Assistive technology provision at mainstream schools - Experiences of Serbian resource centers

BackgroundOver the last 15 years, inclusive education has been formally established in Serbia as a mandatory approach for all students, ensuring equal rights and access to education without discrimination on any grounds. In addition to mainstream schools, Serbia also has special schools for students with developmental challenges and disabilities. Although some special schools in Serbia have been functioning as resource centers (RCs) for a long time now, 13 RCs have only recently been officially established, aiming to support inclusive education through assistive technology (AT) among other things. ObjectiveThe research reported in this study was conducted within a project that aims to address challenges in implementing and improving inclusive education in the Republic of Serbia, focusing on the existing capacities and difficulties in how RCs provide AT services to mainstream schools to offer a set of recommendations to inform the development of RCs in the country. MethodA SWOT analysis involving 80 respondents was conducted. Fifty-three respondents completed a questionnaire online, while further 27 respondents participated in five focus groups. Groups involved experts working in the RCs, suppliers and manufacturers of AT, parents of persons with disabilities, and expert associates from mainstream schools. The data was analyzed using a SWOT framework. ResultsThe respondents reported that human capacities (e.g., motivation and experience) were the main strength. Weaknesses included lack of specific and modern knowledge about working with children with different conditions, as well as specific knowledge about the AT itself. Intersectoral cooperation was pointed out as the main opportunity, while obstacles were recognized in almost all work segments (lack of finances, lack of staff, lack of adequate legal regulations and communication and cooperation). ConclusionBased on the results achieved, potential solutions for overcoming the existing obstacles in resource centers were proposed

SENZORNO-MOTORIČKI IZAZOVI KOD DECE OŠTEĆENOG SLUHA: PREGLED ISTRAŽIVANJA

Senzorna obrada i motoričke funkcije kod dece oštećenog sluha predstavljaju kompleksnu istraživačku oblast koja zahteva multidisciplinarni pristup, ali često nije u fokusu naučnih istraživanja. Ovaj rad istražuje uticaj senzorne obrade na motoričke funkcije gluve i nagluve dece, izazove sa kojima se susreću u svakodnevnom životu, kao i značaj rane dijagnostike i intervencije. Senzorno procesiranje igra ključnu ulogu u razvoju motoričkih veština i aktivnom učešću u svakodnevnim aktivnostima. Deca koja imaju teškoće u ovom procesu suočavaju se sa različitim izazovima koji mogu negativno uticati na njihov razvoj i svakodnevni život. Cilj rada bio je analiza postojećih istraživanja o senzornim i motoričkim karakteristikama gluve i nagluve dece, kao i identifikovanje ključnih oblasti u kojima se ta deca susreću sa teškoćama. U analizu su uključeni istraživački radovi objavljeni između 2014. i 2024. godine, fokusirani na gluvu i nagluvu decu i adolescente. Rezultati istraživanja sugerišu da deca oštećenog sluha uglavnom imaju lošije senzorno procesiranje u odnosu na svoje vršnjake urednog sluha. Posebno su uočene razlike u ravnoteži i motoričkim veštinama između gluve i nagluve dece i dece urednog sluha. Problemi sa kojima se susreću deca oštećenog sluha mogu se pripisati uslovima auditivne deprivacije i propratnim vestibularnim teškoćama. Iako nalazi istraživanja nisu jednoznačni po pitanju uticaja korišćenja slušnih aparata ili kohlearnog implanta na motoričke sposobnosti dece oštećenog sluha, naglašava se kako rana intervencija i pravovremeni tretman mogu doprineti poboljšanju senzornog procesiranja i razvoju motoričkih sposobnosti, kao i prevenciji dugoročnih smetnji. U zaključku se ističe značaj ranog prepoznavanja i intervencija koje su prilagođene individualnim potrebama dece, sa fokusom na senzorne i motoričke aspekte njihovog razvoja. Buduća istraživanja treba da obuhvate longitudinalne pristupe i razvoj normativnih protokola za procenu i rehabilitaciju dece oštećenog sluha i povezanim senzornim poremećajima

Žene u zatvoru u Srbiji: Međunarodni standardi, nacionalno zakonodavstvo i kvalitet života

Knjiga je podeljena u dva dela. Prvi deo knjige posvećen je analizi kriminaliteta žena u Srbiji i odgovoru društva na njega. Na osnovu analize dostupnih podataka, analiziraju se obim, struktura i dinamika kretanja kriminaliteta žena u Srbiji tokom poslednje decenije. Potom se analiziraju međunarodni standardi za postupanje prema ženama koje se nalaze u penitensijarnim ustanovama, s fokusom na Pravila Ujedinjenih nacija o postupanju sa zatvorenicama i izvršenju nekustodijalnih mera prema ženama izvršiteljkama (tzv. Bankočka pravila). Treća celina prvog dela knjige posvećena je pravnom i institucionalnom okviru Republike Srbije koji je relevantan za razumevanje položaja žena u zatvoru, dok je četvrta celine posvećena ulozi Nacionalnog preventivnog mehanizma u unapređenju ljudskih prava i položaja žena u zatvoru u Srbiji. Drugi deo knjige se fokusira na analizu rezultata empirijskog istraživanja kvaliteta života žena u zatvoru u Srbiji. U ovom delu je prvo dat opis metodologije istraživanja koje je sprovedeno u okviru PrisonLIFE projekta, a koje je za cilj imalo dolaženje do podataka o percepciji osuđenih lica u Republici Srbiji o kvalitetu zatvorskog života. Nakon toga su prikazani i analizirani podaci koji se odnose na tri dimenzije kvaliteta zatvorskog života posmatrano iz ugla osuđenica u Kazneno-popravnom zavodu za žene: profesionalizam, harmonija i bezbednost. Na osnovu svega, izvedene su i preporuke za dalji rad na jačanju zakona, politika i praksi kako bi se unapredio položaj žena u zatvoru i u potpunosti izašlo u susret njihovim specifičnim potrebama koje proizilaze iz specifičnosti kriminaliteta koje žene vrše i njihovog ukupnog položaja u društvu

Parenting experiences of people with visual impairment

Becoming a parent is a life goal for most individuals and it goes as well for individuals with visual impairment. The aim of this research was to explore the experiences of Serbian parents with visual impairment in raising children. This is a replication of the study conducted in the United States to compare the examined aspects of parenting with visual impairment under different socio-cultural conditions. Interviews were conducted with 33 parents with visual impairment who, at that moment, had at least one child aged between 6 and 25 years, living with them. Each researcher conducted a content analysis of the transcripts and the interviewer’s notes, respectively. Key points and themes were identified within three topical areas. The parenting challenges were primarily related to making the decision to become a parent, taking care of the child and helping their child become the best possible adult. Most practical difficulties were related to taking care of newborn babies, outdoor activities, and helping children with schoolwork. The parents overcame these difficulties with the help of family members and relatives, while no organized institutional support was available. From the point of view of the participants in the two studies compared, most topics within specific themes regarding parenting with visual impairment are similar. The differences identified in the perception of the socio-emotional and practical aspects of being a parent with visual impairment are assumed to be the result of socio-cultural differences and the available support level

RECIDIVISM RISK ASSESSMENT AMONG CONVICTED WOMEN

Zatvorski sistem, čiji je osnovni cilj rehabilitacija i reintegracija osuđenih lica u društvenu zajednicu je, uvažavajući iskustva iz prakse i empirijske dokaze, u velikoj meri napredovao. Međutim, usled niske zastupljenosti žena u broju svih osuđenih lica koja se nalaze u zatvoru, zapaža se da u svim aspektima zatvorskog života i penalnog tretmana one neretko bivaju diskriminisane. U tom smislu, posebno je važno obratiti pažnju na faktore rizika recidivizma koji su karakteristični za osuđene žene, a koji nisu inkorporirani u rodno neutralne instrumente procene rizika, koji se u penalnoj praksi najčešće koriste. Cilj ovog rada je da se ukaže na specifične potrebe osuđenih žena i na neophodnost validacije instrumenata procene, koji su dizajnirani na uzorcima muškaraca, a primenjuju se na ženskoj osuđeničkoj populaciji. U radu je prikazana zastupljenost žena u ukupnom broju svih osuđenih lica, kao i podaci o njihovom recidivizmu. Dalje se u radu razmatraju faktori rizika recidivizma koji su karakteristični za osuđene žene. Posebna pažnja je usmerena na procenu rizika recidivizma osuđenih žena, te je ukazano na prednosti i nedostatke rodno neutralnog i rodno responzivnog pristupa. Saznanja o efektima instrumenata za procenu rizika recidivizma predstavljena su kroz prikaz nalaza istraživanja, te je utvrđeno da postoje nekonzistentni rezultati po pitanju njihove prediktivne validnosti kada se primenjuju prema osuđenim ženama. Na osnovu kritičkog razmatranja dobijenih nalaza i stanja u Republici Srbiji, date su preporuke za unapređenje prakse procene rizika recidivizma osuđenih žena.The prison system, whose primary goal is the rehabilitation and reintegration of convicted individuals into society, has made significant progress, taking into account practical experience and empirical evidence. However, due to the low representation of women among the prison population, they are often found to face discrimination in all aspects of prison life and penal treatment. In this regard, it is particularly important to pay attention to the risk factors for recidivism that are specific to convicted women and are not incorporated into gender-neutral risk assessment instruments, which are most commonly used in penal practice. The aim of this paper is to highlight the specific needs of convicted women and the necessity of validating assessment instruments that were designed based on male samples but are applied to the female prison population. The paper presents the representation of women within the total number of convicted individuals, as well as data on their recidivism. Furthermore, it examines the risk factors for recidivism that are specific to convicted women. Special attention is given to the recidivism risk assessment among convicted women, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of both gender-neutral and gender-responsive approaches. Insights into the effects of recidivism risk assessment instruments are presented through a review of research findings, revealing inconsistencies in their predictive validity when applied to convicted women. Based on a critical analysis of the findings and the situation in the Republic of Serbia, recommendations are provided for improving the practice of recidivism risk assessment for convicted women

High individual crime rate as a predictor of penal recidivism

Individualna stopa zločina odražava učestalost činjenja krivičnih dela aktivnih prestupnika. Istraživanjima kriminalne karijere izdvojena je kao jedna od ključnih dimenzija koja omogućava bolje razumevanje individualnog kriminalnog ponaša nja. Cilj ovog rada je da ukaže na značaj ispitivanja individualne stope zločina pri likom utvrđivanja rizika za penalni recidivizam. Dostupna istraživanja pokazuju da je stopa individualnog zločina varijabilna, te da zavisi od niza faktora među kojima se izdvajaju pol, uzrast prestupnika, tip kriminaliteta i uzrast na kome započinje kriminalna karijera. Studijama kriminalne karijere uočena je mala grupe prestup nika koja tokom kriminalne karijere izvršava krivična dela u visokim frekvencijama (hronični ili perzistentni prestupnici), što je podstaklo razmatranje mogućnosti za prospektivnu identifikaciju takvih delinkvenata. Ipak, nalazi pokazuju da dosada šnje metode identifikacije hroničnih prestupnika nisu u dovoljnoj meri pouzdane, te da se ne mogu uzeti u obzir pilikom procene rizika (penalnog) recidivizma. Ukoliko se uvaži činjenica da je najbolji pokazatelj budućeg kriminalnog ponašanja prethod no kriminalno ponašanje, jasno je kako je značajno adekvatno proceniti i predvideti individualnu stopu zločina kako sa aspekta primene odgovarajućeg tretmana unutar zatvora, tako i za prevenciju penalnog recidivizma.T he individual crime rate reflects the frequency with which crimes are committed by active offenders. Research on criminal careers has identified it as one of the most important dimension that enables a better understanding of individual criminal behavior. The aim of this paper is to point out the importance of examining the individual frequency of offending when it comes to determining the risk of penal recidivism. The available research shows that individual crime rates are variable and depend on a number of factors, including gender, the age of the offender, the type of offense, and the age at which a criminal career begins. Studies of criminal careers have observed a small group of offenders who commit frequent offenses over the course of their criminal career (chronic or persistent offenders), leading to consi deration of the possibility of prospective identification of such offenders. However, the results show that the current methods for identifying chronic offenders are not reliable enough and that they cannot be considered as a tool for assessing (penal) recidivism risk. If we take into account the fact that the best indicator of future criminal behavior is past criminal behavior, it becomes clear how important it is to adequately assess and predict the individual crime rate, both from the point of view of applying appropriate treatment within prison and for the prevention of penal recidivis

Functional Mobility Assessment in People with Multiple Sclerosis

Background/Objectives: Functional mobility includes gait and balance. People with multiple sclerosis often experience gait impairment and difficulties with walking, as well as an increased risk of falling. The aim of the research was to assess functional mobility and to examine the relationship between gait and balance in people with multiple sclerosis, as well as the impact of falls on these two variables. Methods: The study sample consisted of 92 people with multiple sclerosis, with an average age of 45.10 (SD = 9.57) years, and both sexes (82.6% were female). The Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale was used to assess an individual’s confidence in maintaining balance throughout daily activities, and the 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale was employed to evaluate the impact of multiple sclerosis on walking ability. Descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency, Pearson’s correlations, and partial correlations were applied to the data. Results: The results indicated moderate gait impairment and a high level of function in people with multiple sclerosis. There was a correlation between confidence in maintaining balance and walking ability. Conclusions: The results of this study can be used to develop appropriate treatments and support programs for individuals with multiple sclerosis

Bullying victimization and life satisfaction among high school students

Bullying reflects repetitive and intentional acts of aggression that aim at harming a peer who is weaker or in a more vulnerable social position than the bullying perpetrator. Experiences related to bullying victimization are associated with short- and long-term negative outcomes for students, and there is some evidence that bullying victimization may be associated with low life satisfaction in adolescents. To investigate the relationship between bullying victimization and life satisfaction among adolescents, 243 students from two high schools in Belgrade (76.5% female) aged 14–19 years (M = 16.5; SD = 1.1) completed paper questionnaires. Bullying victimization was assessed using the Delaware Bullying Victimization Scale, a sixpoint Likert scale with a total 16 items (α = .92) grouped into four subscales: Verbal, Physical, Social/Relational and Cyberbullying. The total score is the sum of the three subscales - Verbal, Physical and Social/Relational (it is recommended that the score for Cyberbullying is not included in the total score), while separate scores were calculated for each subscale. Adolescents’ life satisfaction was assessed using the Brief Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale, a five-point Likert scale with 6 items (α = .77). The results indicate a weak negative correlation between the experience of bullying victimization and life satisfaction, meaning that high school students who are exposed to less bullying tend to have higher life satisfaction (r (241) = -.15, p < .05). An examination of the forms of bullying shows that exposure to social/relational (r (241) = -.18, p < .01) and physical bullying (r (241) = -.15, p < .05) is negatively associated with life satisfaction, while no statistically significant correlation was found between verbal (r (241) = -.08, p = .17) or cyberbullying (r (241) = -.08, p = .21) and students’ life satisfaction. The obtained results emphasize the need for further research to clarify the relationship between bullying victimization and adolescents’ life satisfaction by including potential moderating or mediating variables. Additionally, they highlight the importance of implementing appropriate interventions for students who are, or are at risk of being, victimized to minimize negative effects such as life dissatisfaction

The importance of pride when learning math: The influence of academic emotions and motivation on mathematics achievement.

The academic emotions (AE), grounded in control-value theory (Pekrun, 2006), is a wellknown construct whose importance for students’ motivation, learning strategies, and performance has been confirmed in numerous studies. Not all AE received equal attention, with negative emotions, especially anxiety, being the main focus of the mathematics achievement research. Findings about the intertwined influence of AE and related constructs such as motivation on academic outcomes have yet to be fully elucidated. The aims of the study were to examine the impact of academic emotions on mathematics academic achievement, after taking into account demographic variables (age, gender, type of school); determine whether the predictive power of academic emotions changes when the motivation for learning mathematics (intrinsic motivation, perceived utility, and perceived competence) is included; examine which tested emotions (enjoyment, pride, anger, anxiety, shame, hopelessness, boredom) will have the greatest significance for math achievement. The convenience sample of 457 students (70% female; Mage = 16.35), from grammar and vocational schools, completed the AEQ-M (Pekrun et al., 2011) and EVS (Wigfield & Eccles, 2000) instrument in the school or online format. Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted, with demographic variables entered in the first step of the model, positive emotions (enjoyment and pride) entered in the second step, negative emotions (shame, anger, anxiety, boredom, helplessness) entered in the third step, and motivation (utility, intrinsic and perceived competence) entered in the fourth step of the model. Results revealed that positive emotions significantly predicted achievement, even after accounting for demographic variables, and remained significant across all models (Model 2: R² = .377, p < .001). Their influence slightly diminished as additional variables were introduced. Negative emotions contributed minimally in Model 3 (ΔR² = .023, p < .001) but became nonsignificant in later models. Motivation, driven primarily by perceived competence, added to the predictive power in Model 4 (ΔR² = .027, p < .001). The final model explained 42.7% of the variance in math grades (F (2, 626) = 61.723, p < .001), with pride emerging as the most influential positive emotion. These findings indicate the importance of nurturing positive activating emotions in the classroom but also call for more research studies on positive emotions in everyday school context

Primena intervencije video modelovanja u podučavanju socijalnih veština кod deteta sa poremećajem iz speкtra autizma: studija slučaja

Deca sa poremećajem iz spektra autizma (PSA) suočavaju se sa izazovima u socijalnoj komunikaciji i interakciji, što predstavlja otežavajući faktor u procesu usvajanja osnovnih socijalnih veština poput pozdravljanja i čekanja na red. Video modelovanje je savremena intervencija učenja koja koristi vizuelne prikaze željenih ponašanja kako bi podstakla decu sa PSA na unapređivanje različitih funkcionalnih veština. Ovaj pristup pruža značajnu vizuelnu podršku, omogućava ponavljanje i generalizaciju u različitim kontekstima, što doprinosi lakšem usvajanju i povećanoj motivaciji deteta. Cilj ove studije slučaja je da prikaže primenu intervencije video modelovanja kod šestogodišnjeg dečaka sa PSA s ciljem savladavanja ključnih socijalnih veština. Pre početka intervencije, dečak nije imao razvijene veštine pozdravljanja (“Ćao!” uz mahanje), iniciranja socijalnog kontakta putem pozdrava dlanom o dlan (“daj pet”) i čekanja na red, što se reflektovalo kroz izostanak verbalnih i neverbalnih inicijacija i odgovora u socijalnim situacijama. Intervencija je trajala tri meseca i obuhvatala svakodnevno prikazivanje video snimaka vršnjaka koji demonstriraju navedene aktivnosti. Video materijali su se prikazivali dva puta dnevno, u unapred definisanim vremenskim intervalima. Tokom ovog perioda, dečaku je omogućeno da u kontrolisanom okruženju ponavlja i vežba viđene aktivnosti, uz kontinuiranu podršku defektologa. Rezultati intervencije ukazuju na značajan napredak socijalnih veština u navedenim domenima nakon primene video modelovanja. Dečak je uspešno savladao veštinu pozdravljanja uz mahanje, spontano inicirao kontakt sa vršnjakom putem “daj pet” i adekvatno reagovao na verbalne upute koji signaliziraju čekanje na red. Usvajanje ovih veština dokumentovano je video zapisima pre i posle intervencije, čime je potvrđena efikasnost primenjenog pristupa. Zaključci ukazuju na značajan potencijal video modelovanja kao efikasne intervencije za podučavanje socijalnih veština kod dece sa PSA, naročito kada se tretman individualizuje i omogućava ponavljanje i generalizaciju u svakodnevnim situacijama