Journal of Special Education and Rehabilitation

20-38

Authors: Renata T. PANDUREVIKJ, Daniela B. Dimitrova-RADOJICHIKJ

INTRODUCTION: The procedure for determining an adequate literacy and learning method among students with visual impairments consists two components: an initial choice of mode of literacy, to be conducted during the early childhood and continuing evaluation of the literacy and learning method, which is carried out over students who have already been involved in the educational process for a certain period and with whom a mediums for literacy and learning has already been determined. PURPOSE: The purpose of this research is to conduct a re-evaluation of the initial decision regarding the choice of media through which education is conducted among students with visual impairment. DISCUSSION: The speed of reading is substantially below the predicted minimum level both with students who read Braille and with students who read regular print. It should be mentioned that only 3 respondents out of 15 Braille readers were cooperative in this part of the research, so they obtained results regarding them should not be taken as reliable ones. 100% of the respondents who are educated using the Braille alphabet independently read unfamiliar formal and also familiar educational material. Among the students who use regular print, 62.5% read independently and the other 37.5% need additional instruction. 45.5% of them successfully completed their school assignments using their initially chosen medium for literacy and learning, but only 18.2% of them do it in an acceptable time period. 53.6% of respondents know how to use available resources and facilities that exist within the school, while the other 46, 4% need additional training and instructions. CONCLUSION: Continuous evaluation should be implemented consistently throughout the schooling of the child, or at least once a year, for a relevant "justification" for any change, addition or selection of another sensory channel for learning and literacy of the child, as a result of certain changes in visual functioning of the child or due to changes in the terms of their education.

55-68

Authors: Neli VASILEVA

The paper reveals uncommonly examined aspects concerning the specifics of the motor de­velopment in the children with autistic spectrum disorders and the problems regarding their diagnostics and the­ra­py. An analytical theory of the autistic disorders is des­cribed, connecting autism with disorders in the ba­sic levels of affective behavioral regulation. The re­port in­cludes a classification of the groups of autis­tic children, each of which demonstrates spe­ci­fic motor dysfunctions. Furthermore, the paper ana­ly­zes and recommends methodo­lo­gi­cal approaches to motor therapy which will help improve the de­ve­lop­ment of different motor skills.

85-98

Authors: Cindy NELSON-HEAD, Doris ADAMS HILL,Margaret FLORES

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of a video story-based intervention with self-modeling to decrease spitting behavior in a female pre-school student with autism during an extended school year ser­vices program. An A-B-A-B design was used to demonstrate a functional relation between a video story-based intervention with self-modeling and decreased spitting be­havior. The results showed that spitting behavior de­crea­sed as a result of the video-based in­ter­vention package. The implications of these re­sults will be explored.

115-116

Authors: Ana PETKOVSKA

Following the tradition of acknowledging the International Day of Autism, the Macedonian Scientific Association for Autism this year also organized sports and entertainment gathering. The event was held on April the 1st at 11 o’clock, in the hall “Macedonian Sun”, a part of the Elementary school “11-ti Oktomvri” in Skopje. The gathering was opened by Fariz Selmanovikj, child with autism who for the occasion recited two poems. The introductory speeches were given by the secretary of the City of Skopje, Mrs. Gordana Klincharova, the Director of the Agency for Youth and Sport, m-r Lazar Popovski and the President of the Macedonian Scientific Association for Autism (MSAA), Prof. d-r Vladimir Trajkovski. The event was hosted by Rebeka, an artist and a mother of a child with developmental disability. The tournament in indoor football had a revue character and the following teams participated: parents of children with autism; the former stars of FC Vardar; the Agency for Youth and Sport of the Republic of Macedonia; the professors of MSSA and the Faculty of Philosophy; Sportsko Radio; the association “In my world”; students from the Institute for Social Work and Politics and the City of Skopje. In the semi-finals played the teams of the Agency for Youth and Sport, the Association “In my world”, Sportsko Radio and the City of Skopje. The final match was plaid by the team of the Agency for Youth and Sport against the team of Sportsko Radio. The competitions had duration of 40 minutes and after each competition a performance with two songs by Macedonian musicians was inserted. In the entertaining intervals performed Joce Panov, Riste Tevdoski and DNK, who gave CD-s albums of their music to the children that were present at the event. The event was visited by over than 350 visitors who received pamphlets from the volunteers of MSSA, containing basic information regarding autism. Main organizer of the event was the Agency for Youth and Sport of the Republic of Macedonia and the Municipality Centar as a general sponsor. The media coverage of the event was done by Sportsko Radio. Two days prior to the manifestation a press-conference in the premises of the Agency for Youth and Sport of R.M. was held, at which the pairs for the competition were drawn. On the 2nd of April, the Macedonian Scientific Association for Autism (MSSA) was a co-organizer of the gathering which was prepared by the Association “In my world” at Square Macedonia in Skopje, the capital of the Republic of Macedonia. In addition to the speech of the President of the Association “In my world”, Mr. Zlatko Stojanovski, the President of MSSA, Prof. d-r Vladimir Trajkovski also held an introductory speech. The whole event was enriched with musical program and some interesting activates for the youngest present among the audience. By MSSA initiative and with the support by the Municipality Centar, as a part of the campaign Light It up Blue the fountain called “Warrior on a Horse” on the 1st and 2nd of April was lit in blue. The shops in the TC Soravija also gave their support by placing their shop-windows in a blue color.

120-122

Authors: Hristina MITREVA

On the 25th of June 2012, at the faculty of Philosophy in Skopje was held the first tribune regarding the meaning of the impact factor for the Macedonian science. A tribune of this importance was organised for the first time in our country and it is why it attracted the attention and interest of meaningful number of visitors, even despite the high temperatures and summer holidays. The people that were present had the chance to listen and learn useful information for the impact factor, weaknesses and problems with which the Macedonian journals are facing every day and follow a short presentation to educate young future academic people for correct publication of their own labours in journals. Foremost, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Trajkovski, who was one of the main culprits for the realisation of this tribune, started with short introduction of the lecturers and thanked the audience that decided to learn, widen and cherishes their thinking about this sensitive subject in Macedonia. Thanks to the advanced technology, the tribune was transmitted in-live on the internet for those who were not able to be directly present. The initial presentation was offered by Prof. Dr. Mirko Spiroski from the Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics on the subject "Measuring scientific contribution". He was talking about the scientometrics as a discipline for measuring and analysing the science and that the same one is mostly based on the scientific publications by Darek J. De Solla and Eugene Garfield. In his presentation he was talking about the Impact factor of influence as a measurement that shows the average number of quotations of scientific publications such as how this factor is calculated and possible manipulations. Also, he demonstrated graphs measuring the scientific contribution of the journals, as well as measuring the scientific contribution and search trough Macedonian journals. Trough his presentation, he managed to transfer one reasonable picture for the importance of the Impact factor, where Macedonia is on that issue and the problems the country is facing with it. After him followed Dimitar Poposki, with a presentation titled "Impact factor versus open access". He was talking about the meaning of the Impact factor and the financial expenses related to obtaining suitable knowledge. The main accent was placed on the meaning of open access existence, namely, existence of free access to internet, reading, downloading and using the published scientific papers in eminent journals for the purpose to broaden the knowledge as professionals within the contemporary field of research. He also emphasised the Impact factor in the higher education in Macedonia, what should be done and in which manner to improve the existing law for education, as well as what should be done to enable the open access for the needs of the science. At the end, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Trajkovski from the institute of Special Education and Rehabilitation gave a presentation on the subject "Impact factor and Journals in Macedonia focusing on the Journal of Special Education and Rehabilitation". In his presentation, he explained the meaning of the Impact factor for the journals and how this factor is calculated. The applicative value of the Impact factor was revealed and which persons should use it. In his presentation he emphasised on how the Impact factor should not be used, both the bad and the good sides and the existing critics regarding it. He exposed the number of recorded journals in the World and the fact that the medical discipline is the most easily followed. By figures were supported the journals with impact factor in the field of special education and rehabilitation in some countries among which was mentioned and Macedonia. On the completion of this tribune, there was time period dedicated for open discussion used by the audience who presented their own thinking regarding the meaning and the necessity of the Impact factor in Macedonia.

127-129

Authors: Emilija GEORGIEVA

Modern trends of living and social changes which our country goes under, negatively affect the development and behaviour of young people. Adolescents with intellectual disabilities, as a result of the deficit in their intellectual functioning, are even under greater risk of developing deviant forms of behaviour. The thesis is presented on 136 pages and the document in its structure includes the following chapters: introduction, theoretical approach to the problem for research and research section consisted of three parts: survey methodology, results and discussion, and conclusion and recommendations. The paper also includes list of used literature and articles in the References chapter. In the introductory section, the reasons or risk factors for the emergence of various forms of unacceptable forms of behavior in adolescents are listed, including the adolescents with mild intellectual disability. The notion of deviant behaviour is defined in the theoretical part, providing a record of preventive and risk factors associated with the family, the school environment, groups of peers and social environment, as well as description of various types of deviant behavior, social reaction and preventive measures associated with such behaviour. The theoretical part also defines the notion of adolescence, several definitions and classifications of intellectual disability and the possible types of educative programmes and upbringing of this category of persons are also explained. By laying out the methodology, the subject, the purpose and the character of the research objectives, hypotheses, variables, methods, techniques and instruments of research are also defined. The objective of the research is to collect information regarding the presence of deviant forms of behavior in adolescents with mild intellectual disability. The main goal of this research is to determine the risk of deviant forms of behavior in adolescents with mild intellectual disability who live in family settings and dormitories, and comparison of deviant behavior in two high schools for special education. The sample is consisted of adolescents (211) with mild intellectual disability, educational staff from the special schools (39) and professional teams (5). The statistical data processing was performed by Windows program R x C for analysis of contingency tables and Fisher Exact test, and a statistically significant difference was considered at the level of p<0.05. The research was conducted in the Special Education High School “Iskra”-Stip and Special Education High School “Ss. Naum Ohridski”-Skopje, in the period between April and May, 2011. By analyzing the obtained results, it was concluded that the schools do not have adequate records of deviant behavior among students. The statistical data processing showed that the school success affects the appearance of unwanted behavior (p<0.001). According to the educational staff and the professional team opinions, in 56.8% of the cases, adolescents with mild intellectual disability do not have enough knowledge about the negative consequences of such behavior and 70.45% of them rarely initiate conversation or ask for help voluntarily. Parents of these students in 86.4% of the cases are generally not interested for cooperation with the schools. The results of the research also show that the deviant forms of behavior in most cases are recorded in older students (p<0.05) who live longer period in the dormitories. The pupils of Roma ethnicity in larger scale (57.1%) manifest deviant forms of behavior. The findings highlighted the need for active and mutual cooperation of all relevant entities that treat this matter in order to timely register the occurrences of deviant behavior and take measures and actions to encounter these forms of unwanted behavior.

19-30

Authors: Dragana M. KLJAJIKJ, Sanja M. TRGOVCHEVIKJ,Radmila M. NIKIKJ

Interpersonal communication, psychosocial and mental development of personality and its all other functions take place through the motor control. The most common neurological syndrome is a type of peripheral paresis/paralysis of plexus bracialis, which in most cases occurs at birth and significantly compromises the growth and development of the upper extremities and affects the psychomotor performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of visual perception in children with lesion of plexus brachialis and the effect of the somatopedic treatment over the level of increase of the visual perception. The study sample was consisted of 60 preschool children accommodated at the Rehabilitation Centre “Dr. Miroslav Zotović” in Belgrade (experimental group) and examiners that followed regular checkups and had discontinuity in their therapy (control group). For the research purposes, we used The Test for Visual Perception Assessment. By analyzing the results, we concluded that in both, in the first and the second measuring there was a statistically significant correlation between the experimental and the control groups (I measuring: p<0.001, r = 0.408; II measuring: p <0.001, r = 0.593).

46-60

Authors: Roza N. KRSTESKA

Introduction: Late-life depression is one of the most frequent disorders among the seniors and often remains unrecognized. One of the reasons why late-life depression often passes unrecognized is the comorbidity. Hearing and visual impairments are very common condition among the elderly. Thus, depression among the elderly is commonly accompanied by hearing and visual impairment. The epidemiology together with the visual and hearing-related problems still remains poorly investigated. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between hearing and visual function and the late-life depression. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a random sample of 120 participants, 60 patients with late-life depression and 60 community-dwelling older adults aged over 60 and without the symptoms of depression. All participants were examined using a questionnaire designed for the aim of the study to measure the severity of the symptoms (scale with scores from 1 to 3 - from mild to profound degree) of self-reported hearing and visual impairment. In addition, existing medical records and the Geriatric Depression Scale were used as well. Results: The patients with late-life depression in larger number suffered from hearing and visual impairment compared to the non - depressed elderly people: hearing impairments (χ2=6.97, df=1, p=0.0083) and visual impairments (χ2=4.37, df=2, p=0.012). Conclusion: These data suggest that the risk of late-life depression is higher among elderly patients with hearing and visual impairment. A comprehensive annual eye exam is the most important step that can be undertaken to help monitor and protect normal visual function in the elderly. It is necessary to conduct routine screening and early treatment of depression in elderly patients with hearing and visual impairment within the primary care practice. Ophthalmologists and otologists should be aware of the need for routine screening for geriatric syndromes in the eye and otology clinics.

77-94

Authors: Roy I. BROWN

INTRODUCTION: Quality of life as an approach to intellectual and developmental disabilities has developed considerable over the past 30 years and now is having major impacts on the research, the delivery of services and the setting of policy in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. AIM: This article introduces and describes the development of quality of life, its major concepts and principles and links them to research, practice and policy. DISCUSSION: Quality of life is seen as a sensitizing concept and one that can bring further cohesion to research and practice and provide a framework for policy. Quality of life is, as a developmental process or approach, bringing together previous ideas such as normalization and pulling together a number of principles, which are relevant to those working in this field. CONCLUSIONS: The ideas and the areas described are linked, and it is argued that a full understanding of the research concepts and their practical implications are necessary, if the policy is to become the driver of practice over the life span, while including intervention and support along with the education of personnel.

109-112

Authors: Hristina MITREVA

On the 29.08.2011, at the Faculty of Philosophy was held a successful seminar with the topic "Early intervention: prevention and challenges in the early childhood", a subject that nowadays attracts great interest. The seminar had a goal to achieve better life quality for families. It was followed with great pleasure and attention by a large number of participants, who were directly or indirectly involved in the early intervention. Leading and experienced professionals from Austria, Germany and Macedonia held presentations which created atmosphere for open discussion and dialog. This resulted with many shared experiences and opinions for improvement of this issue in our country. The introduction was brought by Prof. Dr. Lena Damovska, a full time professor at the Institute of Pedagogy. Afterwards, Prof. Dr. Manfred Pretis showed gratitude to the guests for their attendance and emphasized his great pleasure for the realization of this scientific gathering and the diligence of the participants to this subject. At the end of introductory part the main organizer of the seminar, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Trajkovski, welcomed the audience and thanked the guest speakers for their impeccable motivation and desire in their unselfish expansion of knowledge among the attendees. The first lecture was presented by Prof. Dr. Manfred Pretis, a professor for trans-disciplinary early childhood intervention at the Faculty of Medicine in Hamburg, Germany. In his presentation, “Family before everything else: common collaboration with parents”, he emphasized the crucial need for parents involvement in their child’s development. This engagement leads to creation of environment that will represent “window of opportunity”, filed were practical stimulation will dominate as most important element in the early intervention. Accent was placed on the need of creating confidential interaction and communication between the parents and the professional team, in order to form a collaborative partnership that results with positive outcomes. By his own experience he explained that in the developed countries there are many different programs for early intervention from which parents can choose the most appropriate one. While in Macedonia unfortunately this is still an unfulfilled need. The following presentation was given by Prof. Dr. Zons Armin, a professor for special education at the University for Applied Sciences in Harthausen. His lecture was titled as “Legal basis for early child intervention: What kind of collaboration is necessary for us”. He gave a description of the legislations in Germany and some outcomes from Kiggs’s research. He also presented the laws for performance of rehabilitation and the centers that are responsible for the implementation of early intervention. He noted that there are centers for early help that are family centered aiming for better insight and work with the child, involved interdisciplinary team and manly pedagogical focus. At the end of the first part in this seminar, a presentation was given by Prof. Dr. Annette Hartung, a professor for early childhood intervention. She discussed the “Family focus in practice”, presenting a real practical examples from the everyday life, which she experienced during the application of early intervention. She emphasized that the family as one unit always needs to be seen as a whole, where higher stimulations need to be present for the use of different services, using the ones that are most relevant for their better function. The first presentation in the second part of the scientific gathering was given by Prof. Dr. Lena Damovska on the topic “To what extend are being inclusive the EIC services in Macedonia”. This subject once more expressed the need of these services in Macedonia, very important domain in the early prevention and intervention during the education. The early intervention in our country is still at the beginning or on unsatisfactory level. First of all, the parents as primary care givers deny they have problem causing difficulties when the intervention is applied in the letter developmental period. Her experience agreed with the views of the attendees, meaning that the implementation of the inclusive services in our county is still on a level of “baby steps”. This means that Macedonia has the need of professionals-special educators in the field of education. The deficiency of staff, as well as the insufficient knowledge of the parents indicates that our country has a lot to do in order to reach realistic and sufficient results. Further statement was given by Dr. Aleksandra Dimova, expert in early intervention for vulnerable children in the context of mental disorders among their parents, who at the moment works as a psychiatrist in Austria. Her presentation had the topic “New target groups in the EIC: children of mentally vulnerable parents”. She emphasized that children who live with parent/s that have some psychiatric disorder are at a risk and are target groups for initiation of early interventional process. She presented this alarming condition which needs immediate resolution in order to create place and time for early prevention. The need for a team to work seriously with this riskier by the day group of young individuals and the need of creation and the maintenance of healthy and normal developmental environment was emphasized. Real barriers that professionals are facing with this group of parents were shown, taking into consideration that the necessary help is achieved with great difficulty. In order to reduce these obstacles, an earlier preventive action is important to be started. Prof. Dr.Vladimir Trajkovski, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor at the Institute of Special Education and Rehabilitation in Skopje gave the final presentation. He discussed the topic “Early childhood intervention of children with Autism”, giving various reviews of early intervention of children with pervasive developmental disorder Autism, a disorder that has unfortunately increase in Macedonia. He presented the services of early intervention that are important for the children with autistic spectrum disorders which are responsible for additional financial pressure within the family, as well as the achievement of some better quality. Trough his presentation, he emphasized the comprehensive programs such as the TEACCH program that aims to obtain communication, perception, imitation, social and motor skills. The Denver model was mentioned as a developmental approach based on the comprehensive ABA program which contains procedures for identification of the reasons that influence the behavioral swings. The early intervention is provided by a team obtaining continuous parental collaboration and strategies for solving problems in the behavior and intensive work with the child. At the very end of this seminar, discussion was initiated, where the attendees were asked to share opinions and examples for early intervention and the principles in other countries, or their suggestions for improvement in any professional field that handles this issue. Indeed, this scientific gathering attracted the attention of many visitors that took active parts aiming to achieve some results that will not stay only verbal, but create basis for practical use in their work. One more time was proven that there is an interest for knowledge improvement and even the public holidays were not an obstacle for professional upgrading.

115-119

Authors: Hristina MITREVA

The professionals working with persons with developmental disabilities started to publically discuss the problems that these persons have related to fulfilling their sexual needs as well as the essential need of adapted sexual education for them. Since there is no longer a breach for ignoring the everyday existence of this reality, on 02.11.2011 at the Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje was held very interesting and practical conference with the subject: "Experiences and challenges while working with persons with disability". This event was organized by the association for health, education and research – H.E.R.A., an organization that impeccably fights for popularization and expansion of the policy supporting the sexual needs of the persons with disability. The initiative itself showed that Macedonia is no longer afraid or reluctant to talk in public on the subject that is generally being avoid, which is unfortunately even more vulnerable and sensitive when persons with disabilities are concerned. At the beginning of this gathering, introduction was given by Mila Caroska who is the program coordinator of the program for approach-H.E.R.A. She greeted the participants and thanked for the expressed interest on the issue. Afterwards Doc. Dr. Zoran Kitkanj thanked the organizers for enabling a concept with theme that has great interest, emphasizing that sexuality of children in the period of development and the sexual abuse are serious problem for everyone and for the same thing should openly be discussed. Right after his presentation, Eleonora Nikolovska gave an introduction as a representative of the city of Skopje, at the department for child and social protection of children. Trough her presentation she talked about current and future priority plans in the field of social and health protection. She also highlighted the productive collaboration of the department together with the organization „Poraka“ (Message). This organization sets and achieves goals while creating an en­vi­ron­ment for direct collaboration in certain areas or for certain issues and has a goal to achieve their actualization, implementation and creation of a better future. At the end of the interdictory part, a presentation was given by the executive director Bojan Jovanovski who expressed great appreciation to the Faculty of Philosophy and the Institute for Special Education in regards to their unselfish and consistent support of the project H.E.R.A. He confirmed that, because of the inaccessibility of the sexual education and its mandatory implementation within the schools, the organization takes great swing and advocacy for sexual education of the children. This issue in our country is unfortunately still being avoided, creating big barriers and challenges, especially for the persons with disabilities. He highlighted that even though sexuality is inconvenient topic for a discussion; their motto remains to be popularization and expansion of the sexual education, the rights and protection, as well as the right for pleasure and enjoyment of sexuality that is a part of every person’s life. Further, along the program followed several presentations by the organizers and the people who were directly involved in the issue, as well as a time for open discussion was considered at the end of every presentation. The first presentation was given by Mila Caroska a program coordinator of the program for approach H.E.R.A., in which she presented what this organization has done so far and the adequate goals that the organization has set in the domain of team effort. Trough her comprehensible presentation she emphasized the sexual rights of the persons with disabilities, including and underlining that when it comes down to the question of sexual activity, these individuals should not be discriminated. On the contrary, they should have the same sexual rights as the residual population. She also presented relevant recommendations for the persons with disabilities and their sexuality, with clear goals which, despite the development of appropriate politics and sexual education, their essential part is to support the right of every person to enjoy, regardless of their handicap. Further, M-r Olivera Rašič started her presentation with practical information for her research with the topic "Sexual behavior, sexual education and prevention from sexual abuse of persons with disability". She defined particular terms and showed in details the types of unaccepted sexual behavior and actions towards the children with disabilities. Trough the presentation could be noticed the urgent necessity of adequate and adapted sexual education for these individuals. The presence of sexual activity of the disabled should not be neglected or considerate aimless, despite of their handicap. The results unfortunately showed that the sexual abuse of the persons with disabilities is evident, leading to recommendation for serious approach towards the education, prevention and protection of these persons. The practical results gave an idea that shouldn’t be ignored, but must be considered as an inevitable action where a need for constant and professional involvement exists. Further, Doc. Dr. Zoran Kitkanj held a presentation with the topic "Sexual abuse, problems in practice". He emphasized the sexual abuse of children as a very important part that is currently unfortunately increasing. He stated that the term sexual abuse includes not only violent force over the child to sexual intercourse, but also other sexual activities such as showing porn materials, rude cuddling with the intimate parts of their body and other although not much impressive but crucial signs of existing sexual abuse and harassment over the children. As a professional in the legal part, he underlined the punishment for these shameful acts, such as initiation of actions and procedures for sanctioning the abusers. Luckily, he had numerous experiences that he unselfishly shared with the visitors in the auditorium, in many ways educating them of the possible signs, symptoms and acts over children that could be a sign of the presence of sexual abuse. In the second part of this conference, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Trajkovski, the president of the Macedonian scientific association for Autism gave a presentation with the topic "Sexually transmitted diseases at persons with disability". Because of the insufficient records of the persons infected with sexual diseases in Macedonia, he decided to share information from the USA. First he presented what sexually transmitted diseases actually are and what kinds of diseases exist. Very important point was made saying that persons with disabilities should continuously attend gynecological examination, due to asymptomatic signs showing that they can develop much more serious consequences. It was emphasized that the presence of some kind of handicap does not have to mean that the persons with disabilities are not sexually active. On the contrary, they are sexual active and in the Western countries there are adequate persons that are paid to sexually satisfy these individuals. Among the other, individuals with disabilities also are more exposed to and victims of sexual harassment. Trough the presentation he showed realistic barriers witch the persons with disabilities encounter. As a result of the poor medical conditions and the in adapted means, the assessment very often can give incomplete or incorrect results. Impolite behavior of the professional staff can also prevent the persons with handicap to ask for help, while barriers in the communication can create serious obstruction in performing appropriate assessment. However, it was emphasized that need for sexual education, good media coverage and a project that will include this serious problem exist. Afterwards, Vlado Krstovski, the director of the RCPLIP, talked about "The role of NGO’s in the improvement of the conditions of the persons with disabilities in the Republic of Macedonia". He presented his involvement trough setting up a civil sector that deals with elaboration, evaluation and implementation of the politics for sexual rights and the persons with disability. He underlined clearly that continuous effort should be placed on the sexual education such as respecting the human rights regardless of physical or psychical disabilities. He recommended the audience to take a look in the given brochure that explains the existing politics and to think in which way they can take a part in order to contribute in more practical and efficient use. At the end of the conference there were remarkable presentations inspired from the practical experiences working in the special institutions in Skopje, Štip and Gostivar. The professional staff very explicitly and realistically presented their own results, methods, assets, ways and approaches of work, that they have applied with a goal to accomplish the program of sexual satisfaction of the persons with disability. Real situations, problems and solutions were shared with the audience having a chance to get useful information for their own practical work. Interesting discussions and questions were open of the evident problems that the persons with disabilities have, to which were given unselfish and professional answers. At the end it was concluded that this project should continue aiming for welfare of these persons, such as arising the awareness of the parents who need to understand that the sexual need is part of every person, including their children with disability. At last was created an event where a chance to speak openly about the everyday life was given, which aimed for elimination of the sensitivity and increase of the understanding that the lack of public discussion will not bring solutions that will improve life quality.

123-124

Authors: Goran PETRUSHEV

After successful organization of the last year's International Symposium for early intervention and developmental disorders, the Association of Special Educators and Rehabilitators of the Republic of Macedonia continues its activities for promoting the theory and practice of special education through organizing professional events. At the meeting held on 26.12.2011, the presidency of the Association decided to organize a symposium with the subject "Inclusive education - current status, future challenges". Aside the Association, among the organizers will be the Macedonian Ministry of Education and Sciences and the Faculty of Philosophy - Institute of Special Education and Rehabilitation. The symposium will be held from 17th until 19th of May 2012, in Strumica.