Accessing parental perspectives to inform the development of parent training in autism in south-eastern Europe

Parent training has been shown to be an important means of supporting families living with autism – but such services are not universally accessible. A multinational project funded by the European Commission has been developed in order to establish such parent training in three south-eastern European countries. To ensure that the training was relevant and appropriate, a survey was carried out in autumn 2015 to ascertain the attitudes of parents of children with autism in Croatia, Cyprus and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia regarding this issue, and to identify the areas of training that they felt most important. Two hundred and fifty-three surveys were distributed, and 148 were returned, a response rate of 58%. Respondents in the three counties were overwhelmingly positive about parent training, with almost 90% stating that they would like to attend such training. Weekend training sessions were preferred by the majority of respondents. There was wide variation between the three countries with regard to what content was felt important to be included, with parents in the FYR of Macedonia seeking information in the greatest number of areas. Five topics were prioritised by parents across all three countries. These were: • Strategies for enhancing my child’s communication • Strategies on facilitating my child’s interaction with other children • Sensory integration and development • General information on behavioural management strategies • Identifying and/or developing socialisation opportunitie

Lomé to Cotonou conventions: trade policy alternatives for the Senegalese groundnut sector

The signing of the Cotonou Convention in June 2000 established a new trading relationship between the European Union and African, Caribbean, and Pacific States. Negotiations to establish new trading arrangements have already commenced and will lead to the establishment of economic partnership agreements or other viable alternatives. In this study, the economic impact on the Senegalese groundnut sector is assessed for the case in which Senegal enters into an economic partnership agreement with the European Union, or into an enhanced form of the Generalized System of Preferences. The preferred choice depends on whether Senegal's economic status classifies it as a least developed country (LDC) or not, as well as on other external trading arrangements. Findings indicate that as a non-LDC, the best option for Senegal would be to enter into an economic partnership agreement. As a LDC, the best option would be to move to the enhanced generalized system of preferences, thereby allowing Senegal to retain Lomé-style trade preferences. Furthermore, increased development funding under the Cotonou Convention could help shield the Senegalese groundnut sector from adverse economic impacts arising from either trading option. Copyright 2005 International Association of Agricultural Economics.