Educational integration for persons with handicaps: a conceptual discussion

ABSTRACT

Presented is a discussion of the trend toward educational integration of persons with handicaps and a review of some of the concepts and definitions relevant to this pursuit. Persons with handicaps have systematically been denied their human rights and privileges throughout history. Today the main issue in education for persons with handicaps is integration, which is a means by which to forward the goals of normalization. Education for persons with handicaps, if we consider the philosophy of normalization, and adhere to the notion of educational integration, should reflect and be based upon extensive interaction among pupils with handicaps, their teachers, support staff, peers and families.     

Educational brokering: New services for adult learners

This paper describes a fast-growing variety of programs that directly enable adult learners to pursue educational and career plans within their communities. Educational brokering serves an intermediary role between individual clients and the vast array of educational resources in a region. This paper considers the missions of brokering—advisement, assessment, and advocacy—its organizational arrangements, and the sources of its support and development. Specific successes and impacts of brokering are presented, as is the importance of the brokering idea to several larger public policy issues. Efforts currently underway to expand brokering activities on a national level are also discussed.Dr. Heffernan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Higher/Postsecondary Education at Syracuse University and is Coordinator of Research and Editor of theBulletin of the National Center for Educational Brokering. He has been assisted in the preparation of this article by Francis U. Macy and Donn F. Vickers, Director and Associate Director, respectively, of the National Center for Educational Brokering, 405 Oak Street, Syracuse, New York 13203.     

Family's role in providing support to disabled persons in India's changing times

The family as a basic unit of society performs essential functions for its individual members as well as for society at large. In spite of the fact that, with the changing times, the family too has undergone changes in its structure and functions, it is still recognised as the most stable and effective system for taking care of its member — able-bodied as well as disabled.This paper has focussed on two main aspects. Firstly, it has highlighted the vital role of families in supporting their disabled family members in these changing times, their successes and their problems in coping. The roles and interactions of family members have been viewed through the framework of family functions. Secondly, it has briefly reviewed the extent to which current professional practices or approaches have facilitated the family's supporting role. Though I am aware that a variety of professional disciplines such as medical experts, special teachers, allied health professionals etc. and other resources such as the printed media, electronic media, etc., also play an important role in aiding the disabled and their families, I have restricted myself basically to the interventions made by counsellors in order to keep the paper within limits. Lastly, I have made a few suggestions for making professional intervention with the families of the disabled more constructive and effective.     

Educational opportunities based on the university-industry synergies in an open innovation framework

Collaboration between Industry and University is becoming more important in order to improve the competitiveness of the research and development activities. Moreover, establishing synergies to bridge the gap between the academic and industrial spheres has demonstrated to be advantageous for both of them.

Nowadays, Industry is moving towards an open innovation structure, in which external agents as universities play a key role. Besides, University is also seeking a more active learning methodology to improve the education of students for the real world. Considering this framework, a special effort should be done to take advantage of the collaborative work between Industry and University.

The aim of this paper is to present the collaborative framework and the benefits obtained of the educational activities as a consequence of the long-term collaboration established between the University of Zaragoza and the Bosh and Siemens Home Appliances Group. The key stones of the collaboration are presented, and the positive outcomes for the students are highlighted. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the proposed program are also discussed.     

Collaboration Between Educational Psychologists and Speech and Language Therapists: Barriers and opportunities

This paper reports a study that aimed to investigate the perspectives of educational psychologists (EPs) and speech and language therapists (SLTs) about collaborative practices across these two services, to identify any barriers to collaboration and to explore how these could be overcome. The views of EPs and SLTs in two local authorities were sought using a questionnaire. Data analysis identified differences relating to professional and attitudinal issues, revealing divergent views about assessment and resource allocation. Communication difficulties were also identified. Approaches to develop effective collaborative practice are discussed and the importance of creating opportunities to deliver joint training in schools is highlighted.     

Educational targeting in the fight against poverty: limits,omissions and opportunities

Educational targeting has become one of the hegemonic mechanisms in the fight against poverty. Both international organisms and developing countries support targeting as one of the best strategies in order to simultaneously guarantee poverty reduction and economic growth, and consequently to tackle the challenges generated by globalisation. The main objective of the article is to point out some of the limits, omissions and opportunities of educational targeting as a priority strategy to fight against poverty. In doing so, it analyses the World Bank’s proposals in education, poverty and targeting and it presents one of the targeting pioneering programmes implemented in Latin America: the Bolsa Escola programme (BE). An analysis of the impacts of the programme is also included. This analysis is based on the results of an intensive qualitiative fieldwork containing more than 80 interviews with mothers and students who benefit from the programme as well as with teaching staff. The analysis demonstrates that although targeting could be a necessary and useful strategy, it is not sufficient either for ensuring school attainment or for reducing poverty.     

Referral reasons for learning disabled students

Referral information for 269 LD students in grades one through five was examined. Referral reasons were classified according to three major types: (a) academic, (b) behavior, and (c) academic and behavior. These major referral types also were analyzed according to particular concern (e.g., reading deficits, attentional problems, etc.). The results indicated that the majority of students were referred for either academic (42%) or both academic and behavioral (41%) reasons; referrals initiated solely for behavior problems accounted for only 17% of the total. The grade level analysis revealed that academic concerns were less likely to be noted in the first and fifth grades, and that the number of referrals diminished as grade level advanced (51% of the sample was diagnosed by second grade). Referral statements within each major referral type tended to be general, as opposed to specifying particular concerns to be explored in the evaluation. Preservice and in-service training recommendations are given.     

转化学习视角下开放教育成年残障学员学习支持服务策略探析

根据开放远程教育成年残障学员转化学习过程及学员特征构建的学习支持服务模型,提出开放大学应为残障学员学习转化的全过程创造良好氛围;辅导教师应提前做好学情调查,在残障学员提出质疑、开始进行批判性反思时主动沟通答疑;学务导师的支持服务覆盖残障学员转化学习的全过程;学习伙伴是转化学习视角下开放教育成年残障学员学习支持服务体系的重要补充的具体服务策略。     

Direct and indirect measures of writing for nonlearning disabled and learning disabled college students

Direct and indirect measures were used to compare the written language abilities of three groups of college students: two with learning disabilities and one without learning disabilities. Main effects were found for group, but not gender. Differences between nonlearning disabled students (NLD) and those with learning disabilities (LD) in writing were evident on both types of measures. Performance by LD students with disabilities in an area other than writing differed depending on the type of measure and often was no different from either of the other two groups. The combined use of direct and indirect measures appeared most effective for examining the complexities of writing produced by all groups.     

抓机遇促发展办社会满意的成人高等教育

十堰电大、教院合并后,两校办学职能得到有机整合,教育资源得到优化配置,办学优势实现有效互补。本文分析了新的十堰电大(教院)面临的发展机遇,提出了办学的基本思路。市(州)属成人高校建设可资借鉴。