Essay on Parkinson’s Disease - 2135 Words

Parkinson’s Disease Parkinson’s disease is a disease with a wide variety of disabilities recognizable as changes in appearance, posture, walking, and balance. In 1817, the English physician James Parkinson described these symptoms in his patients and has had his name become synonymous with the disease. In 1893 the substantia nigra of the basal ganglia was identified as an area of disease for Parkinson’s. Examination with the naked eye reveals a lack of black pigment in this portion of the brainstem. Subsequent follow up with the microscope showed a deterioration of the nerve cells in this area. The circuitous relationship between the substantia nigra and the basal ganglia explains many of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Today the†¦show more content†¦Consequently, both the basal ganglia and the cerebellum are influenced by and return influence to the descending motor pathways (pyramidal and extrapyramidal), which affect the activity of the lower motoneurons. The substantia nigra is a subcortical nucleus that is closely related to basal ganglia. It is reciprocally connected with the striatum and sends efferents to the ventral anterior and dorsomedial thalamic nuclei and, to some extent, to the ventral lateral thalamic nuclei. The substantia nigra pars reticulata also projects to the superior colliculus. Neurons that originate in the striatum and project to the substantia nigra are inhibitory and utilize the neurotransmitters GABA and substance P. Fibers that arise in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra use the neurotransmitter dopamine and synapse in the striatum, while GABAminergic cells in the pars reticulata receive striatal input and project to the thalamus. Recordings from neurons in the basal ganglia of monkeys during various motor tasks reveal that the discharge of single cells in the neostriatum show a direct correlation with movements of the contralateral arm or leg, and that the discharge of substantial percentage of neurons precedes the onset of a movement. These studies suggest that the basal ganglia participate in movements at a high level, including the planning of movement synergy’s. Lesions of the basal ganglia resulting from disease in humans cause: disorders of theShow MoreRelatedThe Parkinsons Disease1596 Words   |  6 PagesMany people around the world today suffer from Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. A movement disorder is a disorder impairing the speed, fluency, quality, and ease of movement. There are many types of movement disorders such as impaired fluency and speed of movement (dyskinesia), excessive movements (hyperkinesia), and slurred movements (hypokinesia). Some types of moveme nt disorders are ataxia, a lack of coordination, Huntingtons disease, multiple system atrophies, myoclonus, briefRead MoreThe Parkinsons Disease761 Words   |  3 PagesMathur states that â€Å"Genetics loads the gun, environment pulls the trigger† (Mathur). Parkinson’s Disease (PD) exhibits this pattern, with the vast majority of PD cases being idiopathic, likely the result of combined genetic and environmental factors. While many researchers previously sought symptom-specific treatment, recent breakthroughs open the door for the discovery of genetic and environmental causes so that disease prevention, and even reversal, emerge as viable possibilities. Recent research demonstratesRead More Parkinsons Disease Essay1764 Words   |  8 PagesParkinson’s disease (PD) is a striatal dopamine deficiency disorder as a consequence of neuronal loss in the substania nigra. It is named after James Parkinson, a British apothecary, who first fully documented its physical signs in 1817. Since then, significant advances have been made in our understanding of characteristic pathophysiology as well as in the medical treatment of different stages of PD. An overview of condition features in terms of epidemiology, manifestations, diagnosis and diseaseRead MoreParkinson’s Disease Essay1446 Words   |  6 PagesParkinson’s Disease is known as one of the most common progressive and chronic neurodegenerative disorders. It belongs to a group of conditions known as movement disorders. Parkinson disease is a component of hypokinetic disorder because it causes a decreased in bodily movement. It affects people who are usually over the age of 50. It can i mpair an individual motor as well as non-motor function. Some of the primary symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are characterized by tremors or trembling in handsRead More Parkinsons Disease Essay1642 Words   |  7 PagesParkinsons Disease Parkinson’s Disease (PD), the shaking palsy first described by James Parkinson in 1817, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder which affects in upwards of 1.5 million Americans. The disease begins to occur around age 40 and has incidence with patient age. One survey found that PD may affect 1% of the population over 60. Incidence seems to be more prominent in men, and tends to progress to incapacity and death over one or two decades. Clinical diagnosis of PD isRead MoreEssay on Parkinson’s Disease1305 Words   |  6 PagesParkinson’s Disease (PD) is a chronic neurological disease that effects about 329 per 100,000 people in the US. The average onset of this disease usually is for people over the age of 50, with the baby boomers getting older there may be an increase in this disease, as much as 9 million people worldwide. (Pawha 2010) Etiology The disease happens when the cells in the brain are damaged or stop-producing Dopamine, which helps with muscle movement, thus leaves those patients unable to control theirRead MoreParkinson’s Disease Essay1260 Words   |  6 PagesParkinson’s Disease Parkinson’s Disease (PD), known for its degenerative abilities and debilitating affects, is an illness that affects approximately 1 million Americans. The cause of this disease has not been pinpointed, although strides have been made towards a cure. As our elderly population increases, so does our overwhelming need to find a suitable cure that may one day eliminate this disease. Concepts of PD After watching the video: My father, My Brother, and Me, viewable at www.pbsRead MoreParkinsons Disease Essay1504 Words   |  7 Pages Parkinsons Disease Parkinsons is an idiopathic, multifactorial neurodegenerative disease that attacks neurotransmitters in the brain called dopamine. Dopamine is concentrated in a specific area of the brain called the substantia nigra. The neurotransmitter dopamine is a chemical that regulates muscle movement and emotion. Dopamine is responsible for relaying messages between the substantia nigra and other parts of the brain to control body movement. The death of these neurotransmitters affectsRead MoreEssay Parkinsons Disease3763 Words   |  16 PagesParkinsons Disease In 1817, James Parkinson published his famous treatise: An Essay on the Shaking Palsy, describing the symptoms which now collectively bear his name. Although many scientists before his time had described various aspects of motor dysfunction (ataxia, paralysis, tremor) Parkinson was the first to collect them into a common syndrome; one which he believed formed a distinctive condition. His sixty-six page essay contained five chapters describing symptoms, differential diagnosesRead MoreParkinsons Disease Essay784 Words   |  4 PagesDiagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease is extremely important in terms of treating the symptoms before the disease gets worse. It is common for patients with PD to have motor symptoms such as gait disorder, which comes from muscle stiffness/rigidity, bradykinesia, postural imbalance, etc. Gait disorders can generally help determine how far the neurological disorder has affected the motor function and control of the individual. Many physicians in general c linics determine if a patient has PD or if it has

Kite Festival Free Essays

Rino Bnao EN 101-4 Karen Millam Sep 14, 2012 Taiwanese Kite Festival Kite Festival is the event where people made different kind of kites to fly them. Few days ago I went to Delap to attend the kite festival. I really enjoyed the event and although there are many reasons why I like about the kite Festival, few major facts why I like the event the most and catches my attention. We will write a custom essay sample on Kite Festival or any similar topic only for you Order Now First reason why I like the event is that the Taiwanese allowed the kids to fly and played their kites. Each kid that I saw during the event was really happy. They enjoyed playing with the different kind of kites. The Taiwanese even gave the kids each a small kite that they can play with it and fly it around and enjoyed the day. Another reason why I like the event is the Kites. There are about ten to fifteen kites that flying in the air. Each kite shape like different kind of animals and that one thing that catches my attention. I even asked myself why is all the kites shape like an animal. Later on after interviewing or talking with one of the team member, I found out that an animal is the best shape that they used. He said that the every entire kite they fly will always be an animal’s shape. Each kite has different kind of color and they look bright with their color. Finally I like the event because I learn something from it. First thing that I learn is how to make it and what materials that used to make a kite. According to them, Bamboo stick and silk is the best material to make a kite. They show us how they made it and it was really awesome seeing them making a kite for the kids. I also learn that the event is really important because they bring back the Taiwanese or Chinese history and of course bring flying sport to Marshall Island. Also learned what are the kite for and there are many things that they can use for the kite. For example they used the kite for sport and also for war. Small or big kites can be both useful for many reasons. In conclusion, I really admired the colorful kites that surrounded me. I enjoyed the event because I learn good thing about kite and how useful, colorful, awesome they are. This entire thing catches my attention. I was surprise when I saw them. How to cite Kite Festival, Essay examples

African culture free essay sample

An approach to African studies will be summarized within this essay. Each chapter encompasses a detailed explanation from African cultures to economical struggles and much more. These 10 chapters will include a brief introduction and summary of African societies, Power, Descent from the same ancestor, Contracting an alliance, Government, Repetitive and dynamic models, Inequality, Dependence relations, Association, and Exchange of Goods. Chapter 1 This chapter introduces the audience into an overall summary of African relationships and explains to us the social horizons of the interaction amongst the people. An area called the â€Å" Black Africa† separates and divides between two cultural worlds. Amongst this â€Å"Black Africa† region, we can conclude that a cultural community exists. The concept of global societies explains to us the state of society in the age of globalization. This â€Å"Global Society† contains both men and women, and is passed on to many generations, from learning the cultural ways ancestors have passed down, to an overall guide of how to live an everyday life until one dies. It is proven that relationships can exists between the members of two different societies. There are Seven institutionalized societal relations and they are Kinship, Alliance, Government, Inequality and Equality, Feudality, Association, and Exchange of Goods. These roles are a guide of a superiority and inferiority statuses. Chapter 2 This chapter opens into the topic of â€Å"Power.† Power is an important key factor for an individual or within a group. People with power has an advantage of having a better life than others, to have power is also a key to enjoying the better things in life and survival. There is such a thing as â€Å"power over nature, oneself and others within production; agriculture, animal husbandry, handicrafts, industry, etc†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Aborisade 34). With power, one can produce an influential affect within a group or individual. In this case, an environmental, and industrial change can result from an individual with power. This chapter concludes with pressure within power such as an individual being a loyal subject within a social relationship and having to resist against an individuals own will. Chapter 3 This chapter opens into the â€Å"Descent from the same ancestor.† Kinship is an importance within the African culture. Kinship network gives power and strength within a group because of the social connections within a group’s individual life. The kinship system was such an importance within the traditional African culture because they believed in one line that divides into two categories; that could either be the â€Å"paternal line or maternal line†(Aborisade 39). The kinship network is important to an individual if that individual is in a lineage that holds power within previous and current generations; it could influence and acquire useful support when needed. Whether past or present, modern African cities now still uses kinship as a way of competition for power. Chapter 4 This chapter introduces us into â€Å"Contracting an alliance.† Marriage between two people shows the importance between the ties of lineage, power, alliance, and politics within the African culture. Marriage in Africa is known to be defined as â€Å"the legitimate descendants of the lineage who discharged the matrimonial debt† (Aborisade 72). A woman bears children for the family to tie the lineage of the family, and possibly gain power, and political alliance. Modern day African society has changed in a sense that marriage is no longer tied to hoes and cattle’s that is defined in bridewealth, but rather cash; and modern day women can hold steady through economic independence. In rural Africa, marriage for lineal alliances continues but less pressure is placed on women having to work for their husbands. Chapter 5 This chapter introduces us into the â€Å"Government.† â€Å"African government was always monarchical† (Aborisade 90); like many other cultures, a king or chief is always needed to sustain a political system. These â€Å"chiefdoms and kingdoms† (Aborisade 90), were widely dispersed across Black Africa. The government system is controlled by rulers and subjects and displayed a very noble image within the monarchy. For example, a king would sacrifice himself to prevent a community disaster due to any signs of weakness that is shown within the society. Kings and nobilities were very sacred and held such an important stature for the people. The rulers would make decisions in public affairs and any external threat, security, or defense. Management of industrial production such as hospitals, medical services and economic infrastructure; would also be managed by a ruler of that region. Within the nineteenth century, a new approach replaced the traditional political system and the â€Å"Supreme ruler is the president† (Aborisade 114). Chapter 6 This chapter addresses to us the â€Å"Repetitive and dynamic models† that the â€Å"Black Africa† system has informed us about within the last 5 chapters. This chapter focuses on the traditional, colonial and independent models of the political network. As stated within the text, â€Å"from the traditional to the colonial model, and from there to the independent model, we see that there is an increase in governmental tasks† (133). This simply defines the fact that in order for these three factors to exist, the political system has to operate efficiently to maintain the political system effectively. An increase in government task means that services that are economically assessable through; for example, â€Å"construction, medical/hospital services and natural resources† (134), obtained for money are increasing economically. Chapter 7 This chapter covers the topic of â€Å"Inequality.† Throughout the ages, inequality has been shown in many different ways. In certain areas of the many kingdoms in Africa, there were many groups that belonged within each kingdom and they were distinguished by names. This created an inequality, which applies to the four networks of stratification. Caste and classes are determined by being born into a system. These four networks offered different cultures and societal needs as well as each class were classified into a hierarchical group. This chapter concludes that a â€Å"relation of superiority is not necessarily a relation to power† (189). Chapter 8 This chapter focuses on â€Å"Dependence relations.† Dependent is relying, needing or having someone or something for aid. Dependence is often unavoidable and dependence is often used within many relationships between people; where it is to gain power, for love, friendship or any kind of relationship. Dependence plays a role in societal relations. Clientship and feudality is expressed in this chapter, in conclusion; â€Å"feudal dependence is institutionalized while the dependence of clientship is not† (196). Chapter 9 â€Å"Association† is the key factor in this chapter. Association is defined as â€Å"permanent groups of people with organized activities† (220). Association is also a bond and an agreement amongst a group to comply and follow the rules that have been established. If a rule has been violated, actions must take place in order for the violator to be held accountable. An association is generally a group created for various goals whether it be religious, political, etc, also an association can be a threat to rulers due to its strong beliefs and power to achieve their goals. Associations in modern Africa now are still â€Å"outlawed† (230) by rulers and even till today, associations remain on close watch. Chapter 10 The last chapter of this book talks about the â€Å"Exchange of goods.† Exchange of goods is an importance within the social relations because it allows a bond and close interaction between two sides and will develop and create benefits between the two parties. The economic relations between the modern Africans and traditional Africans remain the same as exchange still plays a huge role within the economic network. The selling, benefiting, and trade between two parties remains to gain political and economic power. In conclusion, the 10 chapters within this book summarize African studies for an audience to be informed about the general culture, political, and economical lives of the African society. Works Cited Aborisade. Pan Africanism/ Global Connections. n.d.

The Wellness Industry Mainly In Asia Pacific Tourism Essay Essay Example

The Wellness Industry Mainly In Asia Pacific Tourism Essay Paper There has been a considerable rise in the tendency of the Wellness Industry chiefly in Asia-Pacific. As Destination Spas are developing in the industry, it seems it is still instead obscure as to what the hereafter holds for this peculiar sector. The lifting consciousness of people towards personal wellness and growing is making a demand for a service function that is presently germinating to provide to the demands of this come oning market tendency. This survey will look into possible results for finishs watering places, Mandala Spa, in the designated geographical country. The globalisation of health merchandises such as Spas are increasing and germinating, whereas the doctrines and traditions of the eastern civilization are perforating the western context and vise versa. These watering places are turning by integrating physical, emotional and religious activities coupled with the dad psychological science that mixes more esoteric patterns to raise the degree of mental health. ( Smith and Puczko, 2008 ) Wellness is defined as The multidimensional province of being good , where inner and outer universes are in harmoniousness: a heightened province of consciousness enabling you to be to the full present in the minute and react genuinely to any state of affairs from the deep inner good of your being . Wellness is an ever-evolving journey to a heightened waking up of the consciousness and working towards a fitter province in respects to the physical, mental and emotional sense of well-being, therefore assisting an person to farther experience life to its fullest with the greatest length of service. ( Bodecker and Cohen, 2008 ) We will write a custom essay sample on The Wellness Industry Mainly In Asia Pacific Tourism Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Wellness Industry Mainly In Asia Pacific Tourism Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Wellness Industry Mainly In Asia Pacific Tourism Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Figure 1: The Expanded Wellness Model Beginning: Mueller and Kaufmann 2001 p.6 Overview of the Wellness Industry A considerable sum of visitants traveling to modern twenty-four hours wellness and health centres are largely non cognizant of the historical and cultural backgrounds of the interventions they experience. It would be non so far fetched to state that these visitants have non realized that the Ayurvedic patterns from India day of the month back every bit far as 5000 BC, or that the current make-up trade names that adult females are utilizing these yearss hold similar decorative traits to those used my the Egyptian adult females in 3000 BC. The earliest recorded certification of Chinese medicative methods day of the month back to 1000 BC, nevertheless in Western societies Chinese medical methods are regarded as alien and slightly new in their perceptual experience. Harmonizing to a survey made by the Spa Research Fellowship, the earliest mention to so name charming healing Waterss is 1700 BC and as the authoritative doctor and philosopher of the Hellenistic age, Hippocrates, one time sa id that aˆÂ ¦water is still, after all, the best. ( Health A ; Wellness Tourism ) There is an increasing consciousness of the mending belongingss of H2O, whether it be thermic, sea or mineral H2O. Civilizations such as the Greeks and Romans understood the assorted wellness related facets of H2O interventions and therefore were rather focused on fittingness and cleanliness through such patterns. On the other manus, other ancient civilisations from The Middle East and Asia and other autochthonal people around the universe were already cognizant of the wellness benefits of other patterns like herbal medical specialties, yoga, massage, speculation and other related religious patterns, for centuries before the cultivation of wellness related patterns in Europe. Although by Western criterions, the quality of life in many parts of the universe are apparently low or of hapless quality in comparing to Western societies, India and Africa can be cited as two better illustrations. These people populating in such hapless criterions have developed their ain ways of keeping thei r well-being, although such conditions of want favor the victory of unwellness over health. These patterns of continuing wellness and well-being are go oning to go more and more popular among twenty-four hours watering place operators and later the visitants of these yearss watering places are turning involvements acute plenty to desire them to see the beginnings or places of these patterns such as Yoga and Thai massage. ( Health A ; Wellness Tourism ) The term Spa, is an altered acronym for Solus Per Aqua , it can be translated as wellness through H2O. ( Leavy and Bergel, 2002 ) Harmonizing to Associate Professor Rujirutana Madhachitara, PhD of Penn State University in her paper, Opening Up a Services Market The Thai Spa Industry, From what we learn in the schoolroom and informant in existent concern life, market normally do non turn every bit explosively as wellness watering place have done in Thailand. Hotels and resorts along with enterprisers have recognized the potency of watering place development in Asia, it is even arguable to an extent that recent tendency of watering place has impacted the face of the Hospitality in the part. Intelligent Spas came up with the Spa Benchmark plan across the major Asia Pacific markets and summarized the findings in the tabular array below ( Garrow, 2007 ) Table 1: Asia Pacific Spa Industry overview Malaysia Since the twelvemonth 2002, Malaysia s watering place growing has increased by 200 % and continues to announce increased growing. Indonesia Is place to the larger watering place in respects to indoor infinite and more than half of them are destination watering place, within the part it is besides 2nd most low-cost following to the Philippines. Philippines Is the smallest in footings of market size but regardless it besides possesses on norm, the most legion sum of intervention suites, surveies show that there is besides strong potency for growing in this sector over the coming old ages. Singapore comparatively, the state has a mature market but is still predicted to turn at 11 % yearly over the approaching old ages. There is a considerable sum of twenty-four hours watering place of which half are said to be salon type oriented watering place. Taiwan Over 81 % of Taiwan s 300 watering place installations were twenty-four hours watering place, a big group of their watering place usage group trade name names, whilst watering place franchises are really common. Growth rate is said to be slow in the coming old ages. Table 2: Asia-Pacific Global Spa survey The Asia-Pacific watering place industry is the quickest turning part on a planetary footing, nevertheless it is yet comparatively immature. A larger proportion of watering place are preset in emerging markets while resort/hotels watering places are presently taking development. Typically, finishs spas are regarded as watering place resorts. Turning but yet developing wellness resorts in a sense. In comparing to Europe, watering place grosss in the Asia-Pacific are 35 % lower and 19 % lower on a planetary norm, nevertheless hotel watering place are merely 3.75 % to 5.8 % lower severally. Whilst in footings of staffing, hotel watering place are at an norm of 27 employees per constitution and 17 per watering place. Intelligent Spa s Global Benchmark Report, May 2009, states that the intervention room tenancy in the Asia-Pacific is 37 % higher in comparing to other parts, 45 % of entire gross histories for paysheet, and with an mean intervention rate of US $ 77 it is the lowest economic ally among all parts. ( Samantha Foster ) The term Destination Spa holds a peculiar criterion of luxury for spa-goers, as they were topographic points where the rich and celebrated would travel to reduce down. These yearss finish watering place offer more than merely a epicurean manner to acquire slender fast, they offer a assortment of merchandises that cater to the overall health of their clients. Such services offered are fitter diet options, lifestyle talks, yoga seminars and more traditional methods of energy attunement to happen your ain sense of inner and outer balance. ( Leavy and Bergel 2002 ) Mandala Spa brands itself as a finish watering place integrating all the bow mentioned services and more, in 2005 they won the esteemed Asia Spa Award for best finish watering place of the twelvemonth and spa intervention of the twelvemonth . Since so they have continued to win awards in 2006, 2007, and 2009. Since its startup in 2001, Mandala Spa has touched the lives of many people and has grown from a four-villa Day Spa to a full fledged Wellness Resort and Destination Spa. ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.mandalaspa.com ) Purposes The writer will carry on an in-depth research on what the hereafter holds for Destination Spas in Asia Pacific, concentrating on a development dress shop Destination Spa trade name, Mandala Spa as a premier mention. Aims To reexamine literature about the Wellness Industry with accent on Destination Spas. To look into the tendencies and variables act uponing the development of the Wellness Industry with focal point on the Destination Spa sector. To understand the schemes that Mandala Spa is utilizing for its success and how they will utilize these for future development or enlargement ; and To urge any findings to Mandala Spa and the Asia Pacific Spa and Wellness Coalition for the overall benefit of the industry and for future research ; Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW The Concept of Wellness Tourism Harmonizing to ( Verschuren, 2004 ) Wellness touristry is really different from wellness touristry as wellness touristry is considered a alone merchandise within the wellness touristry section therefore it is non a class in itself but a sub class of wellness touristry. Figure 1 Harmonizing to ( Kaspar 1996 ) , wellness touristry is the amount of all the relationships and phenomena ensuing from a alteration of location and abode by people in order to advance, stabilise and, as appropriate, restore physical, mental and societal wellbeing while utilizing wellness services and for whom the topographic point where they are remaining is neither their rule nor lasting topographic point of abode or work . By definition of ( Mueller and Kaufmann 2000 ) , following ( Kaspar1996 ) , wellness touristry can be the amount of all the relationships and the phenomena ensuing from a alteration of location and abode by people whose chief motivation is to continue or advance their wellness. They stay in hotels that are specialized in supplying the single attention with the appropriate personal know-how. To foster the statement these invitees require and expect certain service bundles that are comprehensive in nature, such bundles may include physical fittingness, speculations, dietetic advise, beauty attention and instruction. Harmonizing to The International Spa Association ( ISPA ) watering place are defined as entities devoted to heightening overall wellbeing through a assortment of professional services that encourage the reclamation of head, organic structure and spirit ( ISPA, 2006 ) A comprehensive classification of watering place has been produced by the International Spa Association is listed below: Club Spa Day Spa Spa Hotel Holistic Spa Medical Spa Bath Resort Spa Sport Spa Structured Spa Definition of a Destination Spa There is no universally accepted definition of finish watering place, instead the undermentioned faculty members present these definitions: Destination watering place predecessors were referred to as fat farms due to their slightly strict detoxification and weight loss programmes. These fat farms were perceived as the to-be topographic points for communities high societies, yet most of these constitutions were non deemed a pleasant vacation experience as most of them were ran similar to boot cantonments in a sense, where their invitees would set about restricted diets or fasting seminars where the promised consequences of weight loss would be achieved, nevertheless in no mode pleasant. Few of these fat farms would have beauty interventions, relaxation or speculation programmes and even less provided in instruction in footings of how to keep their lost weight, therefore invitees would finally derive the weight back. The finish watering place of today offer more than merely weight loss programmes but are now geared towards more meaningful exercising programmes, instruction on life style, health seminars, consultancy on diet and cleaning, and some offer medical trials or ratings. ( The Spa Encyclopedia ) Finish watering place are built with the primary intent of supplying spa/wellness activities for invitees as compared to resort/hotel watering place who s primary intent is to sell their suites while the watering place is an augmenting installation, the intent of finish watering place are the exact antonym of this. ( Gibson 2008 ) Finish Spas are a topographic point where visitants go for short retreats/wellness programmes that are slightly life altering or bring forth a high impact on the invitee s life style. ( Spa bodywork: a usher for massage healers ) Asia Pacific Wellness Traditions The wellness traditions of Asia follow a more holistic attack to wellness and well-being, handling the head, organic structure and spirit as one. Their manner of healing is by happening the kernel of the job and back uping the organic structure in mending itself hence hiking the organic structure s natural unsusceptibility against unwellness and disease. Therefore the attack through natural healing, in Asia, is rooted in spiritualty and tradition instead than on a footing of natural assets. In Japan the traditional bathing constitutions of onsens , which are Nipponese hot springs, are normally visited by locals in seek of speculation or relaxation and has grown in popularity among the tourers. Reiki and Shiatsu are two of the most prevailing health therapies from the Nipponese civilization and are presently really common interventions provided by western watering places. The bequest of India s historic civilization has existed before that of Ancient Egypt as even scholars respect Ayurveda ( the scientific discipline of life ) as one of the oldest mending systems in the universe. It is still normally the first signifier of traditional healing in Nepal, India and Sri Lanka. The traditional signifiers of Chinese medical specialty were focused on an persons overall province through a assortment of therapies, such as Chi ( the overall flow of life force or energy of a individual ) , Shen ( the individuals mind that is responsible for their mental abilities and consciousness ) , and Jing ( The regulating kernel of a individuals verve ) . Traditional Chinese medical specialty, similar to Indian Ayurveda, leans towards the facets of preventative and holistic attacks towards wellness in respects to physical motion, spiritualty, diet and emotional well-being. A myriad of therapies are offered, some of the most popular to reference are Tai Chi, Qi Gong, herbal medical specialties, and stylostixis which focal point on the flow of energy throughout the organic structure. Thailand is presently said to be the prima state in watering place development within Asia, having a broad array of services, merchandises, aesthetics and Centres. The basic rules of Wat Pho traditional Thai massage and the Lana traditions of Northern Thailand are what constitute the constructs of Thai watering place. The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho, located in the capital metropolis of Bangkok by the Grand Palace, is where traditional Thai massage was born. During the epoch before the temple was built, the country was a site for the pattern of traditional Thai medical specialty that has its relational beginnings from Ayurveda . Malaysia has a set of alone watering place programmes and atmospheres through the incorporation of small town or kampung traditions along with the health traditions practiced in the royal tribunals. Pressure point and long shot massage techniques which are the footing of Urut , the traditional Malay massage, which is the chief characteristic of the services offered along with traditional post-natal attention in adult females s wellness programmes. The foundation of these therapies are based on causative theory edifice on the forming rules of cold and hot, moist and dry and of the natural elements air, fire, H2O and Earth, derived from links to Ayurveda . Indonesia s pillar of advancing health and beauty comes from Jamu herbalism, traditionally it lies in the centre of pull offing the populations health care. The religious attacks to wellness, along with traditional massage techniques and fresh herb tea ingredients, are extremely incorporated in Balinese and Indonesian watering place. Vietnam, regarded now as the new Thailand amongst south east Asiatic investing circles due to its assuring economic system and inflow of new beach, golf and wellness resort developments. The chief medicative tradition of the state is referred to as Thuoc Nam of which is based more on traditional common people cognition. A Buddhist monastic and bookman, Tue Tinh, developed Thuoc Nam into a national system. He consolidated all the local medicative cognition from Vietnam and established clinics within monasteries along with herbal gardens coupled with educating the populace on the herbal place medical specialty. ( Dung and Bodeker 2001 ) The Philippines, being an archipelago, has its traditional medicative techniques profoundly rooted in the battalion of ethnics groups found on its 1000 of islands. Its traditional massage pattern is known as Hilot and is merely as diverse in techniques, patterns and tradition as it varies from part to part within the state. It is nevertheless being standardized, and therefore turning of all time more popular among the watering place programmes in the Philippines. ( Marana and Tan 2006 ) Cardinal Theories on Spas Compare and contrast an approximate of 3 cardinal theories here, place who your capable affair experts are through seeing who are the names who are ever cited in the assorted diaries and books you have on Spa. Support with some theoretical accounts, I think you have one theoretical account in your Chapter II already! Figure 1. Maslow s Hierarchy of Needs and Schutte and Ciarlante s Asiatic Equivalent Model. Adapted from ( Athena H. N. Mak, Kevin K. F. Wong and Richard C. Y. Chang ) Maslow s hierarchy of demands and the Asiatic equivalent theoretical account Tourist motive embraces psychological every bit good as physiological aspects because travel is expected to fulfill different degrees of demands such as psychological ( e.g. intrinsic, personal and interpersonal wagess ) and physiological demands ( e.g. nutrient, shelter, safety, wellness and fittingness ) ( Witt and Wright, 1992 ) . Maslow s ( 1970 ) hierarchy of demands is one of the most popular theories of motive used by research workers to analyze tourist motive ( Iso- Ahola, 1980 ) . Maslow proposes that human demands as incentives form a five-level hierarchy comprising of physiological, safety, love/ belonging, regard and self-actualisation demands. He farther states that the lower-level demands should be satisfied first before an person could travel up to higher-level 1s in the hierarchy. Mill and Morrison ( 1985 ) citation that motive is a phenomenon that takes topographic point when an single seeks to fulfill a demand, and suggest a correlativity between Maslow s hierarchy of demands and tourer motive. Maslow s theoretical account is based on Western civilization, so Schutte and Ciarlante ( 1998 ) have questioned whether self-actualisation ( a personally directed demand ) is existing among Asiatic consumers. They contend that Asiatic states predominately have a collectivized civilization ( Hofstede, 1980 ) , so the thought that a personally directed demand is at the highest degree of demands would neither be readily accepted nor regarded positively in the Asiatic civilization. Alternatively, socially directed demands seem to be more apt in such cultural context. Schutte and Ciarlante therefore put forth an Asiatic equivalent theoretical account, one that eliminates the personally directed self- realization demand and emphasizes the elaboratenesss and importance of socially directed demands, viz. , association, esteem and position. Based on the research conducted by ( Athena H. N. Mak, Kevin K. F. Wong and Richard C. Y. Chang ) Their survey identified the motivation factors for Hong Kong spa-goers seeking watering place experience when they travel. Their perceptual experiences of watering place, every bit good as their socio-demographic features, were analysed. In add-on, an instrument to mensurate motive in the spa touristry sphere was developed. Factor analysis consequences show that relaxation and alleviation , escape , self-reward and indulgence , and health and beauty are of import implicit in motivation factors for spa-goers, as shown in the survey. The consequence contrasts interestingly with general European spa-goers perceptual experience that spa experience is mostly for remedy or curative intents ( Miller, 1996 ; Douglas, 2001 ) , and American spa-goers perceptual experience that spa experience is a agency of self-reward ( Kaspar, 1990 ; ISPA, 2006 ) . For the Hong Kong context, it is really an integrating of self-reward and wellness, together with relaxation and flight motives. This typical combination of actuating factors reflects the alone implicit in demands of Hong Kong spa-goers. The demand for watering place is anticipated to turn continuously ( ISPA, 2006 ) , and the chances associated with watering places are many and varied. However, despite the bright mentality for the Asiatic watering place market, it is imperative for the watering place industry to maximize the potency for this niche market section mentality for the Asiatic watering place market, it is imperative for the watering place industry to maximize the potency for this niche market section. Current Situation of Mandala Spa Here you do a compose up discoursing the current state of affairs of Mandala Spa as a finish watering place in the Asia Pacific part. What is the key to Mandalas Success? You have to understand, that when you analyze wellnessaˆÂ ¦ and a committedness to health and the well-being of other people, you realize really rapidly that taking attention of other people or being a good attention taker for people, a really indispensable Christian quality, this is non something you do as a occupation like tossing hamburgersaˆÂ ¦ it is something that has to be developed inside of a individual as portion of their personality, inside of their bosom, so Karen Reina and I realized really rapidly that if you want to be sincere in the health industry by taking attention of other people one manner or the other. It could be in the watering place industry, the hotel industry or that might merely be in the nursing or physical therapy industry, the most of import quality is the love and compassion and ability to hold positive relationships with the invitees. We decided that this is one of the most indispensable qualities a topographic point can hold, this is what w e have to concentrate our service on, the remainder is truly proficient preparation, skill preparation, attitude polish, the manner your showing yourself with etiquette preparation, but what makes us really different from all other facets of the cordial reception industry is that when your working truly close with people, when your touching them literary with your custodies and fingers, when your all over their skinaˆÂ ¦ YOU CANT FAKE IT! If your non existent, people will recognize it the latest at that point, when person s custodies are all over them, that s when they realize if that service is existent or forge, they are merely feigning to give me a loving and lovingness service and merely see it as a occupation. This is what truly is the really kernel of mandala watering place, and this is what makes us different from many other topographic points to get down out withaˆÂ ¦ our mentality was non based on a well organized dispersed sheet full of figures, our first challen ge was and still is ever, how can you put in a civilization and a committedness to the kernel of cordial reception in our staff, a corporate civilization as it is calledaˆÂ ¦ this is the same challenge others in the same field are sing now in cordial reception, where they say that cutting border is where the invitee is loved or feels loved, what better cordial reception can you give other than true love and true attention? No affair on which degree, and this is what our people and invitees come back for. So when people ask what was their best vacation experience, it is frequently the really little relationships they had with their host, it is all about love, attention and regard, the remainder is truly merely dressing up. You really rapidly recognize that when you think that manner, well its different that beefburger tossing in a manner that you have to learn that manner of thought, you have to pass on that, you have to put in that as a portion of corporate culture.. that we wa nt to make things with attention, that we want to make things to keep or better the environment, that we are caring for our employees as people and non merely by looking at the one-year growing rate of the company, caring by doing an attempt to pass on with them, by seeking to supply personal growing chances for them, no affair if its through Yoga or personal negotiations or through engagement in our societal duty plans like seting trees, bettering the environment, and they are proud of that, they should experience proud of being soft, of being caring, of being compassionate. These are al the values we are seeking to put in within our corporate civilization, non merely the preparation to get down out with and proficient flawlessness, quality of touch, I am making that myself. But what truly brings everything through and what brings everything together is truly when your bosom is unfastened and your bosom is in it, and this is a large portion of Mandalas secret, we re seeking truly t o keep that corporate civilization that is true to itself, that walks the talk. Wellness and well-being is non a five to nine occupation for Mandala Spa, it is a manner of prevarication for Mandala Spa. Conclusively, a batch of people working with us or working with me are non at that place merely for the occupation or the wagess or the growing chances on a proffesional calling degree, they are merely at that place because they love the manner of life that they can populate during eight hours of their premier clip. Chapter 3: Methodology Research Paradigm and Design The Research Paradigm used in this thesis is that of intepretivism in which is a comprehension of the differences between worlds as societal histrions. The societal histrions in this instance refer to interview respondents. Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill ( 2007 ) presented an statement that the concern universe is excessively intricate to be at the temperament of theories and definite `laws` in which rich penetrations may be lost in the procedure. In line with this paradigm, the writer maintains an empathic stance and trying to understand the societal universe from the point of position from the research subjects. As each state of affairs is alone and stands entirely, all these are a map of a specified set of persons and fortunes brought together at a peculiar clip. The epistemology of this paradigm is on subjective significances and societal phenomena with a focal point into an in deepness survey on the inside informations of finish watering place in the Asia Pacific, the background world and motivative actions. It will hold a subjective axiology due to the research being value edge and the writer being inseparable from the research. An inductive attack is used here in which the writer theorizes that the health industry is a sub class of the wellness industry wellness touristry and from recent tendencies it is predicted that the wellness industry is get downing to accommodate facets of the health industry as a more informed clientele demand for an integrating of health and nutrition into health care. This proposed theory is to be backed up with collected interview informations for testing of cogency. Qualitative Survey Data Collection Development Open ended inquiries are structured or at least semi structured. It is of import that the writer guides the interview and maneuver it back on subject should digression occur. Nonetheless, for the intent of the B.A ( Hons ) thesis, structured interviews should be used. If you use interviews but did non pull off to run into the individual face to face, attach a transcript of electronic mail correspondence in appendix. Or salvage MSN conversations into rich text format. Sampling Data Collection Datas Analysis Ethical motives Chapter 4: Analysis AND RESULTS Introduction Profile of Participants How many of them Number of contacts ( overall sampling frame ) How many returns? ( % of responses ) DO NOTE THAT FOR ONLINE SURVEYS, THE ACTUAL QUANTITY IS NOT EASILY DERIVED AND IS MAINLY AN ESTIMATE. Give grounds of testing ( How many were void? Even if individual replies all strongly agree, it is void! ) Proper stairss supersede absolute Numberss. Report the concluding, n = 19 ( % ) Who are the participants? ( Use your background inquiries to help you. ) For qualitative interviews, you ve been in contact with the individual. Describe their making to turn out that they are the appropriate individual to individual on the topic. Background of Participants Analysis of qualitative informations Reiterate that an inductive attack was used and that it is an explorative paper You have a pick here of analysing your informations utilizing a condensation, grouping or telling procedure. Chapter Summary Chapter 5: Discussion AND CONCLUSION Discussion Decision Restrictions Recommendations

The Demise of De Luxe

The Demise of De Luxe The Demise of De Luxe The Demise of De Luxe By Maeve Maddox In a conversation about hotels the other evening, I heard a woman say â€Å"the lobby was luxe.† I’d never heard luxe without the de. At least not in English. In the French expression the de is a preposition and the luxe is a noun, literally â€Å"of luxury.† In English wed say luxurious. Following French usage, the OED entry gives de luxe as two words and classifies it as an adjective phrase. Merriam-Webster spells deluxe as one word and defines it as â€Å"notably luxurious or elegant; sumptuous or elaborate.† Booksellers have long offered deluxe editions of popular books and the label has spread to other products: The terms special edition, limited edition and variants such as deluxe edition, collectors edition and others, are used as a marketing incentive for various kinds of products, originally published products related to the arts, such as books, prints or recorded music and films, but now including cars, fine wine and other products. Wikipedia Apparently just plain luxe enjoys wide popularity. Numerous hotels call themselves Luxe Hotel. Luxe and deluxe bump up against each other in newspaper coverage, for example this story in the San Francisco Business Times uses â€Å"luxe† in the headline and â€Å"deluxe† in the story S.F. tower to become luxe hotel (headline) Partners will likely shell out an additional $500 a square foot to convert it from an empty ATT office to the deluxe downtown destination. I came across a hotel site (Maddens on Gull Lake) that offers luxury accommodations, premium accommodations and deluxe accommodations. The word luxe derives from Latin luxus, â€Å"excess† or â€Å"abundance.† I plan to keep putting a de with my luxe. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:10 Rules for Writing Numbers and Numerals"Latter," not "Ladder"The Difference Between "Un-" and "Dis-"

A Midsummer Nights Dream Analysis

There are many instances where the love potion â€Å"love-in-idleness is used in the play. The function of this love potion is to make someone fall in love with the first person/creature the see when awoken. The first instance where the love potion is used is when Oberon put’s the love potion on Titania’s eyes. The reason for this was is simply because Titania refuses to hand over the changeling boy. Oberon thinks that if Titania is so infatuated, she will be willing to hand over the changeling boy. Fortunately for Oberon, this is exactly what happens. The second time when the â€Å"love-in-idleness† potion is used is when Oberon orders Puck to place the love potion on Demetrius’ eyes, so he may fall in love with Helena. However, this is not what takes place. Puck accidently places the love potion on Lysander’s eyes instead of Demetrius’, this cause Lysander to fall in love with Helena. The third occurrence where the love potion was used is when Oberon puts the love potion on the correct male, Demetrius. Although Demetrius is now in love with Helena, so is Lysander. This leads to a conflict where Helena thinks the two males are plotting and making fun of her. Puck realizes that he has done wrong, and puts an antidote on Lysander’s eyes, so when he awake he will be in love with Hermia again. Another time where the love potion is used is very different. A potion isn’t being used to make people fall in love; instead it is to make them fall out of love. This potion is an antidote to the â€Å"love-in-idleness† potion. Oberon places the antidote on Titania’s eyes, out of pity, since she has handed over the changeling boy and has fallen in love with an ass. When Oberon places the antidote on Titania’s eyes that was the last time any potion was used. However, Demetrius is the only one still under a spell. b) The love potion adds to the plot of the play by giving us hints of what to expect next in the play and also complicating the plot. An example of where this idea is portrayed is when the â€Å"love-in-idleness† potion was mistakenly placed on Lysander’s eyes instead of Demetrius’. This lead to Lysander falling in love with Helena, and out of love with Hermia. This leaves Helena and Hermia confused. Later on, Oberon also places the love potion on Demetrius’ eyes, so instantly he falls in love with Helena as well. Helena now believes that Hermia, and the two males are making fun of her. Helena chides Hermia for treating their friendship so lightly, and the Demetrius and Lysander are ready to fight for Helena’s love. Hermia now believes that Helena has stolen Lysander from her. Hermia becomes furious and is ready to fight the two males then quickly become angry and go off into the forest to fight. Helena then runs off scared. This part of the play shows how one little mistake in the placing of the potion can lead to such huge complications. However, this is a good way to develop the plot of the play because when there are complications there must also be resolutions. c) The love potion helps us to understand the nature of human affections by showing the audience how irrational, the lovers think and act when they are in love. Helena, Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius, Hippolyta, and Bottom do some very crazy things when infatuated. This is idea was depicted with the love of Bottom and Hippolyta. Bottom was so caught up in infatuation that he began to lose himself as individual. He became very conceited, and was also very oblivious. Bottom was completely unaware about his appearance of being an ass, the entire time he was in love with Titania. Although Bottom was itchy and craving hay, he still had no idea he was an ass. However, Bottom wasn’t the only one who was very oblivious. Titania was also absent minded that she was in love with an ass. She was also so in love with Bottom that she gave up the changeling boy to Oberon. Other evidence that lover act irrational when in love is with Hermia. Hermia was willing to fight one of her good friends for Lysander. Although Helena seems to be the coward and the peacemaker, Hermia on the other hand is ready to fight her. Hermia says â€Å"I am not yet so low but that my nails can reach unto thine eyes. † This statement by Hermia, shows how violent she can be. This new side of Hermia that the audience sees is all brought out by love affections. The love potion certainly gives us an idea of the irrational behavior of the human nature when in love.

Diels-Alder Reaction Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Diels-Alder Reaction - Lab Report Example Characterization of the products is through chemical tests discussed in Mayo pages 266. The experiment cyclopentadiene and maleic anhydride were reacted with the aqueous solution to form an n organic compound in crystal form. The composition of the cyclopentadiene does make it possible for such a reaction to proceed; it has 5 carbon rings that contain 2 carbon- carbon double bonds, which are separated by single alpha bonds. Purification of the crystalline product is typically accomplished by pipetting the solution from the underlying crystal products and consequently drying it. Diels-Alder reaction entails the preparation of the six-membered carbocyclic rings, which are conjugated diene with an alkene. The reaction of the product takes place in the single step to produce carbon-carbon bonds with the four stereocenters. The product is the adequate for the direct characterization. The reaction entails two reactants that are the butadiene and maleic anhydride, which both results to the functional groups to the corresponding product. In addition, the infrared spectrum of t he segregated material depicts the observation. The spectrum of the 3-sulfolene is representative on an alkene sulfone. Thus, the underlying macro group train for an unconjugated five-membered ring alkenes fits the underlying data rationally. The non-polar ought to exhibit a more solubility in petroleum ether in place of the hexane. It is mainly due to stronger van-der-Waals forces in the ether. Due to the presence of larger alkanes in petroleum ether, more intermolecular forces exist than hexane. For this reason, the presence of petroleum ether; the solubility is high for polar molecules yet with the increase in solubility denotes the decreased yield, hence less product. The presence of the two stereocenters coupled with the long range rotating is linked via the pie system of the alkene. The whole H spectrum is

A dating agency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

A dating agency - Essay Example In the dating agency its role is to act as an intermediary but is not held responsible if the two people meet and harm or are truly in love (Francis taylor, 2014). Its main role is to ensure that it links up people from different people to fulfill their desires. Joining a dating agency is always free but there are different packages where some charges are applied this can be a one off thing or after some time elapses. The charges and any difficulties of anyone accessing it. It is good to realize that in as much as the requirements require one to place their real name they cannot be counterchecked. The dating company should improve their transactional payment this requires that we ensure the payment portal is secured and there is enough space where hackers cannot be able to access. It also needs to ensure that the respond channel is instant so as to notify the client that the money has been credited to the companies account in a timely manner. Having such information will act as a guide for the business to show that transparency has been supported by the system built. It is very important to create an app for this where interested party can download and ensure that their business has been accessible to existing and new business in a formal way (JunghoBaek, 2008).Though the clients here to link up with a clear background partner they may wish to remain anonymous this can be a catch 22 for the organization to ensure that business has been to be done professionally. The business setup should ensure that net neutrality does not affect the site of the dating agency. This is also important to realize that also the confidentiality should be governed to prevent strangers from accessing other business. It is thus important for the software to be upgraded with utmost professionalism. One of the challenges in this century is about cybercrime. Events of the recent past show

Shifting Trends in Special Education Essay Example for Free

Shifting Trends in Special Education Essay The Thomas B. Fordham Institute. is. the. nations. leader. in. advancing. educational. excellence. for. every. child. through. quality. research,. analysis,. and. commentary,. as. well. as. on-the-ground. action. and. advocacy. in. Ohio.. It. is. affiliated. with. the. Thomas.. B.. Fordham. Foundation,. and. this. publication. is. a.. joint. project. of. the. Foundation. and. the. Institute For. further. information,. please. visit. our. website. at. www. edexcellence. net. or. write. to. the. Institute. at.. 1016. 16th. St.. NW,. 8th. Floor,. Washington,. D. C.. 20036 The. Institute. is. neither. connected. with. nor..sponsored. by. Fordham. University. A. big. thank. you. goes. out. to. the. whole. Fordham. team. for. their. assistance. on. this. project,. especially. Michael. Petrilli. and. Chester. E.. Finn,. Jr.. for. their. project. guidance. and. astute. feedback,. to. Daniela. Fairchild. for. production. management,. to.  ©istockphoto. com/ AnithaCumming. for. the. snappy. cover. image,. and.. to. Amy. Fagan. for. dissemination.. The. smart. layout. design. is. the. work. of. Alton. Creative. and. the.. â€Å"Ed. Shorts†. logo. of. Laura. Elizabeth. Pohl. Conclusion.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Appendix A.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Figure. A1:. Proportion. of. the. National. Student.. Population. with. Disabilities,. 1976-77. to. 2009-10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Table. A1:. National. Number. of. Students.. with. Disabilities. by. Category,. 2000-01. to. 2009-10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Table. A2:. Students. with. Disabilities. by. State,.. 2000-01. to. 2009-10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18. Appendix B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Federal. Disability. Definitions.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Endnotes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21. SH I FTI NG TREN DS I N SPECIAL EDUCATION EXECUTIVE SUMM ARY Executive Summary Special. education. is. a. field. in. flux.. After. decades. of. steady. increases,. the. population. of. students. with. disabilities. peaked. in. 2004-05. with. 6. 72. million. youngsters,. comprising. 13. 8. percent. of. the. nation’s. student. population.. The. following. year. marked. the. first. time. since. the. enactment. of. the. Individuals. with. Disabilities. Education. Act. (IDEA). that. special-education. participation. numbers. declined—and. they. have. continued. to. do. so,. falling. to. 6. 48. million. students. by. 2009-10,. or. 13. 1. percent. of. all. students. nationwide. This. report. examines. trends. in. the. number. of. special-education. students. and. personnel. at. both. the. national. and. state. levels. from. 2000-01. to. 2009-10.. It. finds. that. the. overall. population. of. special-education. students,. after. decades. of. increases,. peaked. in. the.2004-05. school. year. and. has. declined. since.. But. within. this. population,. individual. categories. of. students. with. disabilities. differed. markedly. in. thei r. trajectories:  ». . he. population. of. students. identified. as. having. â€Å"specific. learning. disabilities,†. the. most. prevalent. of. all. T dis. bility. types,. declined. considerably. throughout. the. decade,. falling. from. 2. 86. million. to. 2. 43. million. a students,. or. from. 6. 1. to. 4. 9. percent. of. all. students. nationwide.  ». . ther. shrinking. disability. categories. included. mental. retardation,. which. dropped. from. 624,000. to. 463,000. O students,. or. from. 1. 3. to. 0. 9. percent. of. all. pupils,. and. emotional. disturbances,. which. fell. from. 480,000. to. 407,000. students,. or. from. 1. 0. to. 0. 8. percent.  ». . utism. and. â€Å"other. health. impairment†. (OHI). populations. increased. dramatically.. The. number. of. autisA tic. students. quadrupled. from. 93,000. to. 378,000,. while. OHI. numbers. more. than. doubled. from. 303,000. to. 689,000.. Even. so,. autistic. and. OHI. populations. constituted. only. 0. 8. and. 1. 4. percent,. respectively,. of. all. students. in. 2009-10. In. addition,. state-level. special-education. trends. varied. dramatically:  ».. hode. Island,. New. York,. and. Massachusetts. reported. the. highest. rates. of. disability. identification. in. 2009R 10;. Rhode. Island. was. the. only. state. with. more. than. 18. percent. of. its. student. body. receiving.. special-education. services.  ». . exas,. Idaho,. and. Colorado. reported. the. lowest. rates. of. disability. identification. in. 2009-10.. Adjusting.. T for. overall. population. size,. Texas. identified. just. half. as. many. students. with. disabilities. as. Rhode. Island:. 9. 1. percent. of. its. total. student. body. States. also. varied. in. their. special-education. personnel. practices,. so. much. so. that. the. accuracy. of. the. data. they. report. to. Washington. is. in. question.. Nationally,. schools. ostensibly. employed. 129. special-education. teachers. and. paraprofessionals. for. every. thousand. special-education. students. in. 2008-09,. up. from. 117. per. thousand. in. 2000-01.. At. the. state. level,. this. ranged. from. a. reported. 320. per. thousand. in. New. Hampshire,. to. thirty-eight. per. thousand. in. Mississippi.. (We. appreciate. the. implausibility. of. these. numbers,. which. come. from. the. only. available. official. source. ) 1 SH I FTI NG TREN DS I N SPECIAL EDUCATION I NTRODUCTION  Introduction Last. summer,. New. Jersey’s. Star-Ledger. ran. a. hard-hitting. piece. about. the. condition. of. education. finance. in. the. Garden. State.. It. bemoaned. a. dismal. school-system. budget. in. which. teachers. had. been. laid. off,. extracurricular. activities. scrapped,. and. free. transportation. curtailed.. But. one. budgetary. category. had. been. spared:. special. education. â€Å"This. is. an. area. that. is. completely. out. of. control. and. in. desperate. need. of. reform,†. said. Larrie. Reynolds,. superintendent. in. the. Mount. Olive. School. District,. where. special-education. spending. rose. 17. percent.this. year.. â€Å"Everything. else. has. a. finite. limit.. Special. education—in. this. state,. at. least—is. similar. to. the. universe.. It. has. no. end.. It. is. the. untold. story. of. what. every. school. district. is. dealing. with. † 1 And. so. it. is.. Special. education. consumes. a. hefty. slice. of. the. education. pie,. comprising. an. estimated. 21. percent. of. all. education. spending. in. 2005.. That. slice. is. growing,. too.. Forty-one. percent. of. all. increases. in. education. spending. between. 1996. and. 2005. went. to. fund. it. 2 As. Superintendent. Reynolds. indicated,. special. education. is. a. field.in. urgent. need. of. reform.. Not. only. is. its. funding. widely. seen. as. sacrosanct—due. to. federal. â€Å"maintenance. of. effort†. requirements,. strong. special-education. lobbies,. nervous. superintendents,. entrenched. traditions,. and. inertia,. as. well. as. a. collective. sense. that. we. should. do. right. by. these. kids—but. America’s. approach. to. it. is. also. antiquated.. Despite. good. intentions. and. some. reform. efforts,. the. field. is. still. beset. by. a. compliance-oriented. mindset. that. values. process. over. outcomes.. Thirty-six. years. after. Congress. passed. the. Education. for. All. Handicapped. Chil dren. Act. (now. the. Individuals. with. Disabilities. Education. Act. or. IDEA),. the. rigidities. and. shortcomings. of. yesterday’s. approach. have. become. overwhelming,. as. have. the. dollar. costs.. There. has. to. be. a. better. way. We. at. the. Thomas. B.. Fordham. Institute. seek. to. help. chart. a. different. path,. doing. right. by. children. with. special. needs. while. recognizing. both. that. every. youngster. is. special. in. some. way. and. that. the. taxpayer’s. pocket. is. not. bottomless.. This. is. the. first. of. several. special-education. eye. openers. that. we’re. undertaking. 3. Ten. years. ago,.we. dipped. our. toes. into. the. turbid. waters. of. special-education. policy. via. a. set. of. thought-provoking. papers. in. a. volume. titled. Rethinking Special Education for a New Century. 4. The. fundamental. shift. from. compliance. to. outcomes. that. we. advocated. in. that. volume. has,. for. the. most. part,. not. come. to. pass. (though. we. may. see. a. glimmer. of. hope. in. the. implementation. of. Response. to. Intervention. [RTI]. programs).. Still,. someday—probably. after. the. delayed. reauthorization. of. the. Elementary. and. Secondary. Education. Act—Congress. will. again. take. up. IDEA.. Methodologypecial-education. student-population. data. (referred. to. in. federal. reporting. requirements. as. â€Å"child. count†). and. personnel. data. were. drawn. from. the. Data. Accountability. Center,. funded. by. the. Office. of. Special. Education. Programs. in. the. U. S.. Department. of. Education. and. located. at. ideadata. org. 5. Child-count. totals. are. reported. each. year. by. states. and. include. all. children. ages. three. to. twenty-one. identified. with. disabilities. 6. Thus,. the. term. â€Å"students. with. disabilities†. in. this. report. refers. to. the. number. of. students. that. the. education. system. recognizes.as. having. disabilities.. Variation. among. the. states’. disability. incidence. rates. almost. surely. has. more. to. S do. with. how. a. state. defines. and. identifies. special-needs. students. (i. e. ,. whether. a. state. over-. or. under-identifies. disabilities). than. with. the. true. population. of. disabled. children. in. that. state. . To. calculate. each. state’s. disability. incidence. rate,. child-count. numbers. were. divided. by. total. state. enrollment. figures. 7. State. enrollment. data. were. drawn. from. the. Digest of Education Statistics.. Total. student. enrollment. data. for. the. 2009-10. school. year.had. not. been. released. as. of. publication;. thus. 2009-10. figures. are. based. on. projections. published. in. the. Digest. 2 SH I FTI NG TREN DS I N SPECIAL EDUCATION I NTRODUCTION It’s. our. hope. that. the. next. iteration. of. that. law. will. benefit. from. fresh. thinking. amid. changed. realities. But. that. day. has. not. yet. dawned.. And. before. we. can. seriously. re-imagine. the. field. of. special. education. and. how. it. should. be. funded,. we. need. a. basic. understanding. of. the. state. of. special. education. today—and. how. it’s. changed. over. the. past. decade.. Many. are. aware,. for. instance,.that. the. number. of. students. who. received. specialeducation. services. rose. steadily. between. IDEA’s. enactment. in. 1975. and. the. turn. of. the. century.. But. is. this. population. still. growing?. Are. particular. types. of. disabilities. responsible. for. overall. trends?. What. types. of. personnel. do. schools. employ. to. teach. these. students?. Accurate. descriptive. data. on. questions. like. these. are. a. scarce. commodity. (more. on. that. later),. but. we. desperately. need. them. if. we’re. to. wrestle. with. the. more. complex. questions. that. vex. the. field,. such. as:. Have. rising. numbers. of.special-education. students. driven. up. costs?. Which. states. are. spending. more. and. which. are. spending. less. per. special-education. student. than. others?. Are. states. correctly. identifying. students. and. providing. them. with. appropriate. services?. What. types .of. interventions. are. most. effective. with. special-needs. children? This. report. sets. forth. the. number. of. children. identified. with. disabilities. in. our. nation’s. schools. by. disability. type,. nationally. and. by. state,. examining. how. those. patterns. have. changed. over. the. past. decade.. It. also. addresses:  ». Which. states. have. the.largest. and. smallest. proportions. of. children. judged. to. have. disabilities;  ». The. extent. to. which. the. numbers. of. students. with. specific. learning. disabilities. have. changed. over. the. last. ten. years;. and  ». The. number. of. special-education. personnel. employed. nationally. and. how. this. varies. by. state. We. also. dig. into. a. couple. of. outliers—Massachusetts. and. Texas—and. attempt. to. explain. why. their. data. look. like. they. do.. We. close. with. a. few. takeaways. and. next. steps.. 3 SH I FTI NG TREN DS I N SPECIAL EDUCATION FI N DI NGS Findings Students with Disabilities across America. After. decades. of. steady. increases,. the. population. of. students. with. disabilities. peaked. in. 2004-05. with. 6. 72. million. youngsters,. comprising. 13. 8. percent. of. the. national. student. body. (see. Figure. 1).. The. following. year. marked. the. first. time. since. the. enactment. of. IDEA. in. 1975. that. special-education. participation. numbers. declined.. (For. a. long-term. trend. analysis. of. the. special-education. population,. see. Appendix. A. ). Since. then,. the. number. and. proportion. of. students. with. disabilities. has. decreased. steadily,. falling. to. 13. 1. percent. of. the. national. student.body. by. 2009-10,. or. 6. 48. million. students.. 1 13. 8 13. 6 13. 4 13. 2 13. 0 Proportion of the National Student Population with Disabilities, 2000-01 to 2009-10 This. national. trend. is. driven. by. shifting. populations. of. particular. disability. types.. The. federal. government. requires. all. states. to. report. studentpopulation. numbers. across. twelve. categories. of. disability. (the. reporting. of. a. thirteenth,. termed. â€Å"developmental. delay,†. is. optional):. autism;. deafblindness;. emotional. disturbance;. hearing. impairments;. mental. retardation;. multiple. disabilities;. orthopedic. impairments;. other.health. impairments;. specific. learning. disabilities;. speech. or. language. impairments;. traumatic. brain. injuries;. and. visual. impairments.. (For. the. full. federal. definition. of. each. category,. see. Appendix. B. ). 1 2 4 6 7 3 5 8 9. Much. of. the. recent. decrease. in. the. overall. specialeducation. population. can. be. attributed. to. the. shrinking. population. of. students. identified. with. specific. learning. disabilities. (SLDs).. After. decades. of. growth,. the. proportion. of. students. with. SLDs. peaked. in. 2000-01. and. declined. thereafter,. falling. from. 2. 86. million. to. 2. 43. million. students.between. 2000-01. and. 2009-10,. or. from. 6. 1. to. 4. 9. percent. of. the. national. student. body. 8. -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 07 -0 -0 -0 00 -0 04 02 06 03 05. Other. disability. categories. declined. as. well.. The. population. of. students. with. mental. retardation. dropped. from. A Caveat on Disability Types T he. federal. government. requires. states. to. report. child-count. numbers. across. twelve. disability. categories. each. year. (a. thirteenth. category. is. optional),. but. does. not. require. that. states. actually. use. those. categories. for. their. own. within-state. identification. and. data-collection. purposes.. Thus,.state-specific. nuances. in. disability. definitions. abound.. For. example,. many. states. employ. their. own. unique. definitions. for. each. of. the. thirteen. categories. and/or. combine. and. eliminate. categories.. At. least. one. state. goes. so. far. as. to. identify. no. individual. categories,. opting. instead. for. a. single. â€Å"eligible. individual†. classification. for. students. with. disabilities. (see. Iowa’s SLD Trend: True or False? ).. To. meet. federal. reporting. requirements,. these. states. must. estimate. the. number. of. students. with. disabilities. within. each. federal. category.. And. in. some. cases,.federal. reporting. requirements. allow. states. to. report. one. category. within. another—for. example,. seven. states. report. students. with. multiple. disabilities. in. their. primary-disability. categories. rather. than. in. the. â€Å"multiple. disabilities†. 08 09 01 -10 category.. The. lack. of. consistency. in. defining. and. reporting. data. across. all. fifty. states. renders. any. state-level. comparison. of. students. with. disabilities. inherently. imprecise. . Take,. for. example,. recent. categorization. changes. in. Ohio.. Prior. to. 2007-08,. preschoolers. (three-. to. five-yearolds). with. disabilities. in. the. Buckeye. State. were. lumped. together. in. a. single. disability. category.. In. that. year,. however,. Ohio. first. required. preschoolers. to. be. sorted. into. distinct. categories.. To. ease. the. transition,. districts. classified. all. existing. preschoolers. with. disabilities. as. having. developmental. delays;. thereafter,. all. new. preschoolers. with. disabilities. were. to. be. categorized. by. disability.. As. could. be. expected,. the. number. of. students. with. developmental. delays. reported. to. the. federal. government. suddenly. grew. from. 0. to. 19,000. in. 2007-08,. and. then. fell. by. half. in. 2008-09.and. again. slightly. in. 2009-10. 9. Such. inconsistencies—this. is. just. one. example. of. myriad. state. eccentricities. and. idiosyncrasies—confuse. trend. analyses. at. both. the. state. and. national. level. 4 SH I FTI NG TREN DS I N SPECIAL EDUCATION FI N DI NGS 624,000. to. 463,000. in. that. time,. or. from. 1. 3. percent. to. 0. 9. percent. of. all. students.. The. number. identified. with. emotional. disturbances. fell. from. near. 480,000. in. 2000-01. to. 407,000. by. 2009-10. (after. peaking. at. 489,000. students. in. 2003-04),. or. from. 1. 0. to. 0. 8. percent. of. all. students.. Offsetting. a. portion. of.the. decline. in. these. disability. categories. were. sharp. increases. in. the. populations. of. students. with. autism. and. other. health. impairm ents. (OHIs). over. the. last. decade.. The. number. of. autistic. students. quadrupled. between. 2000-01. and. 2009-10,. rising. from. 93,000. to. 378,000,. while. the. number. of. OHI. students. more. than. doubled. from. 303,000. to. 689,000.. Still,. the. autistic. and. OHI. populations. constituted. only. 0. 8. and. 1. 4. percent,. respectively,. of. all. students. in. 2009-10. The. category. of. developmental. delay,. which. often. serves. as. a. general. disability. category.for. young. students. (typically. ages. three. to. five. or. three. to. nine),. grew. as. well,. from. 213,000. students. in. 2000-01. to. 368,000. in. 2009-10,. or. from. 0. 5. to. 0. 7. percent. of. all. students. The. incidence. of. other. disability. types. (which,. other. than. speech. or. language. impairments,. comprise. a. small. fraction. of. the. total). either. remained. stable. or. declined. slightly. during. this. time.. Figure. 2. shows. in. â€Å"pie. chart†. form. how. the. composition. of. the. special-education. population. has. changed. over. the. past. decade.. While. SLD. students. constituted. 45. 4. percent. of.all. students. with. disabilities. in. 2000-01,. that. percentage. had. shrunk. to. 37. 5. percent. by. 2009-10.. Autism,. on. the. other. hand,. increased. from. 1. 5. percent. of. all. identified. disabilities. to. 5. 8. percent.. OHI. identifications. doubled. from. 4. 8. to. 10. 6. percent,. while. cases. of. both. emotional. disturbance. and. mental. retardation. decreased. relative. to. other. identifications. 2 Special-Education Population by Disability 2000-01 and 2009-10 3. 4% 1. 5% 4. 8% 5. 3% 7. 6% 9. 9% 5. 1% 5. 8% 21. 8% 5. 7% 10. 6% 6. 3% 37. 5% 7. 1% 22. 0% 45. 4% n = 6. 30 million students ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1. 5% 3.4% 4. 8% 7. 6% 9. 9% 45. 4% 22. 0% 5. 3% Autism Developmental Delay Other Health Impairment Emotional Disturbance Mental Retardation Specific Learning Disability Speech or Language Impairment Other Disabilities ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 2000-01 n = 6. 48 million students 5. 8% 5. 7% 10. 6% 6. 3% 7. 1% 37. 5% 21. 8% 5. 1% Autism Developmental Delay Other Health Impairment Emotional Disturbance Mental Retardation Specific Learning Disability Speech or Language Impairment Other Disabilities 2009-10 Note:. The. special-education. population. in. 2009-10. was. slightly. larger. in. raw. numbers. than. it. was. in. 2000-01,. but. the. proportion.of. students. with. disabilities. among. all. students. declined. from. 13. 3. percent. in. 2000-01. to. 13. 1. percent. in. 2009-10.. 5 SH I FTI NG TREN DS I N SPECIAL EDUCATION FI N DI NGS Students with Disabilities by State The. national. figures. mask. stark. variation. among. the. states.. As. Figure. 3. shows,. Rhode. Island,. New. York,. and. Massachusetts. topped. the. list. with. the. highest. rates. of. disability. identification. in. 2009-10;. Rhode. Island. was. the. only. state. to. have. more. than. 18. percent. of. its. student. body. enrolled. in. special. education.. At. the. other. end. of. the. spectrum. were. Texas,. Idaho,. and. Colorado.. Texas’s. rate. of. disability. identification. was. less. than. half. of. Rhode. Island’s,. at. just. 9. 1. percent. (see. Figure. 4. for. complete. state. identification. rates).. These. vast. disparities. call. into. question. the. extent. to. which. true. incidences. of. disability. vary. among. state. populations,. or. to. which. some. states. over-identify. or. under-identify. students. with. disabilities. 10 3 Identification Rates of Students with Disabilities, by State 2009-10 WA MT OR ID WY NE NV CA UT CO KS IA IL MO TN AR MS TX LA FL AL GA SC IN OH WV KY NC AZ NM OK VA SD ND MN WI NY MI PA. VT ME NH MA RI CT NJ DE MD D. C. ? 9. 0? –? 10. 99% ? 11. 0? –? 12. 99% ? 13. 0? –? 14. 99% ? 15. 0? –? 16. 99% ? 17. 0? –? 18. 99% AK US AVERAGE HI About. half. of. the. states. saw. increases. in. their. rates. of. special-education. identification. between. 2000-01. and. 2009-10,. while. the. other. half. saw. decreases. (see. Figure. 5).. The. national. proportion. of. students. with. disabilities. rose. and. fell. over. that. time. period,. landing. 0. 2. percentage. points. lower. in. 2009-10. (at. 13. 1. percent). than. in. 2000-01. (at. 13. 3. percent).. Texas’s. rate. of. identification. fell. from. 12. 1. percent. to. 9. 1. percent—in. raw. numbers,. a. decrease. of. about. 47,000. students.. Pennsylvania,. on. the. other. hand,. saw. an. increase. in. students. with. disabilities. from. 13. 4. percent. of. the. student. body. in. 2000-01. to. 16. 7. percent. in. 2009-10—or,. in. raw. numbers,. an. increase. of. 52,000. students. 6 SH I FTI NG TREN DS I N SPECIAL EDUCATION FI N DI NGS 4 Identification Rate of Students with Disabilities, by State 2009-10 18. 68 17. 80 17. 36 17. 25 17. 16 Massachusetts Maine Rhode Island New York 5 Percentage-point Change in Identification Rate, by State 2000-01 to 2009-10 3. 29 2. 39 2. 05 1. 80 1. 80 1.76 1. 35 1. 16 1. 14 1. 12 1. 72 2. 53. Pennsylvania Wyoming Vermont West Virginia Vermont Pennsylvania Indiana New Jersey Wyoming New York Minnesota Ohio 16. 66 16. 84 16. 55 16. 52 15. 60 15. 55 15. 57 15. 74 South Dakota North Dakota Kentucky New Hampshire Delaware Kentucky Illinois New Hampshire Michigan Massachusetts Nebraska South Dakota Oklahoma Wisconsin Missouri Ohio 14. 80 14. 75 14. 71 14. 97 15. 04 Oklahoma Indiana Alaska Delaware Kansas 0. 99 0. 98 0. 71 0. 71 1. 10 Minnesota 14. 66 Mississippi Washington Oregon Illinois D. C. 14. 64 14. 34 14. 15 14. 58 0. 46 0. 52 Wisconsin Arizona Utah 0. 39 0. 38 0. 14 0. 42. North Dakota Oregon Kansas 14. 26 14. 12 Nebraska California New Jersey Maine 0. 09 0. 08 0. 03 0. 07 South Carolina Michigan Alaska Iowa Florida 14. 09 14. 06 13. 98 13. 79 13. 55 13. 14 13. 99 13. 94 United States -0. 04 -0. 26 -0. 28 -0. 53 -0. 61 -0. 61 -0. 20 New Mexico Arkansas Virginia Montana Nevada Arkansas Colorado United States Mississippi Louisiana 13. 42 13. 03 12. 53 12. 30 12. 25 11. 94 11. 28 11. 28 11. 13 11. 17 12. 21 12. 41 12. 57 Maryland Missouri Virginia Iowa Louisiana -0. 60 Washington Connecticut Tennessee Maryland -0. 70 -0. 74 -0. 85 -0. 85 -1. 03 -1. 03 -1. 43 -1. 43 -1. 54 -1. 72 -1. 41 -0. 75 -0. 72 D. C. North Carolina Hawaii Utah Montana West Virginia Georgia Florida Rhode Island Connecticut Alabama Arizona Nevada California 10. 67 Colorado Georgia 10. 45 10. 27 9. 89 9. 13 10. 58 South Carolina Hawaii Idaho North Carolina Tennessee Idaho Texas 0 5 10 15 20 New Mexico Texas Alabama -2. 32 -2. 98 -3. 5 -1. 75 0 1. 75 3. 5 -2. 52 -2. 01 DISABILITY IDENTIFICATION RATE (%). PERCENTAGE-POINT CHANGE IN IDENTIFICATION RATE 7 SH I FTI NG TREN DS I N SPECIAL EDUCATION FI N DI NGS Specific Learning Disabilities As. the. most. prevalent. of. all. disability. types,. the. category. of. specific. learning. disabilities. (SLDs). provides.a. unique. look. into. shifting. disability. populations.. The. nationwide. population. of. students. with. specific. learning. disabilities. shrank. at. a. notable. rate. over. the. decade. leading. to. 2009-10:. SLD. numbers. fell. from. 2. 86. million. students. and. 6. 1. percent. of. the. national. student. body. in. 2000-01. to. 2. 43. million. students. and. 4. 9. percent. of. the. student. body. in. 2009-10. 11. Some. of. this. drop. was. likely. due. to. an. increasing. national. awareness. of. autism. and. a. subsequent. shift. from. incorrect. SLD. identification. to. autism. identification.. A. few. other. hypotheses.are. worth. mentioning.. First,. growing. populations. of. students. with. developmental. delays,. which. may. in. some. states. substitute. for. autism. diagnoses. of. three-. to. five-year-olds,. and. with. OHIs,. which. has. become. somewhat. of. a. â€Å"catch. all†. category,. may. be. responsible. for. some. of. the. SLD. decrease,. in. addition. to. growth. in. autism.. Second,. SLD. numbers. may. have. dropped. due. to. the. proliferation. of. Response. to. Intervention. (RTI)—a. method. of. providing. targeted. assistance. to. young. children. who. have. difficulty. learning—and. other. early-reading. interventions. (see. Response to Intervention).. Lastly,. the. identification. of. SLDs,. though. strictly. outlined. in. policy,. appears. more. subjective. and. prone. to. human. error. than. the. identification. of. most. other. disabilities;. thus,. SLD. identification. is. perhaps. more. affected. by. related. changes. in. policy,. budget,. personnel,. etc. Rates. of. SLD. identification. varied. across. the. fifty. states. in. 2009-10.. As. shown. in. Figure. 6,. just. 2. percent. of. the. student. body. in. Kentucky. was. labeled. SLD. in. 2009-10,. while. over. 8. 4. percent. o f. Iowa’s. student. body. was. classified. as. such.. Similarly,. in.2009-10,. Kentucky’s. SLD. students. comprised. only. 13. 1. percent. of. the. state’s. entire. special-education. student. body,. while. in. Iowa. they. accounted. for. 60. 4. percent.. Across. the. entire. United. States,. SLD. students. comprised. 4. 9. percent. of. all. students. and. 37. 5. percent. of. all. students. with. disabilities. in. 2009-10.. Massachusetts. saw. the. greatest. percentage-point. decrease. in. its. SLD. population. between. 2000-01. and. 200910.. There,. SLD. students. fell. from. 9. 8. to. 5. 9. percent. of. all. students. during. that. time.. As. a. slice. of. the. specialeducation. pie,. in. fact,. Massachusetts’s. SLD. students. went. from. 58. 7. percent. of. all. special-education. students. to. just. 33. 3. percent.. Despite. this. declining. proportion,. however,. Massachusetts. still. identifies. the. second. overall. highest. rate. of. disability. in. the. nation. (see. Behind the Numbers in Outlier States. on. page. 13). Response to Intervention esponse. to. Intervention. (RTI). is. a. method. of. providing. targeted. and. increasingly. intensive. assistance. to. young. children. who. have. difficulty. learning.. RTI. began. to. gain. ground. with. the. enactment. of. the. No. Child. Left. Behind. Act. (NCLB). in. 2001,. which. provided. schools. with. Reading. First. grants. to. introduce. it. and. other. early-reading. strategies. into. general. education.. But. the. program. spread. more. rapidly. in. the. aftermath. of. the. 2004. reauthorization. of. IDEA,. which. allowed. districts. to. spend. 15. percent. of. the. law’s. Part. B. funds. on. RTI. and. other. early-intervening. services,. and. to. use. RTI. as. one. part. of. a. comprehensive. evaluation. process. for. identifying. students. with. SLDs.. In. 2007,. just. 24. percent. of. R districts. reported. that. they. had. implemented. or. were. in. the. process. of. implementing. RTI;. by. 2010,. this. had. risen. to. 61. percent. of. districts. 12 . Indeed,. SLD. may. be. the. disability. population. most. affected. by. early. interventions. like. RTI,. because. such. interventions. can. help. prevent. the. misidentification. and. mislabeling. of. struggling. students—who. may. simply. learn. better. with. enhanced,. tailored. instruction—as. students. with. SLDs.. At. the. same. time,. modifications. in. pedagogical. approach. and. lesson. planning. can. help. to. offset. the. challenges. faced. by. those. students. with. true. but. mild. SLDs.. 8 SH I FTI NG TREN DS I N SPECIAL EDUCATION FI N DI NGS 6. SLD as a Proportion of All Students and All Students with Disabilities, by State 2009-10 ALL STUDENTS Iowa 8. 42 7. 63 7. 41 STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES Nevada Iowa 60. 37 47. 47 45. 06 42. 92 42. 78 42. 73 42. 11 42. 74 44. 25 45. 81 48. 11 Pennsylvania Rhode Island New Jersey Delaware Oklahoma New York 6. 43 6. 29 6. 17 6. 85 Pennsylvania Alabama Arizona Delaware Iowa’s SLD Trend: True or False? New Hampshire South Carolina D. C. 6. 05 5. 99 5. 96 5. 92 5. 85 5. 73 5. 95 5. 97 South Carolina Oklahoma California Texas Utah I Florida Massachusetts Illinois Florida 42. 40 42. 09 41. 87 41. 21 Alaska Ohio Hawaii Montana Alaska D. C. New Mexico South Dakota Alabama Nevada Indiana 5. 48 5. 36 5. 13 5. 11 New Mexico New Hampshire United States New Jersey Ohio Illinois 40. 92 38. 88 38. 46 38. 16 37. 51 38. 87 39. 76 Michigan Montana 5. 03 5. 03 4. 97 5. 01 5. 05 Wyoming United States Arizona Oregon Utah Kansas Maine Rhode Island Tennessee New York Colorado 36. 68 Nebraska Hawaii 4. 89 4. 92 4. 93 4. 95 36. 43 36. 28 35. 53 36. 11 Michigan Washington 4. 82 4. 82 4. 75 Virginia South Dakota Oregon Kansas 34. 94 34. 53 33. 25 32. 06 31. 93 31. 36 31. 51 33. 16 34. 15 34. 57 35. 07 35. 22 West Virginia Vermont Virginia 4. 69 4. 59 4. 61 Massachusetts North Carolina Indiana. North Dakota Washington Wisconsin Missouri Tennessee California 4. 50 4. 38 4. 11 4. 47 4. 52 4. 31 North Dakota Mississippi Wisconsin Arkansas Vermont Georgia Maine Idaho Connecticut Maryland Nebraska North Carolina Connecticut Mississippi Maryland Arkansas 4. 08 4. 00 3. 99 3. 85 3. 70 3. 74 3. 87 4. 04 29. 99 29. 94 29. 36 29. 02 29. 15 29. 81 30. 63 Minnesota Colorado Texas Wyoming Louisiana Georgia Idaho 3. 60 3. 07 2. 97. West Virginia Minnesota Kentucky Louisiana Missouri 28. 69 28. 66 27. 86 13. 10 28. 94 owa. was. a. notable. exception. to. the. general. SLD. trend,. as. one. of. only. four. states. that. reported. an.increase. in. its. proportion. of. SLD. students. from. 2000-01. to. 2009-10.. The. Hawkeye. State. illustrates. the. extent. to. which. data. reporting—rather. than. actual. shifts. in. disability. incidence—may. affect. the. numbers. reported. to. the. public.. . At. 8. 4. percent,. Iowa. had. the. highest. rate. of. SLD. in. the. nation. for. 2009-10.. However,. the. state. does. not. assign. particular. disability. categories. to. its. specialeducation. students;. instead,. it. uses. a. single. â€Å"eligible. individual†. designation. for. all. students. with. disabilities.. To. meet. federal. disability. reporting. requirements,.which. call. for. population. counts. disaggregated. by. disability. category,. Iowa. examines. a. random. sample. of. Individualized. Education. Programs. (IEPs). each. year.. Reviewers. decide,. based. on. the. services. described. therein,. which. type. of. disability. is. likely. being. served. 13. Thus. Iowa’s. high. rate. of. SLD. relative. to. other. states. may. result. from. judgment. errors. made. by. IEP. reviewers,. who. examine. student. services. rather. than. symptoms.. Further. inaccuracy. could. arise. from. outdated. expectations. that. SLD. students. should. comprise. a. large. proportion. of. all. students.with. disabilities:. Beyond. Iowa’s. high. SLD. rate,. the. state. also. reports. low. rates. of. autism. and. OHI,. and. each. of. these. rates. has. remained. relatively. stable. in. the. state. over. the. last. decade.. Given. that. national. SLD. numbers. have. been. dropping. considerably,. while. autism. and. OHI. numbers. are. rising. quickly,. Iowa’s. incidence. rates. may. simply. be. based. on. old. assumptions. Kentucky 0 2 4 6 8 10 2. 04 25. 25 0 20 40 60 80 SLD IDENTIFICATION RATE (%) SLD IDENTIFICATION RATE (%) 9 SH I FTI NG TREN DS I N SPECIAL EDUCATION FI N DI NGS Personnel As. special-education. numbers. have.increased. over. the. last. few. decades,. only. recently. declining. for. the. first. time,. the. cost. of. educating. these. students. has. continued. to. increase. at. a. fast. rate. 14. Because. 85. percent. of. special-education. spending. supports. personnel,. special-education. staff. is. obviously. the. main. source. of. swelling. expenditures. 15 Schools. employ. a. diverse. range. of. professionals. to. teach,. support,. and. assist. their. students. with. disabilities.. In. addition. to. special-education. teachers. and. paraprofessionals—employees. who. might. provide. one-on-one. tutoring,. assist. with. classroom.  management,. conduct. parental-involvement. activities,. or. provide. instructional. support. under. the. supervision. of. a. teacher—a. school. might. retain. a. number. of. more. specialized. professionals. such. as. Audiologists,. speech. and. language. pathologists,. psychologists,. occupational. therapists,. physical. therapists,. social. workers,. and. more. 16. Because. shifts. in. these. populations. are. difficult. to. trace. over. time. (mostly. due. to. changes. in. federal. reporting. requirements),. this. analysis. focuses. on. teachers. and. paraprofessionals,. which. together. constitute. over. 80. percent. of. all.  special-education. personnel. 17 The. ratio. of. teachers. to. students. fluctuated. over. the. last. decade,. reaching. its. peak. in. 2005-06. and. declining. quickly. thereafter. (see. Figure. 7).. Public. schools. employed. sixty-five. special-education. teachers. per. thousand. special-education. students. in. 2000-01—or. 412,000. teachers. overall;. that. ratio. rose. to. seventy. per. thousand. in. 2005-06,. and. then. fell. to. sixty-three. per. thousand—or. 405,000. teachers. overall—by. 2008-09.. (Personnel. data. were. not. available. for. 2009-10. as. of. publication. ) In. contrast,. the. number. of. special-educati.

New Industry in Gaming :: Informative

New Industry in Gaming Video games are no longer the nerdy stepchild of popular entertainment. Nearly half of all US homes own one game-playing machine, and 23 percent own more than three, according to Nielsen Entertainment. The technical requirements for video games are pushing the most popular technologies - including cell phones, Palm Pilots, computers, and TV - to become more versatile and powerful. College grads are now more likely to head into interactive software than moviemaking. This industry is now at an important crossroads, say experts, largely due to its explosive growth with the costs to develop a hit new game now topping $10 million. In such a lucrative industry there must be an untapped area yet to be discovered. One area of choice is the advanced usage of gaming in an educational atmosphere. Games are increasingly used to support teaching and learning e.g., using text adventures to assist in teaching English as a second language. Another particular review of relevant research indicated that mathematics was a subject where the use of games was usually superior to traditional classroom instruction However this, and several other reviews, were carried out when games were relatively primitive; fewer studies have been undertaken over the last five years, during which games have significantly increased in complexity, and often demand much greater interaction from the user. It does not require a great leap of imagination to extrapolate this database-oriented scenario into a more digital library and teaching-oriented scenario. Video game manufactures such as Square Soft and E.A Games could greatly benefit from researching and developing a segment into educational gaming. They should segment this market in to an age bracket of 3 to 9 year olds. New Industry in Gaming :: Informative New Industry in Gaming Video games are no longer the nerdy stepchild of popular entertainment. Nearly half of all US homes own one game-playing machine, and 23 percent own more than three, according to Nielsen Entertainment. The technical requirements for video games are pushing the most popular technologies - including cell phones, Palm Pilots, computers, and TV - to become more versatile and powerful. College grads are now more likely to head into interactive software than moviemaking. This industry is now at an important crossroads, say experts, largely due to its explosive growth with the costs to develop a hit new game now topping $10 million. In such a lucrative industry there must be an untapped area yet to be discovered. One area of choice is the advanced usage of gaming in an educational atmosphere. Games are increasingly used to support teaching and learning e.g., using text adventures to assist in teaching English as a second language. Another particular review of relevant research indicated that mathematics was a subject where the use of games was usually superior to traditional classroom instruction However this, and several other reviews, were carried out when games were relatively primitive; fewer studies have been undertaken over the last five years, during which games have significantly increased in complexity, and often demand much greater interaction from the user. It does not require a great leap of imagination to extrapolate this database-oriented scenario into a more digital library and teaching-oriented scenario. Video game manufactures such as Square Soft and E.A Games could greatly benefit from researching and developing a segment into educational gaming. They should segment this market in to an age bracket of 3 to 9 year olds.