Evaluation of Disability Employment Policy Demonstration Programs

[Excerpt] Having characterized the intermediary approach from published literature, as well as impressions of those who are using this approach in their demonstration projects, and reviewed ODEP’s requirements regarding implementation of the intermediary approach, Westat determined that the intermediary approaches required in the SGAs for the State Intermediary and Faith-based Mentoring demonstration programs have much in common with other ODEP demonstration programs. Other ODEP programs require demonstration projects to partner and collaborate with businesses and business organizations, government, transportation systems, and health and other service providers. They also have goals for ensuring quality and impact and promoting policies to sustain effective practices. The difference, however, is that the State Intermediary and Faith-based mentoring SGAs specifically identified the intermediary approach as the strategy to use. The State Intermediary SGA went even further by delineating specific steps as part of the intermediary process (resource mapping and development of a state plan). Our literature review uncovered a wide variety of examples in which the intermediary approach has achieved useful outcomes on behalf of youth with disabilities. However, all literature we found was descriptive and did not address questions on effectiveness or the most appropriate strategies. Therefore, it is not known whether the intermediary approach is the most fruitful approach for achieving systems change, whether there are some intermediary approaches that are better than others, or whether those approaches would be repeatable and adaptable to other environments. Nevertheless, at our three site visits, we were able to uncover a variety of examples of activities that are consistent with intermediary strategic and operational functions identified in the literature and appear to bode well for success in achieving systems change. Further review of Quarterly Reports and findings from site visits also revealed some systems change already taking place in the systems change focus areas of capacity-building, coordination, consumer choice and employer support, and evaluation of new practices. Subsequent site visits in Phase IV of the independent evaluation are likely to uncover additional examples of intermediary processes, outputs, and outcomes, as well as those practices that appear to be most successful in achieving systems change

Role of Intermediaries in ODEP Youth Demonstration Programs

[Excerpt] All Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) demonstration programs use aspects of an intermediary approach to connect organizations and agencies at all levels in meeting educational and employment goals on behalf of people with disabilities. As part of Phase III of the independent evaluation of ODEP demonstration programs, ODEP asked Westat to conduct an in-depth analysis of the role of intermediaries in building sustained capacity and integration of services of the workforce development system to better serve youth with disabilities. The overriding question in the context of this issue analysis is whether, to what extent, and how the intermediary approach is being used in youth demonstration programs and whether it is effective in creating systems change to better serve youth with disabilities. The following questions were addressed: - What characterizes the intermediary approach? - What are ODEP’s requirements with regard to the use of an intermediary approach by demonstration programs? - What are demonstration project sites’ experiences in using an intermediary approach? &#; What can be said to date on the effectiveness of using an intermediary approach, particularly with regard to systems change

The effect of technological opportunism on the performance of SMES: A dynamic capabilities perspective

In today’s fast changing business environment, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) need to seize the technological opportunities that this environment provides, by developing dynamic capabilities to build and attain high performance. This dissertation looks at the effect that technological opportunism has on the performance of SMEs in Namibia. In addition, the dissertation looks at the mediating role of dynamic capabilities on the relationship between technological opportunism and SMEs. The study draws from the dynamic capabilities view for theoretical context. The literature reviewed enabled the development of a conceptual model, which further contributes to theory. Data is drawn from a random sample of 209 SMEs located in Namibia. Results from the regression analysis suggest that the effect of technological opportunism on the performance of SMEs is partially mediated by dynamic capabilities. For the three capabilities assessed, the learning and integrative capabilities have a partial mediating effect on the link between technological opportunism and performance, while the transformative capability does not mediate this relationship. The study offers important academic and business implications, and also points out future research directions. The findings serve as a guide to best improve the work done in this sector, with an emphasis on how to best develop SMEs’ capabilities with regard to new technology initiatives, aimed at improving SMEs. SME owners are encouraged to build capacity, embrace partnerships and develop capabilities that results in better performance

Development of humanity. A critical perspective on the Human Development Index by reconsidering Sen and Goulet

In this thesis, I evaluate the Human Development Index (HDI) as to contribute to recent political and social debates on development cooperation. The focus lies on the way development is usually approached. The HDI is a renown instrument to assess countries’ performance in terms of development. However, the flipside of high development is that it sometimes has inversely proportional effects on less developed countries. This is not reflected in the HDI, as the HDI only indicates countries’ level of income, longevity and knowledge The evaluation of the HDI is based on a comparison between Amartya Sen’s capability approach (the conceptual framework of the HDI) and Denis Goulet’s theory of authentic development. Sen on the one hand stresses the need to expand peoples capabilities to choose a life they have reason to value. Goulet, on the other hand, argues that development should lead to life-sustenance, esteem and freedom for every man and of the whole humanity. Both theories are explored according to the reflected views on development, the goals of development and the values on which the theories are based. This exploration is followed by a comparison of the two theories in order to evaluate the HDI. Eventually I will argue in line with Goulet’s ideas that the HDI should also include indicators of sustainability, solidarity and austerity, in order to assess countries’ levels of authentic development

Personality changes of habitual spectacle wearers as they change to contact lens wear

Seventeen habitual full-time spectacle wearers who requested contact lenses at the Pacific University College o f Optometry Clinic (PUCOC) were administred the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) before receiving their contact lenses. This experimental group achieved full time contact lens wear. Eight months after the initial testing the subjects were readministered the CPI. A control group o f 16 PUCOC patients who had not requested contact lenses was chosen to match the experimental group by age range and sex and underwent the same CPI test-retest program. Student t-tests indicated that neither the experimental nor the control group demonstrated any statistically significant personality changes on retest. Results of questionnaires accompanying the CPI on retest indicated that 70.6% felt more attractive wearing contact lenses than spectacles, but only 29.4% felt that contact lenses had made a significant change in their social lives

An investigation into the nature and prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions among women attending a community clinic, and the effectiveness of an intervention programme for these patients

The thesis set out to document the process of developing and testing a non-pharmacological biopsychosocial intervention programme which included exercise and health education for women with musculoskeletal conditions attending a clinic in a poorly resourced area of the Free State Province in South Africa. To inform the development of an appropriate intervention, several sub-studies were undertaken. Systematic reviews on the use of exercise and health education in adults were undertaken, one on the impact of these interventions on adults with chronic diseases of lifestyle (diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension) and the risk factor obesity, and the other on the impact on adults with musculoskeletal conditions. The selected research tools, which were chosen based on the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) were subjected to a rigorous translation process. A facility-based descriptive observational cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and nature of musculoskeletal conditions amongst women between the ages of 40 and 64 years attending a community clinic. The gathered information was then used to modify and adapt existing non-pharmacological programmes and develop an intervention programme tailor made for these patients. Finally, an experimental randomised controlled trial was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of usual care against a non-pharmacological intervention utilising a workbook for the women identified in the survey

Exploring the Case for Expanded Remote Texter Liability for Employers

In 2013, the New Jersey Appellate Court decided the potentially landmark case of Kubert v. Best, recognizing for the first time that a sender of a text may be held liable to an innocent third party injured in an automobile accident caused by a driver who was distracted by receiving the text. Other subsequent cases have both confirmed and limited the Kubert ruling. In this article, we explore possible further extensions of the Kubert ruling, anticipating that because of expanding employer liability for acts undertaken by their employees, the next step in the evolution of texting and driving law may likely hold employers liable for accidents caused by their employees whose employment-related texts to others result in accident and harm

Posthumanist and New Materialist Perspectives as Navigational Tool in Art Education Research: A Diffractive Analysis

An art project conducted with twelve Grade 10 learners at an art centre in Cape Town from April 2016 to June 2016 was analysed diffractively using perspectives of posthumanism and new materialism. This post-qualitative approach to research was an attempt to move away from research methods based on humanist thinking. Data consisted of the art project, learners’ responses in terms of source book content and work produced, informal discussions, and videos and photographs taken during the work processes. Several specific agential cuts were performed on the data, some of which are presented here. The analysis of these entanglements of data provided rich content and interesting lines of flight, which led to thought-provoking questions about art education, sensory education, and the possibilities of applying posthumanist thought and methods in the South African art classroom

An investigation into the nature and prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions among women attending a community clinic, and the effectiveness of an intervention programme for these patients

The thesis set out to document the process of developing and testing a non-pharmacological biopsychosocial intervention programme which included exercise and health education for women with musculoskeletal conditions attending a clinic in a poorly resourced area of the Free State Province in South Africa. To inform the development of an appropriate intervention, several sub-studies were undertaken. Systematic reviews on the use of exercise and health education in adults were undertaken, one on the impact of these interventions on adults with chronic diseases of lifestyle (diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension) and the risk factor obesity, and the other on the impact on adults with musculoskeletal conditions. The selected research tools, which were chosen based on the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) were subjected to a rigorous translation process. A facility-based descriptive observational cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and nature of musculoskeletal conditions amongst women between the ages of 40 and 64 years attending a community clinic. The gathered information was then used to modify and adapt existing non-pharmacological programmes and develop an intervention programme tailor made for these patients. Finally, an experimental randomised controlled trial was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of usual care against a non-pharmacological intervention utilising a workbook for the women identified in the survey