Santoshi Halder

Employment programmes and interventions targeting adults with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review of the literature.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder face significant challenges entering the workforce; yet research in this area is limited and the issues are poorly understood. In this systematic review, empirical peer-reviewed studies on employment programmes, interventions and employment-related outcomes in individuals with autism spectrum disorder over 18 years with and without intellectual disability were identified and evaluated. The review was prefaced by a summary of previous systematic reviews in the area. Web of Science, Medline, PsychINFO, ERIC and Scopus databases were systematically searched through to October 2015. From 32,829 records identified in the initial search, 10 review and 50 empirical articles, comprising N = 58,134 individuals with autism spectrum disorder, were included in the review. Selected articles were organised into the following themes: employment experiences, employment as a primary outcome, development of workplace skills, non-employment-related outcomes, assessment instruments, employer-focused and economic impact. Empirical studies were limited by poor participant characterisation, small sample size and/or a lack of randomisation and use of appropriate controls. Poor conceptualisation and measurement of outcomes significantly limited study quality and interpretation. Future research will require a multidisciplinary and multifaceted approach to explore employment outcomes on the individual, the family system, co-workers and the employer, along with the impact of individual differences on outcome.

Prospects of higher education of the challenged women in India

The present study aimed to explore the various constraints faced by orthopaedically challenged women in their way towards higher education in Indian society. The tools used for the investigation are the General Information Schedule (GIS), Socioeconomic Schedule, and Interview Schedule. The sample consisted of 100 orthopaedically challenged women collected on the basis of a situational sampling technique from eastern parts of India (West Bengal). The findings are discussed in relation to the barriers to higher educational opportunities for challenged women in India. The study found that the brute physical or architectural barriers, financial constraints and the attitudinal barriers have a significant influence on higher education of the challenged woman. Furthermore, the study also found huge rates of wastage and stagnation at the primary and secondary level of education. The paper concludes by recommending the need for an overall approach for counteracting various constraints that exist in the early level of their education, without which we can hardly dream of higher education of the challenged women in a country like India.

Early Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Current Challenges and Future Global Directions

There has been extensive research on the early identification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Given that early detection is vital for the delivery of early intervention, which can positively impact children’s developmental outcomes, it is unfortunate that many children around the world continue to be diagnosed much later than is possible. This may be partly due to discrepancy in the development and availability of culturally specific screening and developmental surveillance tools both between and within countries. The purpose of this article is to review the current status, and recommend future directions, for the early identification of ASD worldwide, by (a) briefly summarising the core early markers of ASD identified in previous reviews; (b) highlighting the current challenges for screening and surveillance of ASD; (c) exploring future directions focusing on increasing awareness of ASD, and the development and adaptation of early identification tools in different settings and countries around the globe.Key Messages/Points• Global imbalance in the knowledge of ASD based on geography, culture and socioeconomic status.• Developing culturally appropriate and psychometrically robust early identification tools for ASD still remains a challenge.• Global collaborative approach for tool development, adaptation, and knowledge dissemination.

Computer Based Self-Pacing Instructional Design Approach in Learning with Respect to Gender as a Variable

Interactive individualized learning technologies and applications are probably one of the most significant innovations in the age of information revolution. However, Gender-based differences have not been considered as major variable in teaching-learning. Motivated by the gender differences this article reports the findings of the study that analyzed students’ gender differences in learning using interactive computer based instructional technology compared with traditional lecture based method of learning of Secondary students. The sample consisted of 120 students from different schools of West-Bengal (Eastern part of India). Each student completed a GIS (general information schedule), computer proficiency test, a prior knowledge test and post-test on geography. The finding of MANOVA result shows significant gender differences in different learning methods. This study also investigated gender differences in various learning objectives (factual, conceptual, and rules and principles knowledge). The MANOVA result shows significant difference in identification test which measured factual knowledge where female student performed better than male. In comprehension test which measured rules and principal, male student performed better than females. However, no significant difference were found in male and female student and they performed equally well in terminology test which measured the conceptual knowledge.

Disability and Inclusion: Current Challenges

This text creates the rationale for the various sections and chapters of the book, thus laying the foundation for flourishing the purpose and objectives of the book. The idea is to lay down possible link up intersecting disability, inclusion, and culture as explored through the interdisciplinary and cross-cultural lens of the authors from various origins. This text establishes the rationale for various sections of the book, beginning with the voices of people with disabilities as they explore the evolution or shaping of their identities through the barriers and abilities in the way diversity is understood in various cultural contexts to see how our communities are progressing toward an inclusive society. Through a socio-cultural lens from which the structures within society all contribute to inform the attitudes and beliefs that are held about persons with a disability and how they may access services such as education, employment, and social engagement/independent living or a life of inclusion is laid down. Communication is a fundamental human expression that allows access to choice, voice, and personal understandings and expressions of value and worth. Communication is the link, in this text, to a more strategic decision-making with regard to inclusive policies and practices. The discourse brings in how the legislation, policies, and processes work together to lead community expectations so that cultural and personal barriers may be overcome and all individuals with disabilities feel they are an integral part of the social fabric of society. Finally, it culminates the concept of inclusion through the voice of parents and caregivers to make explicit the complex issues that surround living with a disability in any culture.

Individualized Approach for Inclusion of Children with Diverse Behavioural Needs

The foremost challenge for professionals and practitioners is to design the most suitable intervention programme to ameliorate the skill deficits in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The significance of the implementation of effective intervention strategy for incorporating socially approved behaviour has been evidence-based practices worldwide. However, the implementation of the same in various countries and cultures is with mixed results, quite specifically in the low socioeconomic and less affluent countries. The author depicts and explores the significance of the strategies based on applied behaviour analyses and single-subject design research in shaping socially approved behaviour of the children with developmental delays in an Indian context. The chapter documents the application of three behaviour modification strategies based on the science of applied behaviour analyses (ABA) conducted in West Bengal (Eastern part of India). First is the application of trial-based functional analyses of self-injurious behaviour of a child with developmental disability. Second is the behavioural intervention through echoic and exemplar training in children having phonological disorder. Finally, third is effectiveness of video modelling to teach play skills (including both verbal and motor responses) to children with autism spectrum disorder. The findings of these three single-subject design research conducted on different subjects in different contexts applied individualized intervention approach for successful behaviour modification among the children with developmental disabilities. The author indicates a strong need for individualized intervention approach for shaping behaviours among the children with developmental disabilities with diverse behaviour needs. The author depicts how the intervention strategies can be individualized based on child-specific needs for successful behaviour modification and inclusion of the children.

Global Diversity and Inclusion: Critical Reflections and Future Directions

Following the developed countries, an increasing number of countries including the developing ones have shown their agreeableness to adapt to changes in legislations, administration and practice, aiming participation of individuals with disabilities for an inclusive environment. Unfortunately, agreeableness does not necessarily ensure full participation or social acceptance or inclusion. This chapter summarizes the diversities of culture and inclusion as brought forward by various authors across countries, cultures and disciplines with critical reflections bridging the gap of diversities and inclusion building a universal model of inclusion from the learnings derived from each chapter. In this text, we share our understandings of disability and the global nature of the cultural features that impinge on quality of life to help establish what is universally true about disability and what may be unique to specific cultures or countries and individuals. The future directions lies in exploring the positive practices from various countries and cultures as exposed by the authors through their own lived experiences which may provide models for more universal approaches to disability so that a strategic cross-cultural, interdisciplinary and holistic approach may result in a valued positioning of people with disabilities transforming the world into a global inclusive community in the real sense of the term.

Effectiveness of Computer-Based Instructional Visualization and Instructional Strategies on e-Learning Environment

Learning with visualization is a new trend for the teaching and learning environment. However, in this study the question is do all types of visualization and strategies equally affect achieving various learning objectives? How computer generated questions with and without feedback strategies affect achievement of learning objective? To investigate the effectiveness of different types of visualization and strategies, researchers developed three different types of instructional modules (static, animated and interactive) and two types of instructional strategies (question and feedback). A total of 540 students were selected to conduct the study with specific matching criteria. MANOVA was done to find out group differences in different conditions. The results showed a momentous mean difference in different conditions i.e., in interactive visualization condition students performed better than animated and static condition; besides, question and feedback conditions were more effective than no strategies and only question conditions with respect to various learning outcome. The result is discussed critically from several theoretical focal points.

Virtual Manipulation: An On-Screen Interactive Visual Design for Science Learning

Interactivity in e-learning environment is an innovative approach in teaching-learning. Predominantly theoretical justification of interactive learning environment has been discussed on the basis of the process of visual and auditory information in the memory system emphasizing the result oriented perspective in the sense that they have given importance on computer response to learner action rather than learner activity and engagement in computer programming. However, by definition interactivity is described as ‘to act’. In this view point the present research attempts to explore the effectiveness of enactment by manipulating virtual features in interactive visualization when compared with visual animation. To investigate the effectiveness of different visual condition researchers have developed two different types of instructional module (interactive virtual manipulation and animated visual). Total 360 students have been selected to implement the study with different matching criteria. MANOVA is conducted to find out the group difference in different condition. Result showed a momentous mean difference in different condition i.e., in virtual manipulation (execution of action) condition where student perform virtually in the on-screen object better than animation (observed action) in respect to various learning outcome. Result is discussed critically from several theoretical focal points.

Nutritional awareness of mothers in relation to nutritional status of the preschool children

Background: In the developing world, nearly one-third (35%) of under-five children are stunted and rural children are twice likely to be underweight as those in urban areas (United Nations, Children education Fund, UNICEF Global Database. (2006–2010). United Nations Development Assistance Framework of Uganda. Retrieved from https://countryoffice.unfpa.org/uganda/drive/Uganda_UNDAF.pdf). India presents a grim scenario which lacks in various aspects inflicting sufferings on children below five years of age. The objective of the study is to find out the association between mothers nutritional awareness and nutritional status of the child (NSC). Methodology: The sample consisted of 300 children of 3–4 years of age from kindergarten and preprimary schools of Kolkata. The tools used were Nutritional Awareness of Mother (NAM) questionnaire and NSC by measuring age, height and weight of children which were used for finding weight for age, height for age and weight for height of the child and the statistical analysis used was chi-square test. Results: The result showed that nutritional awareness of mother significantly influences the NSC. Conclusions: The study would help in motivating educators for incorporating need-based educative measures for young adolescents and thus the eradication of various issues regarding infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, etc. may be checked to some extent.