The needs of play in children with disabilities. An Italian research
Tamara ZAPPATERRA, Paola PISANO
Abstract
The article presents a research developed collaterally within the framework of the European research project “LUDI. Play for Children with Disabilities” (http://ludi-network.eu/, 2014-2018). One goal of the project is to provide guidelines on play for children with disabilities. To reach this goal, first of all the needs of users have been investigated through an empirical research conducted by two semi-structured questionnaire addressed to representatives of disability associations and parents of children with disabilities. The article reports briefly the theoretical framework of the research, the results of the survey at european level, and more in- depth the results of a research conducted by the Special Education group of research at University of Florence with the same methodology at disability associations of Livorno, in Tuscany (Italy). The results are similar to those of European research: it emerges that the needs on play of children with disabilities are the same regardless of the type of disability and the context in which the children live.
Key words: Play, Disability Play, Users` Needs, Parents, Association
Therapeutic Fairytales or the Way to Find (Again) our Smile by … “the tomcat’s eyes”
Adia CHERMELEU
Abstract
The hermeneutics of fairytales, understood as a new way to get their deep significances and therapeutic effects on children by the process of psychic conflicts awareness, represents a frequent topic in the current researches, a real source of inspiration for those delivering literature for children or for those using fairytales for therapeutic purposes, either in case the children with special problems, or in individual or group psychotherapy of adults. Based on the experience in teaching fairytalesat the specialization Pedagogy of Elementary and Preschool Education, and at two of the activities of the reading group,Books Mirrors, of the Department of Science of Education within the Faculty of Sociology and Psychology of the West University from Timișoara, this article is a reflection on the therapeutic size of fairytales and of the didactic implications arisen.
Key words: imaginary, imagination, metaphor, unconsciousness, therapeutic fairytales, logotherapy, identity construction
Education of young people and children as a way of fighting against Internet hate, a form of cyber violence
Marek GÓRKA
Abstract
Due to highly innovative technologies such as the smart phone, cyberbullying and on-line aggression have increasingly affected individuals across the world. Cyberbullying is defined as repeated unwanted, hurtful, harassing, and threatening interaction through electronic communication media. The anonymity and mobility afforded by the Internet has made harassment and expressions of hate effortless in a landscape that is abstract and beyond the realms of traditional law enforcement. Further, it argues that a broad coalition of government, schools, police and citizenry is likely to be most effective in reducing the harm caused by hate speech. The study discusses the targets of hate on the Internet, provides a framework within which problems can be identified and resolved by accentuating moral and social responsibility, and articulates possible solutions to combat this increasing problem.
Key words: cyber bullying, digital aggression, Internet, online bullying, online protection, young people
Special Education for the social competences in Autism Spectrum Disorders. The role of the Pivotal Response Training
Saverio FONTANI
Abstract
The Pivotal Response Training (PRT) is currently one of the most effective models for the educational evidence-based interventions in Autism Spectrum Disorders. The model is based on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and represents a naturalistic child-centered intervention for the development of appropriate social interactions. This paper presents the theoretical background and the relative implications for the inclusive educational intervention in the Primary School.
Key words:special education, autism spectrum disorders, Pivotal Response Training, social competences, applied behavior analysis.
Innovative Academic Course on Integrative Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Anca LUŞTREA, Loredana ALGHAZI, Claudia BORCA
Abstract
This article will present an ongoing Erasmus + Innovative Academic Course on Integrative Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, IACIIC-ASD, implemented betweeen 2017/2019 by the West University of Timisoara (WUT) Department of Educational Sciences, in partnership with Universita degli studi di Firenze (UNIFI), Universitatea Lucian Blaga din Sibiu (ULBS) and Sveuciliste u Zagrebu Edukacijsko-Rehabilitacijski Fakultet (ERF). The need for an internationaly developed course in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is high because all of us must stay in tune with curent theoretical and methodological approaches to provide best quality training for the future specialists. The ASD is one of the most researched domain in special education and related fields and the parents and specialists feel a constant need to find new solutions and modern therapeutic methods for best addressing the children needs. By proposing a course that will present the most recent theories and findings in the field and will discuss the best options in educating the children with ASD we aim to train better professionals and increase the future specialists` competence. Also, this course will be accessible via an on-line platform so becoming an open/course for all interested parties. The virtual clinic for ASD will be a virtual scientific environment where students, academics, specialist and parents can exchange knowledge, expertise, experiences and good practices.
Key words: autism spectrum disorders, Erasmus – Program, academic course
LSCI-fidelity: how to keep LSCI as a central method in an organization
Gerrit De MOOR
Abstract
The aim of this research is to investigate what kind of actions and initiatives that have been taken in the organization KOC St.-Gregorius in Gentbrugge, Belgium that helped to keep professional adults loyal to the method of LSCI.KOC St.-Gregorius was chosen as a model for good practice because of several reasons:The organization was involved with LSCI from the start of LSCI in Belgium and in Europe, starting with the initiative of OC Nieuwe Vaart in Ghent which is now a National Training Site (D’Oosterlinck, 2005). We speak about 2002.It is a huge organization. Huge organizations frequently struggle with implementation of new methods and with change in general; more than smaller organizations.The organization treats and takes care of children and youth from 3 to 21 years old with a wide range of handicaps or disorders. Regardless the type of disorder, LSCI is the main method for professionals to deal with children and youth in conflict or crisis (Long et al., 2001; Fecser, 2009, Darjan et al., 2014).The research aims to find out which actions towards fidelity have been taken so far; what is important for an action, activity or initiative to lead to LSCI-fidelity and which opportunities still have to be taken in the future. For this purpose, we used a questionnaire with both closed-ended and opened-ended responses. There were investigated the opinions of 59 members of the personnel. The findings and the conclusions of this study offer suggestions on how to stimulate the dedication for change and improvement, and the fidelity for proven efficient method in approaching troubled children and the youth.
Key word: LSCI
The social skills of children with disabilities
Claudia - Vasilica BORCA
Abstract
Starting from the premise that academic and professional success is based mainly on the development of social competences, we are proposingto find out whether, as a result of the existence of a sensory and intellectual disability, can we talk about the different development of social skills? We seek an answer to this question by carrying out a research on a group of 153 children with sensory and intellectual disabilities aged between 9 and 15, coming from four special schools in Timisoara. We set ourselves as a general objective of research: identifying possible statistically significant differences that arise between the level of development of social skills in children with intellectual disability compared to visually impaired children and those with hearing disability.Analysing and interpreting the results confirms the two hypotheses formulated.
Key words: social competencies, social skills, sensory disabilities, intellectual disability.
Educational communication and support technologies for deaf students
Anca LUŞTREA
Abstract
Support technologies are a key concept that refers to the technical tools helpful in recovery, rehabilitation and education of people with disabilities. They play an important role in achieving effective communication with others and especially in schools, in educational communication. This study examine the main support technologies used with hearing impaired students in order to enable them to communicate effectively in school and successfully participate in educational programs. Also, in relation to the use of supportive technologies the teacher`s scientific beliefs about the best educational communication approach (gestural, oral or total) is examined. In order to assess the study variables two questionnaires was administrated to 20 teachers for deaf from CSEI C-tin Pufan Timisoara. Results revealed that the teachers adopt the total communication model, with accent on bilingualism, and except hearing aids, they do not use other communication support technologies.
Key words: educational communication, support technologies, deaf students
Older people’s education: the case of Poland
Agnieszka KOZERSKA
Abstract
In Poland, as well as in many other European countries, the proportion of older people is steadily growing. This phenomenon is related to numerous challenges faced by the countries. It is also worth pointing out that there is an increasing interest in ageing subjects, especially education in late adulthood. The issues related to education of older people in Poland were discussed in the article. It presents an overview of rapid demographic changes, the situation of the elderly people and their educational needs. Moreover, the article also deals with institutional assistance and support for older people’s education as well as the selected Polish research focusing on education in old age.
Key words: older people education, Poland, aging research
The impact of educational policies regarding the social dimension of Higher Education in Romania
Elena MARIN
Abstract
This present study has as a starting point the dual responsibility that universities have nowadays and this refers to the university as a promoter for economic growth,but also as propeller for fostering social cohesion. In this sense, we can bring into discussion the steps that have been made at a legislative level by mentioning the Bologna process and allpapers derived such as the Prague communiqué 2001, which emphasizes the need to start working towards the development of a more inclusive higher education system.In order to understand how the inclusion vision was implemented across Romanian universities, this paper focuses on data collected through a qualitative methodological approach, that relies on a semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted with professionals from academia. The interview guide seeks to evaluate what was the impact of educational policies regarding the higher education social dimension in Romania and how doRomanian universities respond to the need to develop of more equitable and inclusive higher education system,with a focus on the support mechanisms developed by universities in order to grant students` access, retention and employability and on the opportunity of developing an Inclusion Index for higher education.Results show that progress in this view is constantly, but still the impact of educational policies is quite low and this is due to the absence of expertize in implementing the established indicators and to the absence of procedures related to the process of policy monitoring.
Key words: social dimension; higher education; Romania.
In memoriam Mihai Predescu (1939-2017)
West University of Timisoara, Faculty of Sociology and Psychology, Department of EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES
