Carolyn Denton Palmer

Literacy for All: Findings from an Australian study

This article summarises some of the major findings of a study published in 2000 for the Commonwealth government of Australia. It argues that school systems in Australia are moving towards the goal of literacy for all and suggests some of the factors that are and may be contributing to its achievement.

Myths, stereotypes and self-perception: the impact of albinism on self-esteem

Albinism has the potential to affect young people both emotionally and psychologically. Their condition is unique and is surrounded by myths and stereotypes. The unusual appearance of children with oculocutaneous albinism draws attention to them and their vision impairment can impact on their development of social skills and peer relationships. In addition social attitudes can affect how they perceive themselves and evidence from the research literature suggests that for a child to be socially competent he or she needs to have a positive self-concept and demonstrate socially acceptable behaviours. Self-esteem influences a childs interaction with peers, and this influence can be either positive or negative. Measures of self-esteem allow normative data to be gathered providing another perspective on the development of peer relationships of young people with albinism. This article investigates the self-esteem of a small group of students with albinism. Data were collected using a widely recognized psychological instrument: the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventories (SEI). The findings indicated that the self-esteem of the participants in this study was generally high.

Knowledge and skills for special educators in the 1990s: Perceptions from the field

Since the early 1970s special education courses at graduate and post-graduate levels have become standard offerings at many Australian universities. As these courses continue to be the main avenue of professional development for special educators in this country, it is pertinent to wonder how often the objectives and content of the courses are examined and revised to ensure contemporary relevance. It must be recognized that the field of special education appears to be in what Tomlinson (1982, p.24) has described as a ‘permanently dynamic state’, with frequent changes in policy, service delivery, roles and responsibilities. The roles and responsibilities of special educators have certainly changed significantly during the past decade (Watts, 1990; Dyson, 1991), and the earlier studies of essential competencies required by special education teachers (e.g. Whitmore,1982; Scott, 1983; Davis, 1983) may not provide reliable data on which to design current courses. There has been renewed interest overseas in the issue of what constitutes essential knowledge and skills for teachers working in special education (Best, 1988; Ramsey & Algozzine, 1991; Ramsey, Algozzine & Smith, 1990; Glomb & Morgan, 1991; Folio, 1990; Cannon, Idol & West, 1992; Reynolds, Wang & Walberg, 1992; Swan & Sirvis, 1992), and it is worth analysing some of this material to determine its relevance for the Australian context. The information could well prove useful as a basis for evaluating special education courses here.

Parents’ Perceptions of Their Children’s Social Skills and Social Behaviour

This study investigates parents’ perceptions of their children’s social skills and social behaviour. The focus is on young people with severe vision impairment. Children require well developed social skills in order to build relationships, develop positive self-esteem, and gain acceptance into society (Wolffe, Sacks & Thomas, 2000). Social skills are learned through “visual observation, imitation and experiential learning” (Sacks & Silberman, 2000, p. 616).