A Decade of Confusion: The Differing Directions of Social Security and Accident Compensation 1969 – 1979

Overlapping with the implementation of ACC in New Zealand was a parallel review of Social Security, charged with making recommendations for the overall system of social entitlements. The review took place in the context of global economic pressure and changes in family structure during the early 1970s, and represents a marked contrast in tone and ambition from the Woodhouse Commission. This paper contrasts the more modest direction taken by the 1972 Royal Commission on Social Security with the Woodhouse proposals, focusing on such matters as the structure of benefits and the underlying social and community objectives

Critical issues in the assessment of disability in schizophrenia

Individuals with schizophrenia exhibit functional disability across a wide array of domains. These patients experience impairments in their social competence, vocational aptitude, everyday living skills, and self-care abilities, which in the majority of patients are severe enough to prevent the return to independent living, even after hallmark symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions are remitted. Unfortunately, assessment of the magnitude of disability in individual patients is hindered by several factors, such as reduced capability in the area of self-evaluation and inaccuracies in self-report, as well as the presence of potential contributing variables such as depression and poor self-esteem. Furthermore, additional barriers to recovery exist, such as fear of losing disability payments and factors such as discrimination. Performance-based measures of functioning are new and promising instruments for assessing the competencies of patients and address many of the problems with other methods of assessing disability. These measures could greatly aid clinicians in understanding the schizophrenia disease and recovery process, expanding treatment goals beyond the currently targeted positive and negative symptoms

A Contract for Success: Increasing Student Engagement and Confidence through Grade Contracts

This paper explores the impact of grade contracts upon student engagement and confidence in classes. The co-researchers designed a grade contract based upon those described in the literature by Danielewicz & Elbow (2009) and Inoue (2014), and integrating departmental learning outcomes. The contracts were used in the co-researchers’ Spring 2018, Fall 2018, and Spring 2019 First-Year Writing (ENG101 and ENG102) and upper division English (ENG345 and ENG405) courses. Through an IRB-approved study, student reactions to the use of grade contracts were assessed in three ways: coding students’ reflective essays completed at the end of each semester, conducting interviews with student volunteers, and administering a voluntary online attitudinal survey. This paper paper addresses the results of the attitudinal survey; future work will share findings from the other data sources and ongoing surveys. 41 students participated in the survey. Initial findings suggest that the majority of students responded positively to the implementation of a grade contract and would like to see grade contracts used in more of their classes. Responses suggest that much of the appeal for students comes from the transparency of expectations laid out in the grade contract, resulting in greater student agency

College Savings Match Programs: Design and Policy

We examine here the essential elements and program design of all state 529 savings-match programs as well as the application process and other policy considerations. Like other state programs, 529 savings incentives inevitably reflect the unique demographics, economics, and political makeup of a particular state. This report provides details about inclusive savings-match program features and strategies that could make 529 plans more widely accessible to families of all incomes

Toward More Inclusive College Savings Plans: Sample State Legislation

A number of states have created inclusive 529 policy strategies to make college savings plans more accessible and easier to use for families at all income levels. These strategies include facilitating enrollment and contributions, removing saving disincentives, increasing saving incentives, and strengthening tax benefits. In this report, we examine these inclusive state policy strategies, describe their application through legislative and administrative means, and point to specific examples.A related policy brief by the same title is also available

Toward More Inclusive College Savings Plans: Sample State Legislation

A number of states have created inclusive 529 policy strategies to make college savings plans more accessible and easier to use for families at all income levels. These strategies include: facilitating enrollment and contributions, removing saving disincentives, increasing saving incentives, and strengthening tax benefits. In this brief, we highlight these inclusive state policy strategies, describes their application through legislative and administrative means, and points to specific examples. A related policy report by the same title is also available

A Study of Blindness in the House Mouse

A study of blindness in mice, heterozygous for a dominant lethal mutation is reported. The eyelids may fail to fuse in the late embryo or may open at 2 or 3 days of age. The expression of the character may be an opacity of one or both eyes, reduced size of eyeball in one or both eyes, or opacity in one with reduced size in the other. Penetrance is incomplete