The journey travelled – A view of two settings a decade apart

Inclusion is generally recognized as an ongoing, active process which reflects shifts in policies, practice and values as well as political choices made over long periods of time. Although intended as a transformative concept it can also represent a messy compromise between congealed policy positions and contradictory practices. Against this background of compromise and dissatisfaction, this study aims to examine how two schools with clear inclusive aspirations and intentions have weathered the last decade. Drawing upon two research visits ten years apart in which the schools were filmed and members of the school community were interviewed, this study reports on their perception of the journey travelled. Data from the study shows that in both cases there was a shift away from practices which were previously seen as being a route towards greater inclusion. The causes for these shifts were political, economic and social factors underpinned by the pervasive influence of the special education and medical model on the two schools’ practice and principles

Embodied Cognition and Special Education

Embodied cognition and special needs. Theotical and methodological approache

Outlook of the inspection of sprayers in Province of Trento

Mountain landscape is the environment of agriculture in Trentino. Most of the hectarage is of high quality products like apples (11,500 hectares), grapes (10,000 hectares) and lesser extent small fruits and vegetables. There is a strong co-operative spirit, and many activities are conducted in partnership form. APOT (Association of Fruit and Vegetable Producers in Trentino) is a second degree Producers’ Organization of about 10,000 farms. Average size of farms is 1.5 hectares and, as a form of income integration, part-time model characterizes about 50% of them. Many housing districts are placed in sparsely among apple orchards and vineyards. Due to this condition the rural population has become more and more sensitive to issues related to spray drift. About 8,000 sprayers are in use on orchards and vineyards. To achieve a better e&cacy of treatments and rationalize use of chemicals, APOT in accordance with the local Government has decided to start the inspection activity since 1997. In addition a calibration of sprayer is made on the basis of farm orchards characteristics. Using two mobile test stations until now nearly 10,000 checks have been carried out (many sprayers have been checked twice or more). In compliance with Directive 2009/128/CE will also be organized activities for the control of sprayers used for weed control on localized application and for those in minor crops. ENAMA Guidelines have recently been made available and inspection activity is going on in close harmony with recommendations of ENAMA Working Group for national coordination on inspection activity