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The content of support of persons with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities: an analysis of the number and content of goals in the educational programmes
- Authors:
- van der PUTTEN A., VLASKAMP C., POPPES P.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 22(4), July 2009, pp.391-394.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study focuses on the support of persons with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) by analysing the number and content of formulated goals in the educational programmes. The programmes of 145 persons with PIMD were analysed. The number of long- and short-term goals as well as the number of goals reached was determined. To clarify the content of given support, goals were categorised into different domains. In total, 220 long-term goals were formulated, of which 14% were reached. Of the 1624 short-term goals formulated, 52% were reached. Further detailed analyses show that although the number of goals was not dependent on age, the number of long-term goals reached was significantly higher in children; 52% of the 220 long-term goals focused on 'interaction and social' roles and 68% of the 1624 short-term goals focused on 'gathering knowledge about the client'. Results indicate that support to persons with PIMD especially focuses on 'interaction and social roles'. Especially, health issues seem to be under-represented. Short-term goals mainly focus on gathering knowledge. Further studies are needed to clarify if professionals indeed lack detailed information about their clients or if available knowledge (e.g. in files) is not transferred into day-to-day practice.
Transfer of information between parents and teachers of children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities at special educational centres
- Authors:
- FONTEINE H., ZIJLSTRA H.P., VLASKAMP C.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 21(5), September 2008, pp.477-483.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Because of the complexity of the problems that affect children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD), communication between parents and teachers at special educational centres is indispensable. Logs are widely used in the Netherlands although only little is known about the effectiveness and efficiency of communication logs. Sentences written in communication logs were analysed with two categorization systems. Frequencies and percentages of topics in each category were computed for teachers and for parents. Most entries concern 'exchanging experiences' and 'requesting or giving information'; teachers write significantly more than parents. The results show that communication logs are not very effective or efficient in relation to an adequate information transfer between parents and professionals to optimize the mutual support of children with PIMD. The article concludes with some recommendations for the practical use of these communication logs.
Becoming aware of what you know or need to know: gathering client and context characteristics in day services for persons with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities
- Authors:
- VLASKAMP C., HIEMSTRA S.J., WIERSMA L.A.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 4(2), June 2007, pp.97-103.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Persons with profound and multiple disabilities (PIMD) are dependent on staff to be sufficiently knowledgeable as to provide them with appropriate day services. One important determinant of the appropriateness and adequacy of a day support program is the level to which staff have detailed and specific knowledge about the functional abilities and the sensory and contextual preferences of their clients, and use this information when providing day activity centre services. The authors conducted a study designed to determine what staff know about their clients’ capabilities and functioning and whether they applied this knowledge to the delivery of day services. Thirty-three direct care activity centre staff members from seven different residential facilities throughout the Netherlands were involved in the research. The study used a questionnaire designed as a flow chart, which parsed knowledge within nine categories, five related to the client’s functional abilities and four related to the client’s sensory and contextual preferences. Results indicate that staff generally lacked specific information on the adults in their day activity centre, and this impaired their ability to select and provide appropriate activities. The authors concluded that a relatively simple and easy-to-design questionnaire can provide a good overview of the special training that is needed by staff who are responsible for offering activities to persons with PIMD.
The impact of medical conditions on the support of children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities
- Authors:
- ZIJLSTRA H.P., VLASKAMP C.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 18(2), June 2005, pp.151-161.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study analyses the impact of medical conditions of children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities on the professional support they receive in centres for special education. The medical files, the daily records and daily communication records between parents and professionals were reviewed for 48 children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities in three centres for special education in the Netherlands. In addition, interviews were held with direct service professionals and medical doctors to complete the data collection. Results found that not only do major medical conditions, such as hospital admissions, but also minor medical conditions, such as an increase in body temperature or the drowsy state a child is in as a result of a seizure, have an impact on performing activities and therapies in a child's educational centre. As a result of the prevalence of the medical conditions, professionals may decide not to carry on actions that were planned or do not offer an alternative programme. The risk of many 'empty' hours despite the presence of highly specialized professional support is high.