagogical model is then evaluated by SEN teachers serves to facilitate well-informed and targeted design decisions about pedagogy, which could provide children with support and help them overcome academic limitations. Keywords: Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder; 6Ms Pedagogy Model; 7Ms Pedagogy Model; learning theories; aetiological model; typically developing learners (TDLs); and special educational needs (SEN).

Darbe atlikta teorinė inkliuzinio ugdymo sampratos, ugdymo(si) individualizavimo veiksnių bendrojo lavinimo mokykloje analizė. Iškelta hipotezė, kad pedagogai, individualizuodami ugdymo procesą, patiria sunkumų įvairiuose ugdymo individualizavimo srityse, kurie lemia specialiųjų ugdymosi poreikių turinčių mokinių ugdymosi kokybę. Turinio (content) analizės ir struktūruoto stebėjimo metodais buvo atliktas tyrimas, kurio tikslas – atskleisti ir įvertinti ugdymo(si) individualizavimo veiksnius kokybės aspektu. Atlikta kokybinė gautų duomenų analizė. Tyrime dalyvavo 4 bendrojo lavinimo mokyklų pedagogai, 4 specialiųjų ugdymosi poreikių turintys mokiniai. Buvo išanalizuotos 4 adaptuotos programos. Empirinėje dalyje analizuojamas adaptuotų programų pritaikymas individualiems mokinių gebėjimams ir poreikiams. ugdymo(si) turinio ir proceso individualizavimas. Vertinami ugdymo(si) individualizavimo veiksniai pedagogo ir mokinio veikloje. Aptariami ugdymo(si) individualizavimo teigiami ir neigiami aspektai. Svarbiausios empirinio tyrimo išvados: 1. Lietuvių kalbos adaptuotų programų turinio analizės rezultatai parodė, kad programose trūksta išsamaus mokinio gebėjimų ir individualiųjų poreikių įvertinimo. Pedagogų keliami tikslai labiau abstraktūs, orientuoti į dalykinių gebėjimų ugdymą ir dalinai susiję su mokinio gebėjimais. Ugdymo(si) turinys nederinamas su bendrojo ugdymo turiniu. Mokymo būdai ir metodai parinkti labiau elementarūs ir dalinai atitinkantys mokinio negalę. Galima... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / In this research work there was done theoretical analysis of inclusive education conception, as well as factors of individualization in the process of education at comprehensive school. Hypothesis was set, that pedagogues, in the process of individualized education meet various difficulties which determine the quality of education for students with special educational needs. By the methods of content analysis and structural observation there was done a research, the aim of which was – to disclose and assess the factors of individualization in teaching – learning process in the aspect of quality. The qualitative data analysis was done. In the survey participated 4 comprehensive school pedagogues, 4 pupils having special educational needs. There were analysed programmes prepared at Pakruojis region comprehensive schools. In the empirical part adapted curriculum compilation and application matching with the pupils’ learning abilities and needs, as well as the individualization of educational content and the process for the schoolchildren with special educational needs, are analysed. The factors of individualization in teachers – pupil’s practice are evaluated too. Positive and negative aspects of individualized educational process are discussed. The most important conclusions of empirical research: 1. The results of analysis of adapted Lithuanian programmes content showed that there is lack of full – scale evaluation in defining pupils’ personal abilities and individual needs... [to full text]

People in children’s environment can significantly influence the process of inclusion in regular schools,teachers and their perceptions on students with special abilities are recognized asplaying a key role. As such, this study aims at investigating, comparing and analyzing Greek and Swedish primary school teachers’ attitudes on inclusive education for childrenwith mental disabilities, as well as their experiences concerning the impact students’ environment has on their efficient inclusion and development. To this end, interviews with them have been employed for data collection in this cross-cultural qualitative research.

A great deal is known and has been written about the difficulties that high IQ children can experience in the classroom when their special educational needs are not met. Evidence suggests that these difficulties can result in poor academic performance. This study is different from the research carried out in this field so far in that it expresses an hitherto unheard adult voice. It does so by examining the causes and the long-term effects of academic underachievement, as perceived by high IQ adults, on reflection. A mixed quantitative/qualitative methodological approach was used. 158 members of British Mensa, the High IQ Society, completed one semi-structured open ended questionnaire about their perceptions of the causes and long-term effects of their academic underachievement. A second questionnaire was completed by 50 of the previous sample who had revealed that they had reversed their underachievement in adulthood. This highlighted the differences between their educational experiences as children and as adults. It also revealed the impact that their delayed academic achievement had had on their life trajectory. Out of those 50 participants, ten took part in semi-structured one-to-one interviews which allowed for more in-depth enquiry. The conclusions of the study were that, if not nurtured, an innate ability such as a high IQ can become a disadvantage over time. It suggests that not catering for the special educational needs of high IQ children by not providing the mental stimulation they need is 'intellectual neglect'. Such neglect, like physical and emotional neglect, may affect mental well-being in adulthood. In the study sample, most of the participants' long-term economic and mental health had been negatively affected by their academic underachievement, even when it had been reversed in adulthood. This is an area which seems to have been little researched so far, perhaps because of the difficulty of locating high IQ underachieving adults. Yet, the issues highlighted by the research are of great importance not only to the individuals concerned but also to society. The desired outcomes of this study are that the dissemination of the results will raise awareness amongst educators and policy makers of the potential negative long-term effects of neglecting high IQ children's intellectual needs. It will also provide a platform for further research.