Journal of Special Education and Rehabilitation

17-31

Authors: Ilija TODOROV, Vladimir TRAJKOVSKI

Persons with Broca’s aphasia socialize in society much faster, because of the early rehabilitation treatment using the speech therapy. In the beginning of the illness, the voice production is arduous and the speech is with variable prosody. The patient expresses himself exceptionally with nouns and working verbs, also using mimics and gestures. The main purpose of the research is the evaluation of the communicational language skills of persons with Broca’s aphasia, even in the acuteness of the illness. The goal is also to examine and establish the opinion of persons with Broca’s aphasia, their family members and medical staff regarding the use of early rehabilitation treatment with speech therapy. The basic tasks of this research are to determine whether the disturbance of verbal interaction is often followed with speech apraxia and agrammatism among the persons suffering from Broca’s aphasia. Two types of examinees are included in the research. The survey was conducted in Skopje and in a period of three months. The data gained from the research are grouped, tabulated, processed and graphically shown using the program Microsoft Office Excel 2003. The differecnces in the data of the examinees is analyzed with Chi square test with level of sig­ni­ficance р<0.05. From the analyzis and inter­pre­tation of the results we can see that persons with Broca’s aphasia, although produce in­com­ple­te sentences, they verbalise sentences with content which are informative for their in­ter­lo­cu­tor and the auditory understending is less de­ma­­ged than the expressive funcion of the speech. In conclusion, the study found that early rehabilitation treatment using speech therapy for persons with Broca’s aphasia resulted in faster improvements and better capabilities for speech-language communicational skills.

41-55

Authors: Tatjana ZORCEC, Nada POP-JORDANOVA

Introduction: Obsessive-compulsive disorder [OCD] is characterized by repetitive, disturbing obsessions and/or compulsions. Obsessions are thoughts, images or feelings which are unwanted, persistent and recurrent. Compulsions are repetitive and ritual motor acts which are performed to decrease the anxiety level caused by repetitive obsessions. The onset of the OCD is typically during adolescence or early adulthood. Its prevalence among children is from 1% to 3% and it appears to be more present among boys than girls. Nowadays, the most effective way to treat OCD is to combine psychopharmacological with cognitive-behavioral treatment strategies. In the past decades researchers were more involved in investigating the role of the executive functions [EF] in psychiatric disorders. Aim of the study: to investigate EF among children with OCD by using Event Related Potentials (ERPs) on the Go/NoGo tasks. Subjects and methods: The sample is comprised of 20 children from both genders, between seven and 14 years of age [М=10,33±1,83], all diagnosed with OCD. Psychological evaluation was performed with Child Behavior Check List, Kohs cubes for assessment of the intellectual capacities, Beck Depression Inventory, The Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children, Stroop Color Word Test and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Neuropsychological evaluation was performed with the Visual Continuous Performance Test [VCPT] from which the Event Related Potentials [ERP] components were extracted. Results: There is a clear presence of obsessions and/or compulsions, absence of symptoms of depression, presence of perseverative errors and mild difficulties in mental flexibility. The ERP results cannot be understood as a disturbance of the EF in a direct sense, rather than as a disturbed normal functioning caused by the high anxiety level. Conclusion: There is no significant clinical manifestation of cognitive dysfunction among children with OCD in the early stage of the disorder, but it could be expected the same one to be appearing in the later stages of the disorder.

69-85

Authors: Roland PAULAUSKAS

The development of civilization made crises an inseparable part of our lives. Crises manifest themselves in almost all social areas and organizations, including educational institutions. The goals of the article are to present a theoretical model of normal, deviant and antisocial behaviors, and discuss the psycho-social characteristics of emotionally disturbed adolescents situated in a residential special education school in the United States. The article also gives an analysis of their most prevalent behavioral crises, escalation stages, as well as nonviolent crisis prevention and intervention strategies. The methods that were used include scientific literature review, analysis of statistical information supplied from different government sources, review and analysis of student records, as well as the author’s analytical reflections in working with emotionally disturbed youngsters in residential special education schools in the United States. The results of the study indicate that scientists from different fields use different terminology to describe socially nonconforming behaviors. The author presents a theoretical model of normal, deviant and antisocial behavior that could enhance better understanding and identification of high risk situations and conduct leading to serious crises. The analysis of student records revealed that most of the adolescents situated in special education residential schools are diagnosed with a number of mental health problems. This suggests that the currently prevailing care and education paradigm in the special education residential schools should shift to a more comprehensive treatment paradigm. The article also discusses the pros and cons of nonviolent crisis intervention. It is the author’s opinion that all special education schools serving children with emotional disorders should adopt one of the nonviolent crisis intervention models and develop and implement crisis management policies, plans and procedures.

101-102

Authors: Olivera RASHIKJ

Between the 7th and 9th of October 2010, in the conference hall of Hotel Continental, a conference on the topic “Towards living in the community: Actual conditions and future challenges,” was conducted. The conference was organized by the following organizations: EASPD, “PORAKA” - the state center for support of people with intellectual disabilities, “Open the Windows,” the Macedonian Scientific Society for Autism and the desk office of the attaché for social political affairs (BAMSK) of the Austrian embassy in Skopje. The main goal of the conference was for “Building the bridges of knowledge and good practice for improving the social conditions of people with disabilities.” Through discussions and exchanges of experiences from different existing conditions in regions across Europe, providing and facilitating the full involvement of individuals with disabilities within the society was discussed, all in the spirit of the Convention for the rights of people with disabilities adopted by the UN. The conference was organized in six sessions and two sessions of workshops assembled by 10 sub-workshops. The conference was graced by the presence of 200 guests from different countries around Europe: Great Britain, France, Austria, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Ireland, Malta, Holland, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania and so on. Among them, 51 guests had taken active part with presentations. A special honor were the presences of Mr. Franz Wolfmayr, president of the EASPD; Mr. Jan Jarab, regional represent for Europe, High commissariat for human rights of the UN; Mr. Thorsten Afflerbach, mayor of the Department for integration of people with disabilities, the Department for social politics, the General directorate for social cohesion; Mr. Gero Stuller, attaché for social politics and accredited representative of the Federal ministry for labor, social work and protection of consumers of the embassy of Austria in Zagreb and Skopje and Mr. Luk Zelderlo, general secretary of the European association of service agencies for people with disabilities. More eminent representatives from the Republic of Macedonia were Mr. Dzeljalj Bajrami, minister for labor and social politic and Mrs. Slobodanka Lazova Zdravkovska, chef of the Department for integration of people with disabilities at the Macedonian ministry for labor and social politics. Prof. Dr. Vladimir Trajkovski attended the conference as an active representative from the Faculty of Philosophy for The Institute for Special Education and Rehabilitation, as well as president of the Macedonian Scientific Society for Autism. The conference was abound with numerous existing issues such as systems for quality enforced special social and service agencies, deinstitutionalization, systems for quality, training of the employees, involvement of the users and assessment of the needs, networking, availability and services for support of people with disabilities in Europe, providing availability and e-availability in the society, availability of information and the society, education, employment, design for all and e-involvement. The conference was enclosed with the General Assembly of the EASPD.

107-108

Authors: Olivera RASHIKJ

“Special education and rehabilitation – science and / or practice” was the topic of the first international conference held in Sombor, the Republic of Serbia, in the period between the 22nd and 24th of October 2010. The conference was organized by the Association of special educators and rehabilitators of Vojvodina, the Department for motor impairments (somatopedy), the Faculty of special education and rehabilitation at the University of Belgrade, the UG Resource centre for special education and rehabilitation at the University of Belgrade and the Association of special educators and rehabilitators in Sombor. The conference was visited by nearly 100 guests from different countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Macedonia and several others. Presented were more than 60 published articles. The articles and presentations were organized in 6 thematic frames: Social inclusion of persons with disabilities; Popularization and promotion for improvement of the functional status of special educators and rehabilitators; Early intervention in special education and rehabilitation; Individualized treatment for developmental difficulties and disabilities; Service centres – resource changes; Education and integration of children and youngsters with developmental disabilities and elders with disabilities. In addition, 14 poster presentations were introduced: external evaluation and development of inclusive schools; manipulative skills and influence of somatopedic treatment in children with birth trauma of plexus brachialis; the influence of the somatopedic treatment over the development of coordination as basic motor skills in children with visual impairment; education of convicts in punishing facilities; capacity building in schools for children with disabilities; special education students attitudes toward people with disabilities; new academic profiles in special rehabilitation and education; ethical issues in cochlear implantation; special education and rehabilitation in Vojvodina; the importance of sport and recreation in social integration house users; social behavioral system upgrades for youngsters without parental care; genetic aspects of the handicapped; alternative treatments in rehabilitation of autistic persons and physical activity program design for elders.

111-112

Authors: Angelka VELKOSKA

Faithful to the tradition, this year’s International Day of People with Disabilities was appropriately marked by the Faculty of Philosophy, organized by the Institute of Special Education and Rehabilitation. The event began with the art colony where children with disabilities participated by creating drawings and expressions. In this way, the children had the opportunity to have fun, make friends and most importantly to attract the attention of the audience by highlighting their abilities and skills. In the official part of the event speeches were given by Prof Dr. Goran Ajdinski, the Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, Doc. Dr. Zoran Kitkanj, the Head of the Institute of Special Education and Rehabilitation and Mr. Xhelal Bajrami, Minister of Labor and Social Politics. As part of their speeches, they highlighted what has been realized in the educational process of persons with disabilities, the institutional and non-institutional care provided to these individuals, the legal provisions that protect the rights of persons with disabilities, and the future plans and activities that must be taken in order to improve the overall treatment of them. Ljupco Ajdinski, PhD, awarded the prize for Student of the Generation of the Institute of Special Education and Rehabilitation for 2005-2009 to Hristina Miteva. The part for cultural entertainment has been successfully implemented by the students from SES “St. Kliment Ohridski” from Novo Selo, Strumica. Until the next celebration, we remain committed to continuously working toward improving the educational, clinical and socio-economic areas for rehabilitation and creating conditions for higher inclusion of persons with disabilities in all spheres of the society.

115-118

Authors: Natasha STANOJKOVSKA-TRAJKOVSKA

The Macedonian Law of Social Protection provides assistance for children without parents and parental care through non-institutional care by offering accommodation in foster families, whether it is for children belonging to the wider population or for children with special educational needs. When it comes to children with special educational needs, we would not be able to base the research only on individual moni­toring, but inevitably extract information direc­tly from the caregivers and the centres for social work. That is why the subject of this master thesis is children with special educational needs placed in foster families in the Republic of Macedonia and the foster families as well. The master thesis is presented in 156 pages. It consists of five parts: theoretical foundations, research methodology, results of the research and discussion, conclusions and proposed measures. In the proceedings, the used literature is listed and at the very end the articles are given. The first part of the thesis, named “theoretical base,” is an overview of several groups of issues. The research problem is defined, a definition of the term “persons with disabilities” is given as well the attention to each group separately. Furthermore, on a theoretical basis, the development of protection and rehabilitation is illustrated, primarily in regards to institutional care, with an emphasis on the process of deinstitutionalization and the development of non-institutional protection in Macedonia. As a result of these two processes, foster families have emerged whom are given special attention in this research. At the very end of this section experiences of other countries are presented, mainly neighbouring ones. The research section presents the methodology and defines the subject, goals, objectives, hypothesis, variables, methods, techniques and instruments, population and sample, statistical data processing and organization and the course of the research. The sample was composed of representatives from teams who work directly on the process of accommodation in foster families in the centres for social work in Kochani, Kriva Palanka, Skopje, Prilep, Krushevo, Makedonski Brod, Ohrid, Veles, as well as foster families from these communities. Respondents are 18 experts from the above centres for social work with different profiles of expertise (social workers, pedagogues and psychologists). Seventy-one care providers are surveyed who gave information on 107 children with special educational needs placed in foster families. The main goal of this research is to analyze the current state of this form of care, the development of a network of foster families for children with special educational needs in the territory of Macedonia. The opportunities for the development and improvement of foster care should receive recognition and facilitate greater use, improving the quality of life for children under its protection. The data was collected using questionnaires designed for professionals from centres for social work and caregivers belonging to foster families who accommodate children with special educational needs. Meetings with the professionals and caregivers were recorded as well as their comments regarding the issues that answer the question in the hypotheses. The interviews also helped to better display the state of accommodations for children with special educational needs in foster families’ homes. The most relevant comments are given in the part presenting the results. The collected data is grouped and presented in tables. The situation of caregiving for children with special educational needs in the Republic of Macedonia is presented descriptively and accompanied by frequent responses to the questionnaires. The third part presents the results of the research, with extensive commentary dominated by tables and graphs. This section shows the general data about the respondents. In the proceeding, views of the experts from the centres for social work in the included municipalities, as well as the views of the foster families were presented. This section is an analysis of the results of the foster families and the children accommodated in these families, and a positive relation toward children and an interest to accept more children is discovered. Remarks are given to some of the centres for social work, criticising their low level of interest in the children and the recommendation for more attention to the needs of the children. In the fourth part of the thesis, verification of the hypotheses and conclusions are made. Based on this proposal measures are offered. There are no reservations that the accommodation of children with special educational needs in foster care is a far better form of childcare compared to institutional care and therefore it needs to develop further. This form of protection is welcomed by both professionals from the centres for social work and foster caregivers. The centres for social work suggest the need for including a special educator, being an expert most competent to work in teams accommodating the children with special educational needs, as well as fulfilling the requirements for developing materials and organizing better training. In the entire territory of the Republic of Macedonia, it is necessary to organize a campaign to inform the population on the procedure of placement for this group of children in foster care institutions. The dissemination of information can be achieved through public discussions and information via media, in order for the wider public to realize how they can contribute in developing a network of foster families throughout the state. The largest percentage of current foster families have low educational and socio-economic statuses, so it is necessary to raise public awareness and to activate those with higher levels of educations and material wealth to accommodate children without parents and parental care. A large percentage of children with special educational needs who are not covered by treatment show the need for opening more day care centres. Currently, municipalities exist where the day care centres operate at full capacity and admission of new children is not allowed, but there are children whether in foster families or biological families who need to be accepted in these day care centres.