Starting to feel connected: investigating interactions between adults with congenital deafblindness and disability support workers.

This thesis reports an investigation of interactions between adults with congenital deafblindness and the disability support workers who mediate their support. These interactions are examined with a view to better understanding how social togetherness or ‘the good life’ as posited by Reinders (2002), might be better understood, evaluated and ultimately enhanced. A mixed methods design is employed. Phase one is conducted as a quantitative, observation based study in which adults with congenital deafblindness and their direct support staff are video recorded in their daily interactions, and the interactions are coded. Phase two is conducted as a qualitative interview-based study, in which staff are asked to reflect on the video interactions from phase one. This thesis highlights the importance of using mixed methods, or at least soliciting multiple perspectives, when evaluating interactions with adults with congenital deafblindness. It demonstrates that examining interactions from only one perspective, or using one method in isolation, gives a limited and partial understanding of the situation. For example, the findings from phase one of the study showed few instances of interaction between adults with congenital deafblindness and their support staff. Similar studies in the past have interpreted such results as suggesting that the staff required further training in how to interact with their clients. However, the findings from phase two of the study, which used a different research method, revealed higher levels of interaction. Phase two also yielded additional information that helped to explain the low levels of interaction observed in the first phase. The findings from this second phase suggest a mismatch in worldviews between disability support workers and those formulating interventions to enhance interactions for adults with congenital deafblindness. For this reason, staff training to address issues raised by the first phase of the study may not deliver long-term, positive outcomes for adults with congenital deafblindness. This is because the type of intervention does not adequately address the mismatch in worldviews between the intervener and the disability support workers. In addition to theorising about the perspectives of, and interaction between the key partners, this thesis offers some practical recommendations to progress the situation for clinicians, researchers, disability support workers, and most importantly adults with congenital deafblindness. However, much work remains to develop effective tools and methods for evaluating interactions with people with congenital deafblindness. This thesis also poses some important questions about evaluating opportunities for adults with congenital deafblindness to experience the good life within the broader quality of life construct

Analogue Cosmological Particle Creation: Quantum Correlations in Expanding Bose Einstein Condensates

We investigate the structure of quantum correlations in an expanding Bose Einstein Condensate (BEC) through the analogue gravity framework. We consider both a 3+1 isotropically expanding BEC as well as the experimentally relevant case of an elongated, effectively 1+1 dimensional, expanding condensate. In this case we include the effects of inhomogeneities in the condensate, a feature rarely included in the analogue gravity literature. In both cases we link the BEC expansion to a simple model for an expanding spacetime and then study the correlation structure numerically and analytically (in suitable approximations). We also discuss the expected strength of such correlation patterns and experimentally feasible BEC systems in which these effects might be detected in the near future.Comment: Reference adde

Root and tuber crops: Untapped potential for food and nutrition security and rural livelihood development in Myanmar. Results of a scoping study.

RTCs are not a priority crop in Myanmar, but there is still significant growth in production and demand, particularly potato and cassava. Information from farmers and other stakeholders in the RTC sector revealed various concerns and issues affecting RTC development in the study sites in terms of input supply, production, processing, and marketing. Initiatives for RTC development should focus on the accesibility of quality planting material, improved cultivation practice, small-scale mechanization, postharvest and processing facilities, and value chain development

Examples of individual supported living for adults with intellectual disability

Background: This article provides a qualitative account of four models of support for adults with intellectual disability in individual supported living (ISL) arrangements. Materials and Methods: Completion of the first 50 evaluations of 150 arrangements for the third phase of the ISL project provided the examples. Results: Four approaches are described: living alone, co-residency, relationship and host family. Within each type, wide variations occur particularly based on security of tenure, formal and informal support and management variations. Conclusion: Fifty evaluations so far illustrated a wide range of approaches to ISL, providing evidence of the critical importance of the formal and informal support environment and reinforcing the contention that ISL is appropriate for people with high support needs

Potato production, marketing, and utilization in Meghalaya, India: Results of a value chain assessment.

Potato is a vital and inseparable part of livelihoods and diets in Meghalaya and improvements in its value chain can benefit the entire sector, particularly smallholder potato farmers. Value chain mapping in three districts in Meghalaya revealed that farmers, traders, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers are the main value chain factors, supported by input suppliers and government organizations. The potato value chain can be strengthened by enhancing potato producers’ access to inputs, better post-harvest handling, quality control mechanisms, and the use of proper storage. Potential interventions in potato marketing include providing market intelligence, building the entrepreneurial capacity of farmers, identifying processing options, and developing a branding strategy for Meghalaya potatoes to market to other states