Exploring the Social Participation of Children & Adolescents with Severe Developmental Disabilities

The goal of this study was to examine the social participation of children and adolescents with severe Developmental Disabilities (DD). Those with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) were reported to participate in significantly fewer activities and much less frequently than typically developing peers. Those with ID and ASD were reported to have fewer friends and poorer quality of friendships. In addition, those with ASD participated even less frequently in some activities and had fewer friends. In terms of barriers to participation for those with DD, reasons relating to the child and not allowed or invited were frequently reported. In contrast, lack of availability and logistical reasons were not reported as a prominent barrier. A combination of child, family, and community factors significantly accounted for 30% of the variance in participation. Specifically, child’s Adaptive Behaviour, Parental Socialization, and Type of School Program attended predicted activity participation

Centaur Mind: A Glimpse into an Integrative Structure of Consciousness

Jean Gebser’s theory of consciousness suggests that we are experiencing a new era in the history of consciousness. Human consciousness moves like a pendulum. The current Integral Structure of Consciousness is not unprecedented, yet we are experiencing it in a multi-layered, deeper, and vaster way. Centaurs are imaginal creatures that first appeared within the Mythical Structure of Consciousness, making a bridge between the unity of the Magical and the duality of Mental structures. In this paper, I view the centaurs through the lenses of mythology and archetypal depth psychology and discuss the critical role of this mythic figure in the integration between the civil and the primitive aspects of human consciousness. Centaurs have always been about integration with our animalistic side, but are they bringing a specifically necessary gift to our time of integral consciousness? Are centaurs returning to human consciousness? If so, should we and can we create a more integrated centaur myth