Development of Avatar-Based Models and Tools for People With Intellectual Disabilities

The chapter is about development of consciousness, emotion, motivation, and level of aspiration, with the ways that people react to the psychological, traumatic experience caused by the gradual realization of incapacity. Some people with an intellectual disability are capable of learning together with normally-developing peers if provided with special support; however, there are others who will need an individual education program adapted to their capabilities. The most important focus in working with such students is the individual approach with regard to the specific mentality and health of each person. Such an approach can be achieved through instructional methods like avatar-based learning as the improved development of project-based learning.

Article 20: Rights Concerning Children Deprived of Their Family Environment

Children that are living without parents should be given a special support. Governments should do as much as possible to avoid sending children to orphanages. (Eastern Europe)

School marketing on their websites and students in need of special support: Independent schools in the Stockholm local education market

A key component of the functioning of a market system of education is the provision of information to consumers. While marketing may be used by schools to provide information to consumers. The marketing information may appeal to some consumers and not others. This study examines independent schools marketing on their websites and how it appeals to consumers in need of special support. The findings show that these schools market their goals and values, studentship, methods and programmes, services as well as facilities. The marketing by these schools may not appeal to students in need of special support in the failure to provide relevant and adequate information to them and framing of their studentship that does not include students in need of special support as well as the focus on academic performance.

Emergency Distance Learning in Austria during COVID-19: Selected Findings and Implications

Highlights: (1) Adequate preparation (e.g., providing technical equipment, didactical adaptation of teaching materials, fostering digital literacy in students …) is needed for distance learning to succeed.(2) Disadvantaged students need special support to avert a widening of the educational gap between students from different social backgrounds and with different learning abilities.(3) Distance and online learning should be designed to address the satisfaction of basic psychological needs to promote student well-being and positive learning outcomes.

Challenges of Easy and Plain Language in Latvia

In the age of globalisation and digitalisation, the amount of information is constantly increasing. The society’s responsibility is also increasing, as there is a large part of society that needs special support in order to make this information accessible. One way to do that is being able to communicate in easy or plain language. The aim of this article is to reveal easy and/or plain language as one of the measures for an inclusive society, and pinpoint the possibilities of expanding it in Latvia, where there has been little discussion about the different use and text creation methods of easy and plain language. Therefore, professor Dr. paed. Sarmīte Tūbele draws attention to the specifics of plain language target groups from a speech therapist’s point of view and summarizes the diverse characteristics of learning disabilities. When discussing the possibilities of adjusting learning materials, she emphasises the importance of integrating quality illustrative elements into easy language texts in order to encourage the reader’s perception and interest. Dr. paed. Ieva Sproģe discusses methods of text creation/adaptation in the context of translatology and lists criteria for processing and creating texts, as well as suitable classic translation methods, emphasising the main goal of easy and plain language – improving the ability of perceiving a text by simplifying it, i. e., making it more understandable. Subsequently, a summary of suggestions for easy and plain language text requirements and using them with target groups is provided. Methodology: The research was carried out using literature review and a study of easy language organisations, as well as events organised by them and their guidelines. Results: The article provides a brief summary of easy language history and describes current international discussions about easy language, pointing out both positive development tendencies and problematic aspects; the most common classifications of easy language and its target groups are described, as well as the interpretations and possibilities of classification for the concept “easy to read”; conclusions are made about the possibilities of developing easy language text creation in Latvia. Easy language is described in the context of translating/adapting and speech therapy by collecting suggestions for easy and plain language text requirements and adapting them for the target groups. This is the first time that an easy and plain language description in a scientific, multidisciplinary context has been provided in Latvia.

Research on Special Support Technology of Gob-side Entry Retaining with Filling the Non-roadway Side in the Thin Coal Seam

By taking a certain mining area of No.2 coal seam in a coal mine as the research object, special support technology of gob-side entry retaining with filling the non-roadway side was researched. Based on the geologic features of this mining area, support method of gob-side entry retaining was proposed. The method replaced the dense wood prop with single prop, and cooperated intersection hinge roof. The support parameters were calculated, and time-space coordination between each support process was researched. The field measured data showed that this support method had a remarkable effect and strictly controlled the deformation of gob-side entry. This research formed a support system and mining system based on this condition. It has important reference meaning to safe and efficient mining coal resource with similar geologic condition.

Palisade Technique — the New Method for Open Reduction of Pelvic Fractures

Background. Restoration of the pelvic bones and acetabulum anatomy after fracture is an important criterion for functional outcome. Often, the reduction of flat pelvic bones is not an easy task. The authors proposed a method of reduction using a special support site of two or three 3.5 mm cortical screws for Matta bone forceps. The aim of the study was to demonstrate a new way of pelvic bones fragments reduction. Method Description. Three clinical situations are presented when a new method was used: 1) reduction of a pointed fragment of the acetabulum posterior column transverse fracture; 2) reduction of the acetabulum quadrilateral plate fragments with medial displacement and 3) reduction the rupture of the pelvic bones in the sacroiliac joint with the vertical displacement. Previously, a support site was created in one of the fragments from two or three not fully twisted 3.5 mm cortical screws. One of the Matta bone forceps branches was placed on the formed site, and the second on another fragment and the displacement was eliminated. Then the final osteosynthesis was performed with pelvic plates and/or cannulated screws according to the surgical plan. Before closing the wound the support site was removed. Conclusion. The proposed method has shown its effectiveness during the reduction of the flat bones fragments, as it allows you to compress the spongy bones of the pelvis with a thin cortical layer stronger, compared with existing methods during which fragments splitting and pulling out anchor screws in the branches of reduction forceps can occur. The developed method of reduction demonstrated convenience and reliability.

Imaginaries of Inclusion in Swedish Education

Traditionally, Swedish education has been built on, and enhanced by, notions and priorities of democracy, equity, and inclusion. In fact, Sweden’s education system has often, during the 20th century, been raised as a beacon of inclusion. However, from the 1990s onwards Swedish education is gradually transmogrified into a heavily marketized system with several providers of education, an emphasis on competition, and an escalating segregation, both as regards pupil backgrounds, need for special support, educational attainment, and provision of educational materials and educated teachers. This shows that traditional educational ideals have shifted and been given new meanings. These shifts are based on desires to improve performance and new ideas of control and predictability of educational ends. The historical development of education reforms illustrates how priorities have shifted over time, dependent on how the public and private are conceptualized. In particular, education reforms from the 1990s and onwards have gradually been more attached to connotations on market ideals of competition, efficiency, and individualization, making inclusion a secondary and de-prioritized goal of education, creating new educational dilemmas within daily life in schools. An empirical example of principals’ experience—seen as mediators of educational desires—illustrates these dilemmas and how the marketization of education affects both the political understanding of how education is best organized and the prioritization of previously valued ambitions of coherence and inclusion.

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS DURING THE PANDEMIC

В статье автор изучает современное состояние рынка государственно-частного партнерства, а также сфер, наиболее и наименее пострадавших от последствий пандемии, вызванной коронавирусной инфекцией. Был сделан вывод, что пандемия нанесла огромный вред всем отраслям и сферам, в том числе и ГЧП. Исходя из статистических данных, автор констатирует, что наибольший урон нанесен проектам в социальной сфере, а также коммунально-энергетической сфере. Наибольшую стабильность демонстрирует транспортная сфера и сфера it-инфраструктуры. Автор пришел к выводу, что органы государственной власти принимают меры антикризисной поддержки регионов посредством запуска программы, основанной на содействии в подготовке и запуске ГЧП-проектов. Для сферы грузовых и пассажирских перевозок, сферы культуры, спорта и туризма были приняты особые меры поддержки. Однако не все регионы активно подключились к этой программе, что свидетельствует об отсутствии заинтересованности власти в развитии ГЧП и стабилизации экономики. По мнению автора, для преодоления последствий пандемии необходимо оказание прямой финансовой помощи, а также развитие цифровых и платформенных решений для эффективного диалога всех участников рынка, стимулирование внебюджетных инвестиционных ресурсов. In the article the author examine the current state of the public-private partnership market, as well as the areas most and least affected by the consequences of the pandemic caused by coronavirus infection. It was concluded that the pandemic has caused huge damage to all industries and areas, including PPPs. Based on statistical data, the authors state that the greatest damage was caused to projects in the social sphere, as well as in the utilities and energy sectors. The transport sector and the IT infrastructure sector demonstrate the greatest stability. The author concluded that the state authorities are taking measures to provide anti-crisis support to the regions by launching a program based on assistance in the preparation and launch of PPP projects. Special support measures were taken for cargo and passenger transport, culture, sports and tourism. However, not all regions actively participated in this program, which indicates the lack of interest of the authorities in the development of PPP and the stabilization of the economy. According to the author, in order to overcome the consequences of the pandemic, it is necessary to provide direct financial assistance, as well as to develop digital and platform solutions for an effective dialogue of all market participants, to stimulate extra-budgetary investment resources, etc.

Yrkesgruppers anspråk på arbetet med barn i behov av särskilt stöd

This study aims to illuminate preschool teachers describe which occupational groups – preschool teachers and special educational needs coordinators (SENCOs) – claim jurisdiction (i.e. the area that the professional group controls) over the work with children in need of special support. The data consist of interviews with 15 preschool teachers. The analysis is based on Abbott's (1988) division of professional work into three aspects: a) formulation of a problem b) reasoning about the problem and c) treating the problem. One area where preschool teachers claim jurisdictional control is related to the formulation of the problem. When it comes to the aspect of the professional work which concerns reasoning about the problem, the preschool teachers report that SENCOs claim jurisdictional control instead. The results show a less straightforward image of the treatment of the problem. Preschool teachers sometimes report themselves to claim jurisdictional control over treatment and other times report that SENCOs have jurisdiction over the treatment of the problem. In the discussion, jurisdiction is related to the various aspects of professional work with children in need of special support and the issue of inclusion. The fact that SENCOs seem to have a strong jurisdiction over treatment and expert knowledge of children’s perceived shortcomings could contribute to the preschool teachers renouncing responsibility for children in need of special support. Another conclusion is that preschool teachers need to be strengthened in their professional roles and that increased special educational knowledge could contribute to preschool teachers feeling more secure in their professional roles and thus are able to meet all children’s needs in preschool.