Nursing Attitudes Toward Geriatric Alcoholism

Nurses play a critical role in public education regarding the assessment of medical problems related to alcoholism or alcohol abuse. Nurses must assess their personal attitudes toward the disease concept of alcoholism before they can effectively provide services to geriatric patients who are alcoholics or who abuse alcohol. Among the geriatric population, there is a constellation of medical problems related to alcoholism and alcohol abuse. Potentially dysfunctional attitudes exist among nurses and other health-care professionals who are involved in the provision of medical care to geriatric patients who have alcoholism or who abuse alcohol

Disability Etiquette and School Counselors: A Common Sense Approach Towards Compliance with the Americans with Disability Act

Describes an approach that may aid school counselors in attending to the needs of disabled students. Impact of the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act on schools; Historical overview of discriminatory acts in the United States; Guide questions; Common courtesies that need to be extended to the disabled

Family Issues and Assistive Technology Needs: A Sampling of State Practices

A survey of 28 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part H coordinators throughout the nation investigated current assessment practices used to prescribe augmentative and alternative communication devices for young children with disabilities. Few respondents reported that they provided training to a great extent in the uses of the devices for the child or family

Using Animation in Microsoft PowerPoint to Enhance Engagement and Learning in Young Learners With Developmental Delay

Over the past decade, a wide array of instructional technology applications have found their way into early intervention settings (Anderson, Grant, & Speck, 2008; Parette, Blum, Boeckmann, & Watts, 2009; Siraj-Blatchford & Whitebread, 2003). Of particular importance to young learners who evidence developmental delays or are at risk for school failure are those technologies with the potential to more effectively teach basic emergent literacy skills such as the following: Phonemic awareness (Torgesen, Wagner, Rashotte, Herron, & Lindamood, 2010). Alphabetic principle (Travers, 2010). * Word recognition (Hitchcock & Noonan, 2000). Alliteration (Blum & Watts, 2008). Comprehension (Blok, Oostdam, Otter, & Overmaat, 2002)

Degree of Involvement and Young Children with Cerebral Palsy

Studies of the degree of involvement (DOI) and its relationship to therapeutic intervention effectiveness and related services for young children with cerebral palsy were reviewed. Three dimensions of DOI: (1) brain damage and mental retardation, (2) functional motor ability, and (3) emotional disturbance and behavior problems were reviewed. The literature suggests little consensus regarding the conceptualization of DOI

The Family Physician\u27s Role with Parents of Young Children with Developmental Disabilities

Technological advances, coupled with recent federal legislation targeting young children who have developmental disabilities, will increasingly necessitate an expanded role of the family physician in the lives of these children and their families. Of particular importance is Public Law 99-457, the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1986, which recognizes the importance of the family unit in any intervention methodology that may be provided. This legislation also notes that the active involvement of the family\u27s physician is desirable when designing services appropriate for children with developmental disabilities and their families. Providing support and optimizing positive family interactions are crucial to these children. Recommendations to enable the family physician to address more effectively the unique needs of this patient population include (1) an informal screening protocol, and (2) communication skills that include talking with both parents at the same time, using accurate, nonstigmatizing language when presenting a diagnosis, showing acceptance of and optimism regarding the child, encouraging parents to explain their child\u27s problems to others, helping parents to learn about their children\u27s unique needs, and helping parents to understand how their attitudes affect their child

Family and Cultural Alert! Considerations in Assistive Technology Assessment

Discusses cultural and family factors to consider when evaluating a student with disability for assistive technology devices, and the need to involve families in decisions about the uses of the devices. The need to be sensitive to family needs for acceptance and to be aware of cultural differences is discussed

Family-Centered Assistive Technology Assessment

Outlines a family-centered, culturally sensitive approach to working with young children with disabilities and their families

Special Education Professionals and Assistive Technology: Requirements for Preparation in a Digital Age

This article presents contextual background for the preparation of teachers to effectively use assistive technology (AT) with students with disabilities. A brief description of student uses of technology is presented, noting how students have changed in their understanding and use of information technologies. The role of AT is then presented, linking the role of special education professionals in today’s schools with current teacher preparation practices. Discrepancies are noted between what is needed to best serve Digital Age students in the schools, and the manner and extent to which teachers are prepared. Using existing standards and addressing emerging AT training needs, the authors propose three distinct levels of preparation: an AT (a) practitioner, (b) specialist, and (c) leader. Specific roles of each of these personnel are delineated. The instructional potential use of hybrid models of professional development classroom instruction combined with computer-based learning) is recommended as particularly promising approach