Disability and Equity in Education Commons^™

Towards Inclusive Standards, Michelle Pearce

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The context of this study is the inclusion of students with dillabilities in secondary schools. The introduction of legislation in the United States and Australia has resulted in large numbers of students with disabilities being included in regular classes by subject teachers. Inclusion in secondary schools has proved especially challenging to teachers. Reviews and research highlight the need for teacher training. but do not specify the knowledge and skills that teachers need to become inclusive. It has been proposed that professional teaching standards have the potential to guide preservice and inservice training. Before standards could be assessed for their inclusivity, …

Less Than Equal: Secularism, Religious Pluralism And Privilege, Anne Aly, Lelia Rosalind Green

Research outputs pre 2011

In its preamble, The Western Australian Charter of Multiculturalism (WA) commits the state to becoming: “A society in which respect for mutual difference is accompanied by equality of opportunity within a framework of democratic citizenship”. One of the principles of multiculturalism, as enunciated in the Charter, is “equality of opportunity for all members of society to achieve their full potential in a free and democratic society where every individual is equal before and under the law”. An important element of this principle is the “equality of opportunity ... to achieve ... full potential”. The implication here is that those who …

Visual Dysfunction : A Contributing Factor In Memory Deficits, And Therefore Learning Difficulties?, Elizabeth G. Bennett

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis is based on Educational Therapy (ET) practice which has found eye muscle imbalance is a key factor to be addressed in management of learning difficulties (LD). This level of oculo-motor (o-m) function is a 'hidden' handicap as individuals are unaware of the problem; it is not routinely tested; and is not generally included in learning difficulties research. O-m function is omitted in standard paediatric optometry tests, and in school vision screening. Eye exercises increase the range of binocular fields of vision by employing stereopsis glasses and red/green slides. Central vision loss was uncovered when students reported words, seen …

Using Modelling For Teaching Social Skills To Children With Autism: A Literature Review &, Effects Of Video-Modelling On The Acquisition And Generalisation Of Play Behaviour In Children With Autism, Claire R. Paterson

Theses : Honours

Impaired social functioning is a characteristic feature of autistic spectrum disorder. Various interventions have been developed to address social dysfunction in children with autism. The purpose of this paper is to review studies that have examined the efficacy of using modelling procedures to teach children with autism social skills. Modelling involves observing a model performing a target behaviour intended for the observer to imitate. Modelling techniques have effectively incorporated a range of models including adults, peers, and target children by observing videotapes of themselves. Peer-mediated strategies have been shown to substantially increase social behaviour in children with autism, however generalisation …

Attitude Of Students Towards Peers With Disabilities: The Effect Of Including Students From An Education Support Centre In An Inclusive Middle School Setting, Steven J. R. Mcgregor

Theses : Honours

This research examines the attitudes of middle school students towards their peers with disabilities. The opportunity for students with disabilities to participate in inclusive education in Western Australia has increased steadily in recent years. The impact of inclusion on stakeholders within the education arena is, therefore, an important area of research. As part of this increased demand for inclusive education a trial inclusion program was set-up at a middle school in regional Western Australian. The target group for this study was all Year 8 (N = 199) students at that school. The attitude of the Year 8 students towards students …

Supporting Students With Learning Difficulties In A School Of The Air, Judith Rivalland, Mary Rohl, Pru Smith, Centre For Inclusive Schooling Learning Difficulties Team, Department Of Education

Research outputs pre 2011

This project was funded by Edith Cowan University and the Centre for Inclusive Schooling (Department of Education, formerly Education Department of Western Australia) as an Institute for the Service Professions Collaborative Grant. It was carried out in order to examine the following questions:

• What are the ways in which identification, assessment and teaching processes make provision for students with learning difficulties who are enrolled in a School of the Air?

• In what ways do Support Officers Learning Difficulties support these children, their home tutors and their teachers?

Early Childhood Teachers' Knowledge Of Children With Disabilities And Teaching Children With Disabilities, Pamela A. Kilgallon

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Trends to integrate students with disabilities into general education schools, rely on early childhood teachers utilising their knowledge and skills to provide successful induction into the education system, and fully including students with disabilities in the teaching program. This study describes early childhood teachers' knowledge of children with disabilities, and the teaching of these children, through teachers recounting their sources of knowledge and experiences in teaching children with disabilities. This study was conducted in the northern metropolitan teaching districts of Perth, Western Australia. Using both quantitative and qualitative methodology, 22 early childhood teachers completed a survey involving open-ended questions, followed …

Literature Review : Teachers' Knowledge And Attitudes About Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd), Bruna Bekle

Theses : Honours

ADHD is a neuro-developmental disorder that is diagnosed in 3 to 6% of the childhood population in a diversity of cultures and a variety of geographical locations. It presents as a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity, with boys being over-represented by approximately 3 to 1. High levels of comorbidity between ADHD and a number of other disorders, including Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, and learning disabilities, have been identified. This review will examine the historical development of the understanding of ADHD, knowledge of its etiology, and the influence of this disorder in the school environment. In particular, it will …

Teachers' Attitudes Towards Using Individual Education Plans In The Regular Classroom For Students With Specific Learning Difficulties, Nicola Davis

Theses : Honours

Western Australia schools are now encouraged to provide education for an increasingly wider diversity of students and referral to special classes is less common place than it was in the past(EDWA, 1993). As a consequence the responsibility for teaching these students with disabilities, who were once eligible for education support has been given to the regular classroom teacher. This study focused on teachers' attitudes towards using Individual Education Plans for students with specific learning difficulties in regular Western Australian primary classrooms. A sample of 300 regular metropolitan classroom teachers was randomly selected from regular primary schools and Priority School Program …

Report On The Evaluation Of The 1994 Western Australian Transition Support Program For Students With Disabilities, Errol Cocks, Judy Cockram, Trish Formentin, Hannah Cocks

Research outputs pre 2011

The "Transition Support Program" described in this report is the Western Australian Transition Support Program for students with disabilities, a pilot program funded by the Department of Employment, Education and Training (DEET) under the Transition Support Component of the National Equity Program for Schools.

1.1 BACKGROUND

Major changes are evident in the expectations for and aspirations of students with disabilities, particularly as they move from school attendance to community options. This has resulted in an increasing focus on the need for policy and program development to support students as they make the transition from school into adult life...

Identifying Language Learners At Risk: Pre-Primary Into Year 1, Deidre Jordan

Theses : Honours

Some children in schools in Western Australia may be at risk of developing learning or behavioural difficulties because they have a difficulty in language learning which is uncomplicated by any other obvious cause. Local research by Zubrick (1984) has revealed that, even at the Pre-primary and Year 1 level, such children are perceived to be less academically able than their peers. In an effort to improve identification rates for these children, Zubrick (1984) interviewed parents of children referred for speech therapy, and parents of children not referred for speech therapy, to determine the extent to which they felt that some …

The Development Of A Test Of Concept Identification, Semantic And Syntactic Performance For Use With Hearing Impaired Children, Heather Joan Hussey

Theses : Honours

The purpose of this study was to develop the Concept Identification Instrument (CII); an instrument for measuring prelinguistically deaf children's concept identification, semantic and syntactic abilities in a reading situation. Analysis of the related literature suggested that isolation of some of the factors which contribute to the problems faced by deaf children in reading development, such as concept identification, may lead to improved chances of understanding, reducing or eliminating reading problems and improving reading outcomes for these children. The subjects were 21 prelinguistically deaf children who attended or had previously attended the Speech and Hearing Centre for Deaf Children (WA) …

Bridges To Opportunity : An Investigation Into The Access Of Disadvantaged People In Rural Areas To Post Secondary Education In Western Australia, Margaret Mcgrath, Toby Metcalfe

Research outputs pre 2011

This report was commissioned by the Institute of Applied Language Studies of the Edith Cowan University in April 1991. Funds had been made available to Edith Cowan by the Department of Employment Education and Training for the 1991 academic year to survey the access to higher education of disadvantaged people in rural areas of Western Australia. Funds were also available to provide for a pilot Bridging Program for disadvantaged persons to enable their entry to courses at post secondary education level.

Gender Equity : Retrospect And Prospect, With Recommendations For The School Of Education: Part 3, Lesley Patricia Newhouse

Research outputs pre 2011

No abstract provided.

Teaching Children With Special Needs: A Western Australian Perspective, Kevin Casey

Research outputs pre 2011

The education of children with special needs in Australia gained considerable impetus from the report of the Interim Committee for the Australian Schools Commission under the chairmanship of Professor Karmel when, in 1973, it made strong recommendations for a substantial increase in the government expenditure on special education. It highlighted inadequacies in the existing services in special education both in terms of facilities and manpower and suggested greater responsibilities for the education of handicapped children be taken by the State Education Departments. The upgrading of qualifications of teachers in Special Education and the necessary establishment of suitable courses in Australian …

Evaluation Of Balga Special School: First Report: Pupil Progress In Selected Programs, Mount Lawley College

Research outputs pre 2011

In February, 1978, Mount Lawley College agreed to undertake an evaluation of the Balga Special School for the Education Department of Western Australia. Preliminary discussions were held with the Superintendent of the Research Branch and the Principal of Balga Special School. The purpose was to determine the parameters of the evaluation.

It was agreed that the College was to be responsible for the conceptual framework of the program. It was also agreed that this framework was to be approved by the Superintendent of the Research Branch and the Principal of the Balga Special School.

A second consideration was the length …