Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Full Inclusion Plan for Fellowship Bible Church By: Timothy Sloan Liberty University Abstract Members of Fellowship Bible Church (FBC) believe that all people need to have the opportunity to learn the biblical truths of God’s Word. This includes those that have any type of disability. This is why FBC feels led to organize and execute a full inclusion program for the children’s ministry. FBC is a growing church, and with constant expansion, there are increased needs. One family in particular has inspired FBC members to establish a unique addition to the children’s ministry, the Button family.Mr. and Mrs. Button have only one child, 6 year old Benjamin. He has been diagnosed with autistic disorder. Recognizing the exceptional needs of this child, FBC has formed a program that is intellectually appropriate for him as well as his peers. The goal of this full inclusion program is to accommodate for Benjamin’s needs while giving the o ther children similar treatment. FBC’s framework explains the reasoning for this program through several perspectives. Benjamin’s disorder is explained, including symptomatic behaviors.FBC’s plan to develop this children’s ministry program is described in detail. As part of FBC’s children’s ministry mission statement, commitment to all children is a priority in order to guarantee that each child learns biblical truths. This is achieved by utilizing a full inclusion plan which is the foundation for this agenda. Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Full Inclusion Plan for Fellowship Bible Church Fellowship Bible Church (FBC) opened for its first Sunday worship service on September 2nd, 2001. FBC is a nondenominational, evangelical, Christian church with about 400 members.FBC’s leadership is composed of 8 elders who all have the responsibility for a specific ministry. Sunday service begins with Sunday school at 9:30 am and following that is the w orship service at 11:00 am. The worship service includes a time of praise and worship, singing, and a time of practical teaching from the Bible (Fellowship Bible Church, 2013). The worship is also composed of a mixture of Christian contemporary songs and classic hymns. These two genres are alternated every other week to adhere to the liking of the members. The Sunday morning services last about 1 hour and 20 minutes.Children’s church is also provided during the Sunday morning service. The church attendees are compiled of 58% men and 42% women. There are 125 teenagers in the youth ministry, 35 infants and toddlers in the nursery, and 56 children total in the church. This church is an excellent mix of members who share the same beliefs, love, and passion for the Word. Pastor Phil Moser is one of the three pastors. He speaks more often than the others. He has been the lead pastor for 11 years. He is recognized as the teaching pastor. The two associate pastors are Pastor Jack Klo se and Pastor Hal Russell.Pastor Jack Klose is head of student ministries and Pastor Hal Russell is head of adult ministries and pastoral care. They fill in when Pastor Phil is out of town or unable to preach due to other reasons. Fellowship Bible Church uses the New King James Versions of the Bible. Every first Sunday of the month, biblical communion is observed. Since Pastor Jack leads student ministries, this paper will be focused on his department and the establishment of a full inclusion ministry for a child with an autism spectrum disorder. Current Children’s MinistryFBC is recognized for its special interest in children. Their current children’s ministry consists of a nursery, Sunday school, and Children’s church. FBC’s children’s ministry is constantly growing. Since the number of children keeps growing, the church has provided several ministries to compensate for this growth. The nursery consists of infants to two year old children. The nu rsery is available during Sunday school hour as well as Sunday morning service. Parents should feel safe knowing their children are in the church staff hands, as the staff members are experienced with these age groups.FBC also has a passion for children and youth. The Sunday school classes that are available for both children and adolescents are tailored to the particular age group for better understanding. Children and Youth Sunday school classes are devoted to helping children and teens grasp better knowledge of the Word, and building a strong relationship with the Lord. Time is spent searching for God’s plan for each person’s life. Classes are often interactive in order to provide a chance for children to build close relationships and encourage fellowship between students.Another important aspect of the children’s ministry is Children’s Church. Children’s church is for children ages 3 to 3rd grade. The children will be dismissed after the worshi p service and before the message begins. This is a time for children to receive a message that is more geared to their understanding. During children’s church, children will be taught Bible lessons through arts and crafts as well as movies. Another purpose of children’s church is to ensure that small children are not a distraction to others during the service.Rationale for Full Inclusion Biblical According to the beliefs of FBC elders, everyone has the right to receive the same biblical message. God sent His son to die for all of mankind and ordered his disciples to carry this message to the ends of the earth. In Gods eyes everyone is equal and should be given the same opportunities to hear His message. This principle is portrayed in Galatians 3:28 (King James Version), â€Å"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. There is no difference between people in Gods eyes. This is a very clear order which is also found in God’s Word, Christ states in Matthew 28:19 (KJV), â€Å"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. † God has also equipped those that serve Him with skills or talents to be utilized in sharing the truths of the Word. It is the Holy Spirit within Christians that motivates and enables His people to use these talents for all of mankind.The church promotes this fact and aims to deliver the message to all despite any disabilities or hindrances. Full inclusion is a common theme found in the Bible. This is evident when Christ was present on the Earth. â€Å"Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray and the disciples rebuked them but Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:13-14 KJV). In doing this Jesus showed that His tea ching is for all of mankind.FBC developed a mission statement for its children’s ministry with this in mind. The mission statement is to ensure that each child benefits from the same biblical message and accommodates the different learning patterns of all children including those with special needs. Scientific It is vital that in developing a children’s ministry that includes children with disabilities, the children have an inclusive learning environment. From a scientific perspective, children with autism spectrum disorder benefit positively from full inclusion.According to a study on educating autistic children, the researcher found, â€Å"In order to develop ‘best practice', practitioners need to adapt interventions to the unique needs of the individual child, work in partnership with parents and other professionals, create enabling environments and be informed by a developmental approach to learning† (Guldberg, 2010). Inclusion means that there are man y support groups that are involved in the child’s life the influence the child. Every person must be aware of the same issues and how to intervene when necessary. They must be equipped to interact therapeutically with the child.Having patience is absolutely necessary in order to be effective with the child. Inclusion can also be explained by studying all aspects of the child’s disorder in order to be better equipped to teach the child. According to a study on educating children with autism spectrum disorder, â€Å"Inclusion can be broadly defined as the process of identifying, understanding and breaking down barriers to participation and belonging, and therefore goes beyond education to cover the total experience of a child or young person on the autism spectrum and his/her family† (Jones, English, Guldberg, Jordan, Richardson & Waltz, 2008).Gathering as much background information about the child will aid in having a better understanding of how the child respon ds to others. Those who are not using full inclusion methods for all children may be keeping some children from progressing like the other children. Necessary Key Elements for Full Inclusion As stated before, full inclusion has many different essential aspects. Full inclusion is FBC’s approach to engage all children regardless of learning ability. This is done by accepting volunteers, particularly those with experience or education.Training and appropriate materials are also acquired to make this possible. For Benjamin Button, a 6 year old child with autism spectrum disorder, these three elements are imperative to his continuation in the classes. FBC aims to have Benjamin fully involved in regular Sunday school classes. Benjamin was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. He has impairments in regards to social interaction, communication, and repetitive behavior. These three aids will decrease the amount of complications that may occur and help guide Benjamin into a smooth er shift into this church.Volunteers FBC will have the obligation of finding skilled members of the church. Not only should these volunteers be skilled, they must also be patient and understanding. They must have a biblical perspective in order to display an encouraging attitude. Volunteers will be the basis for this full inclusion ministry. The volunteers will need to have experience with special needs children. Volunteers may also have educational background in psychology or special education. This also means that each volunteer must be at least 21 years old.The exception to this age limit is if the volunteer has personal experience living with a child who has autism. The volunteers will need to help Benjamin stay focused and limit the amount of distractions. He will need assistance drawing, using the bathroom, and with staying included in the group. There must be at least 3 trained volunteers on staff when the child is present. This is to ensure that Benjamin and the other childr en are safe and receiving the same amount of care and attention. TrainingTraining will be provided by educated staff for interested volunteers. God desires that his believers and his church be fully equipped for any work, ready to meet any situation. This is a truth we get from God’s Word, â€Å"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works† (2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV). FBC aims to â€Å"fully equip† the volunteers to equip them for this challenging yet rewarding position.There will be a four week course that volunteers must go through before being authorized to teach in the full inclusion program. The course will be taught every Wednesday night at 6 o’clock and will last an hour. Upon completion of the training the volunteers will have received knowledge on what autism spectrum disorder is, how it affects children in social settings, and how to properly instruct and engage them in the classroom. The training materials provided were donated from a non-profit organization for autistic children.FBC is ready to take the necessary steps to properly run this full inclusion program for Benjamin and understands the importance of properly equipping the volunteers to do so. Accommodations Success in the school setting for students with an autism spectrum disorder is dependent upon accommodations made in the classroom (Coffey, 2004). With this in mind FBC is taking the steps necessary to provide the proper accommodations for Benjamin. Physical space, organization of the Sunday school lesson, and teaching methods will be carefully accommodated for Benjamin’s specific needs.Physical space is the first accommodation that will be made and will include: placing Benjamin’s chair away from high movement areas, there will be a bean bag chair in the corner of the room for a quiet retreat, and he will be allowed to arrive and leave early to avoid the crowd. The organization of the Sunday school lesson will have plenty of visuals to keep Benjamin engaged and also a list of the day’s activities will be read to Benjamin to avoid and alleviate any anxiety of him not knowing what’s happening next. The third accommodation will be the teaching methods of the Sunday school teacher.The volunteer will need to keep the lesson visually interesting and during discussions pass a ball around to know whose turn it is to speak (Coffey, 2004). Keeping Benjamin’s attention is one of the goals of the full inclusion program at FBC. Summary of Autism Spectrum Disorder Definition According to Mash, Wolfe, Parritz, and Troy (2011) ASD is defined as: Autism spectrum disorders or autism are severe developmental disorders characterized by abnormalities in social functioning, language, and communication, and unusual behaviors and interests.Autism touches every aspect of the child’s interactions with his or her world, involves man parts of the brain, and undermines the traits that make us human; our social responsiveness, ability to communicate, and feelings for other people. (p. 300) Etiology What causes Autism spectrum disorder has still not completely been determined but it’s likely that both genetics and environment play a role. Researchers have identified a number of genes associated with the disorder and studies of people with ASD have found irregularities in several regions of the brain (Gerdts and Bernier, 2011).Other studies suggest that people with ASD have abnormal levels of serotonin or other neurotransmitters in the brain (Gerdts and Bernier, 2011). These abnormalities suggest that, â€Å"ASD could result from the disruption of normal brain development early in fetal development caused by defects in genes that control brain growth and that regulate how brain cells communicate with each other, possibly due to th e influence of environmental factors on gene function† (Gerdts and Bernier, 2011). PrevalenceAccording to National Initiative for Autism: Screening & Assessment (NIASA) â€Å"The autism spectrum currently affects between 60 and 100 per 10,000 children under the age of eight† (NIASA, 2003). â€Å"ASDs are almost 5 times more common among boys (1 in 54) than among girls (1 in 252)† (NIASA, 2003). These statistics indicate that many children have a variation of Autism Spectrum Disorder, which is why research is very important in this area of psychology. Characteristics â€Å"Each individual with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is unique and may demonstrate markedly different behaviors and skills† (NIASA, 2003).Some common ASD characteristics include slower speech development, failure to form social bonds, and the child may also exhibit hypersensitivity to light, noises, touch, smells, and tastes (NIASA, 2003). Other characteristics include: not playing with other children and preferring to be left alone, may have tantrums, obsessive interests in objects or activities, and may display aggression towards others or themselves (NIASA, 2003). Prognosis Autism is not cured and persons retain the disorder all their lives but those with less severe manifestations can become functional adults (Gerdts and Bernier, 2011).Information on long term prognosis of autism is limited but, outcome is known to be poor for those with an IQ below 50 (Gerdts and Bernier, 2011). Current Research Experts have made remarkable strides in better understanding autism. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), â€Å"Research on ASDs has increased a great deal in recent years and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is part of the larger group of public and private organizations working to better understand ASDs through research† (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). Studies are being conducted at all levels of anal ysis, and experts are beginning to see the interconnections between the underlying biological causes and the cognitive and behavioral manifestations of autistic disorder† (NIASA, 2003). â€Å"The next decade will witness further developments, bringing experts closer to a more comprehensive and integrated understanding of autism and despite the exponential growth in basic studies on autism, there has been relatively little research on new treatments and interventions† (NIASA, 2003). Social DynamicsWhether it’s at school, at work or in social settings, people with autism are often misunderstood. They suffer discrimination, prejudice and isolation. For many, that means a lifetime of exclusion from everyday society. Research shows that awareness of autism is high but there’s a lack of understanding about what it really means to live with autism (Guldberg, 2010). These unfortunate social discriminations can cause autistic children to withdraw and dislike social contact. Treatments There are various forms of treatment for autism. These treatments consist of managing behavior as well as therapies.According to WebMD (2010), â€Å"Behavioral training and management uses positive reinforcement, self-help, and social skills training to improve behavior and communication. There are also specialized therapies. These include speech, occupational, and physical therapy† (WebMD, 2010). These therapies are important aspects of autistic children’s overall treatment because they help achieve appropriate behavior. Language, social skills, communication, coordination, and motor skills are the areas that are focused on in order to aid autistic children in the learning process (WebMD, 2010).Improving aspects of these skills will ensure that autistic children are learning and progressing from these treatments. Family, Support, and Society Autism spectrum disorder not only affects the child but it also has an effect on family and peers as well. Parents must now place their primary focus on helping their child with ASD, which may put strains on their marriage, other children, work, finances, and personal relationships and responsibilities. Parents can help their family by informing their other children and relatives about autism and the complications it introduces.Understanding the challenges siblings face and helping them cope, and involving members of the extended family to create a network of help and understanding which is crucial for the family to live a more fulfilling life with their child with ASD. Benjamin Button At age 3 Benjamin Button’s parents noticed some unusual behaviors in their only son. He never spoke and wouldn’t respond to them calling his name and Benjamin would also repeatedly bang his head on the floor or wall when he got disciplined, upset, and sometimes for no reason at all. Potty training was also very unsuccessful.His parents took note of this behavior and took him to a pediatrician where he was later diagnosed with autistic disorder. Benjamin attended speech therapy for two years before kindergarten. He is now in an Applied Behavior Analysis class at his elementary school. â€Å"The ABA class encourages positive behaviors and discourages negative behaviors in order to improve a variety of skills† (Guldberg, 2010). Benjamin has shown improvements in speech over the past three years but he still has trouble recognizing words and drawing letters and telling his parents why he can get suddenly sad or angry.On a typical day Benjamin has at least two temper tantrums. He understands and follows directions very well and he also has a close connection to loved ones. His parents are very happy with the improvements Benjamin has made and look forward to getting him involved in the Sunday school program at Fellowship Bible Church. Church-Family-School Partnership For continued success Benjamin will need the combined efforts of his family, school, and church. Benja min’s family, school, and church have established four goals to broaden his educational, spiritual, emotional, and psychological well-being.IEP Goal – 1 Benjamin will learn to recite his ABCs. Teachers could make home visits to interact with the child one on one in order for Benjamin to have more practice reciting and learning his ABC’s. Although Benjamin’s parents and church volunteers would like him to reach this goal within a month they have decided to remain patient and committed to working with him regardless of how long it takes him to achieve this goal. IEP Goal 2: Spiritual – Benjamin will learn and be able to sing along with his peers in one new Sunday school song a month.Benjamin has always had a positive response to music. This goal will is tailored to his IEP since he takes interest in music. This will also aid in his socialization skills. IEP Goal – 3 Benjamin will decrease the amount of temper tantrums by 50% in the next three months. As stated before Benjamin typically has two temper tantrums a day. To meet this goal Benjamin will need to decrease his temper tantrums by one daily. IEP Goal – 4 Benjamin to establish a new friendship with one peer a month.This goal is attainable since there are numerous children in the Sunday school program and at school. This goal could be particularly difficult for him since he has displayed poor social skills and often intimidates his peers. His peers are sometimes intimidated or confused by his behavior and therefore avoid social interaction with Benjamin. Plan for Growth Benjamin’s Parents have attended Fellowship Bible Church for the past ten years. Now that their son’s autism is becoming more and more under control they are excited about introducing him into FBC’s full inclusion Sunday school program.The Button family is willing and eager to take what steps are necessary and aid in the advancement of this program. The proper steps have be en taking for a successful full inclusion program to be integrated in FBC’s Sunday school program and will do nothing but improve as devoted members of the church come alongside the Button family to ensure that. One Year In the next year Fellowship Bible Church aim to advance the Full Inclusion Program in a big way. The short term goal is to acquire skilled volunteers that are qualified to work with a child suffering from autism spectrum disorder.The one year goal for FBC’s full inclusion Sunday school program is to expand the ministry by adding at five children suffering from a mental disability. Advertising the churches special needs mission statement to the community and prospective volunteers with the intent of acquiring qualified staff and children with disabilities. Five Years By the grace of God Fellowship Bible Church’s will be prospering and successful in the next five years. FBS’s five year plan for the Sunday school full inclusion program is to have an established ministry that is trusted by the church and community.FBC aims to achieve these goals by obtaining qualified volunteers and being proactive in the community to spread the news of the program in order to increase the number of children with disabilities in the program Conclusion The success of Fellowship Bible’s full inclusion Sunday school program will be established by combining efforts of the Button family, the church, and the community. This full inclusion program is intended to give Benjamin the opportunity to be engaged in the word with his peers. This is done by giving him a comfortable setting that will reduce the symptoms of his disorder.FBC plans to develop this program by recruiting the necessary volunteers. Trainings and accommodations will be incorporated in order to ensure quality care from the volunteers. Family support in combination with a variety of treatments and goals is an all-inclusive plan for Benjamin. The goal of this plan is to pro vide a full inclusion program that meets the needs of each child. FBC has set up a one year and a five year plan to execute this program to its full potential. References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (2011).Autism spectrum disorders: Research. Atlanta, GA http://www. cdc. gov/ncbddd/autism/research. html Coffey, K. M. , & Obringer, S. , (2004). A case study on autism: School accommodations and inclusive settings. Education, 124(4), 632-639. Fellowship Bible Church, (2013) About fellowship bible church. Samurai Virtual Tours. http://aboutfbc. org/ Gerdts, J. , & Bernier, R. , (2011). The broader autism phenotype and its implications on the etiology and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. Autism Research & Treatment, 1-19. oi:10. 1155/2011/545901 Guldberg, K. , (2010). Educating children on the autism spectrum: Preconditions for inclusion and notions of ‘best autism practice' in the early years. British Journal of Special Education, 37(4), 168-174. doi:10. 111 1/j. 1467-8578. 2010. 00482. x Jones, G. , English, A. , Guldberg, K. , Jordan, R. , Richardson, P. & Waltz, M. , (2008). Educational provision for children and young people with autism spectrum disorders living in England: A review of current practice, issues and challenges, Autism Education Trust.Jones, G. & Guldberg Mash, E. J. , Wolfe, D. A. , Parritz, R. H. , & Troy, M. F. , (2011). Exceptional child psychology – Liberty University. Bellmont, CA: Cengage. [CUSTOM] NIASA (National Initiative for Autism: Screening & Assessment), (2003). National autism plan for children, the NIASA guidelines. London: National Autistic Society. WebMD, (2010). Autism spectrum disorders health center, Autism – Treatment overview. Healthwise. http://www. webmd. com/brain/autism/autism-treatment-overview Autism Spectrum Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Full Inclusion Plan for Fellowship Bible Church By: Timothy Sloan Liberty University Abstract Members of Fellowship Bible Church (FBC) believe that all people need to have the opportunity to learn the biblical truths of God’s Word. This includes those that have any type of disability. This is why FBC feels led to organize and execute a full inclusion program for the children’s ministry. FBC is a growing church, and with constant expansion, there are increased needs. One family in particular has inspired FBC members to establish a unique addition to the children’s ministry, the Button family.Mr. and Mrs. Button have only one child, 6 year old Benjamin. He has been diagnosed with autistic disorder. Recognizing the exceptional needs of this child, FBC has formed a program that is intellectually appropriate for him as well as his peers. The goal of this full inclusion program is to accommodate for Benjamin’s needs while giving the o ther children similar treatment. FBC’s framework explains the reasoning for this program through several perspectives. Benjamin’s disorder is explained, including symptomatic behaviors.FBC’s plan to develop this children’s ministry program is described in detail. As part of FBC’s children’s ministry mission statement, commitment to all children is a priority in order to guarantee that each child learns biblical truths. This is achieved by utilizing a full inclusion plan which is the foundation for this agenda. Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Full Inclusion Plan for Fellowship Bible Church Fellowship Bible Church (FBC) opened for its first Sunday worship service on September 2nd, 2001. FBC is a nondenominational, evangelical, Christian church with about 400 members.FBC’s leadership is composed of 8 elders who all have the responsibility for a specific ministry. Sunday service begins with Sunday school at 9:30 am and following that is the w orship service at 11:00 am. The worship service includes a time of praise and worship, singing, and a time of practical teaching from the Bible (Fellowship Bible Church, 2013). The worship is also composed of a mixture of Christian contemporary songs and classic hymns. These two genres are alternated every other week to adhere to the liking of the members. The Sunday morning services last about 1 hour and 20 minutes.Children’s church is also provided during the Sunday morning service. The church attendees are compiled of 58% men and 42% women. There are 125 teenagers in the youth ministry, 35 infants and toddlers in the nursery, and 56 children total in the church. This church is an excellent mix of members who share the same beliefs, love, and passion for the Word. Pastor Phil Moser is one of the three pastors. He speaks more often than the others. He has been the lead pastor for 11 years. He is recognized as the teaching pastor. The two associate pastors are Pastor Jack Klo se and Pastor Hal Russell.Pastor Jack Klose is head of student ministries and Pastor Hal Russell is head of adult ministries and pastoral care. They fill in when Pastor Phil is out of town or unable to preach due to other reasons. Fellowship Bible Church uses the New King James Versions of the Bible. Every first Sunday of the month, biblical communion is observed. Since Pastor Jack leads student ministries, this paper will be focused on his department and the establishment of a full inclusion ministry for a child with an autism spectrum disorder. Current Children’s MinistryFBC is recognized for its special interest in children. Their current children’s ministry consists of a nursery, Sunday school, and Children’s church. FBC’s children’s ministry is constantly growing. Since the number of children keeps growing, the church has provided several ministries to compensate for this growth. The nursery consists of infants to two year old children. The nu rsery is available during Sunday school hour as well as Sunday morning service. Parents should feel safe knowing their children are in the church staff hands, as the staff members are experienced with these age groups.FBC also has a passion for children and youth. The Sunday school classes that are available for both children and adolescents are tailored to the particular age group for better understanding. Children and Youth Sunday school classes are devoted to helping children and teens grasp better knowledge of the Word, and building a strong relationship with the Lord. Time is spent searching for God’s plan for each person’s life. Classes are often interactive in order to provide a chance for children to build close relationships and encourage fellowship between students.Another important aspect of the children’s ministry is Children’s Church. Children’s church is for children ages 3 to 3rd grade. The children will be dismissed after the worshi p service and before the message begins. This is a time for children to receive a message that is more geared to their understanding. During children’s church, children will be taught Bible lessons through arts and crafts as well as movies. Another purpose of children’s church is to ensure that small children are not a distraction to others during the service.Rationale for Full Inclusion Biblical According to the beliefs of FBC elders, everyone has the right to receive the same biblical message. God sent His son to die for all of mankind and ordered his disciples to carry this message to the ends of the earth. In Gods eyes everyone is equal and should be given the same opportunities to hear His message. This principle is portrayed in Galatians 3:28 (King James Version), â€Å"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. There is no difference between people in Gods eyes. This is a very clear order which is also found in God’s Word, Christ states in Matthew 28:19 (KJV), â€Å"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. † God has also equipped those that serve Him with skills or talents to be utilized in sharing the truths of the Word. It is the Holy Spirit within Christians that motivates and enables His people to use these talents for all of mankind.The church promotes this fact and aims to deliver the message to all despite any disabilities or hindrances. Full inclusion is a common theme found in the Bible. This is evident when Christ was present on the Earth. â€Å"Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray and the disciples rebuked them but Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:13-14 KJV). In doing this Jesus showed that His tea ching is for all of mankind.FBC developed a mission statement for its children’s ministry with this in mind. The mission statement is to ensure that each child benefits from the same biblical message and accommodates the different learning patterns of all children including those with special needs. Scientific It is vital that in developing a children’s ministry that includes children with disabilities, the children have an inclusive learning environment. From a scientific perspective, children with autism spectrum disorder benefit positively from full inclusion.According to a study on educating autistic children, the researcher found, â€Å"In order to develop ‘best practice', practitioners need to adapt interventions to the unique needs of the individual child, work in partnership with parents and other professionals, create enabling environments and be informed by a developmental approach to learning† (Guldberg, 2010). Inclusion means that there are man y support groups that are involved in the child’s life the influence the child. Every person must be aware of the same issues and how to intervene when necessary. They must be equipped to interact therapeutically with the child.Having patience is absolutely necessary in order to be effective with the child. Inclusion can also be explained by studying all aspects of the child’s disorder in order to be better equipped to teach the child. According to a study on educating children with autism spectrum disorder, â€Å"Inclusion can be broadly defined as the process of identifying, understanding and breaking down barriers to participation and belonging, and therefore goes beyond education to cover the total experience of a child or young person on the autism spectrum and his/her family† (Jones, English, Guldberg, Jordan, Richardson & Waltz, 2008).Gathering as much background information about the child will aid in having a better understanding of how the child respon ds to others. Those who are not using full inclusion methods for all children may be keeping some children from progressing like the other children. Necessary Key Elements for Full Inclusion As stated before, full inclusion has many different essential aspects. Full inclusion is FBC’s approach to engage all children regardless of learning ability. This is done by accepting volunteers, particularly those with experience or education.Training and appropriate materials are also acquired to make this possible. For Benjamin Button, a 6 year old child with autism spectrum disorder, these three elements are imperative to his continuation in the classes. FBC aims to have Benjamin fully involved in regular Sunday school classes. Benjamin was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. He has impairments in regards to social interaction, communication, and repetitive behavior. These three aids will decrease the amount of complications that may occur and help guide Benjamin into a smooth er shift into this church.Volunteers FBC will have the obligation of finding skilled members of the church. Not only should these volunteers be skilled, they must also be patient and understanding. They must have a biblical perspective in order to display an encouraging attitude. Volunteers will be the basis for this full inclusion ministry. The volunteers will need to have experience with special needs children. Volunteers may also have educational background in psychology or special education. This also means that each volunteer must be at least 21 years old.The exception to this age limit is if the volunteer has personal experience living with a child who has autism. The volunteers will need to help Benjamin stay focused and limit the amount of distractions. He will need assistance drawing, using the bathroom, and with staying included in the group. There must be at least 3 trained volunteers on staff when the child is present. This is to ensure that Benjamin and the other childr en are safe and receiving the same amount of care and attention. TrainingTraining will be provided by educated staff for interested volunteers. God desires that his believers and his church be fully equipped for any work, ready to meet any situation. This is a truth we get from God’s Word, â€Å"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works† (2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV). FBC aims to â€Å"fully equip† the volunteers to equip them for this challenging yet rewarding position.There will be a four week course that volunteers must go through before being authorized to teach in the full inclusion program. The course will be taught every Wednesday night at 6 o’clock and will last an hour. Upon completion of the training the volunteers will have received knowledge on what autism spectrum disorder is, how it affects children in social settings, and how to properly instruct and engage them in the classroom. The training materials provided were donated from a non-profit organization for autistic children.FBC is ready to take the necessary steps to properly run this full inclusion program for Benjamin and understands the importance of properly equipping the volunteers to do so. Accommodations Success in the school setting for students with an autism spectrum disorder is dependent upon accommodations made in the classroom (Coffey, 2004). With this in mind FBC is taking the steps necessary to provide the proper accommodations for Benjamin. Physical space, organization of the Sunday school lesson, and teaching methods will be carefully accommodated for Benjamin’s specific needs.Physical space is the first accommodation that will be made and will include: placing Benjamin’s chair away from high movement areas, there will be a bean bag chair in the corner of the room for a quiet retreat, and he will be allowed to arrive and leave early to avoid the crowd. The organization of the Sunday school lesson will have plenty of visuals to keep Benjamin engaged and also a list of the day’s activities will be read to Benjamin to avoid and alleviate any anxiety of him not knowing what’s happening next. The third accommodation will be the teaching methods of the Sunday school teacher.The volunteer will need to keep the lesson visually interesting and during discussions pass a ball around to know whose turn it is to speak (Coffey, 2004). Keeping Benjamin’s attention is one of the goals of the full inclusion program at FBC. Summary of Autism Spectrum Disorder Definition According to Mash, Wolfe, Parritz, and Troy (2011) ASD is defined as: Autism spectrum disorders or autism are severe developmental disorders characterized by abnormalities in social functioning, language, and communication, and unusual behaviors and interests.Autism touches every aspect of the child’s interactions with his or her world, involves man parts of the brain, and undermines the traits that make us human; our social responsiveness, ability to communicate, and feelings for other people. (p. 300) Etiology What causes Autism spectrum disorder has still not completely been determined but it’s likely that both genetics and environment play a role. Researchers have identified a number of genes associated with the disorder and studies of people with ASD have found irregularities in several regions of the brain (Gerdts and Bernier, 2011).Other studies suggest that people with ASD have abnormal levels of serotonin or other neurotransmitters in the brain (Gerdts and Bernier, 2011). These abnormalities suggest that, â€Å"ASD could result from the disruption of normal brain development early in fetal development caused by defects in genes that control brain growth and that regulate how brain cells communicate with each other, possibly due to th e influence of environmental factors on gene function† (Gerdts and Bernier, 2011). PrevalenceAccording to National Initiative for Autism: Screening & Assessment (NIASA) â€Å"The autism spectrum currently affects between 60 and 100 per 10,000 children under the age of eight† (NIASA, 2003). â€Å"ASDs are almost 5 times more common among boys (1 in 54) than among girls (1 in 252)† (NIASA, 2003). These statistics indicate that many children have a variation of Autism Spectrum Disorder, which is why research is very important in this area of psychology. Characteristics â€Å"Each individual with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is unique and may demonstrate markedly different behaviors and skills† (NIASA, 2003).Some common ASD characteristics include slower speech development, failure to form social bonds, and the child may also exhibit hypersensitivity to light, noises, touch, smells, and tastes (NIASA, 2003). Other characteristics include: not playing with other children and preferring to be left alone, may have tantrums, obsessive interests in objects or activities, and may display aggression towards others or themselves (NIASA, 2003). Prognosis Autism is not cured and persons retain the disorder all their lives but those with less severe manifestations can become functional adults (Gerdts and Bernier, 2011).Information on long term prognosis of autism is limited but, outcome is known to be poor for those with an IQ below 50 (Gerdts and Bernier, 2011). Current Research Experts have made remarkable strides in better understanding autism. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), â€Å"Research on ASDs has increased a great deal in recent years and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is part of the larger group of public and private organizations working to better understand ASDs through research† (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). Studies are being conducted at all levels of anal ysis, and experts are beginning to see the interconnections between the underlying biological causes and the cognitive and behavioral manifestations of autistic disorder† (NIASA, 2003). â€Å"The next decade will witness further developments, bringing experts closer to a more comprehensive and integrated understanding of autism and despite the exponential growth in basic studies on autism, there has been relatively little research on new treatments and interventions† (NIASA, 2003). Social DynamicsWhether it’s at school, at work or in social settings, people with autism are often misunderstood. They suffer discrimination, prejudice and isolation. For many, that means a lifetime of exclusion from everyday society. Research shows that awareness of autism is high but there’s a lack of understanding about what it really means to live with autism (Guldberg, 2010). These unfortunate social discriminations can cause autistic children to withdraw and dislike social contact. Treatments There are various forms of treatment for autism. These treatments consist of managing behavior as well as therapies.According to WebMD (2010), â€Å"Behavioral training and management uses positive reinforcement, self-help, and social skills training to improve behavior and communication. There are also specialized therapies. These include speech, occupational, and physical therapy† (WebMD, 2010). These therapies are important aspects of autistic children’s overall treatment because they help achieve appropriate behavior. Language, social skills, communication, coordination, and motor skills are the areas that are focused on in order to aid autistic children in the learning process (WebMD, 2010).Improving aspects of these skills will ensure that autistic children are learning and progressing from these treatments. Family, Support, and Society Autism spectrum disorder not only affects the child but it also has an effect on family and peers as well. Parents must now place their primary focus on helping their child with ASD, which may put strains on their marriage, other children, work, finances, and personal relationships and responsibilities. Parents can help their family by informing their other children and relatives about autism and the complications it introduces.Understanding the challenges siblings face and helping them cope, and involving members of the extended family to create a network of help and understanding which is crucial for the family to live a more fulfilling life with their child with ASD. Benjamin Button At age 3 Benjamin Button’s parents noticed some unusual behaviors in their only son. He never spoke and wouldn’t respond to them calling his name and Benjamin would also repeatedly bang his head on the floor or wall when he got disciplined, upset, and sometimes for no reason at all. Potty training was also very unsuccessful.His parents took note of this behavior and took him to a pediatrician where he was later diagnosed with autistic disorder. Benjamin attended speech therapy for two years before kindergarten. He is now in an Applied Behavior Analysis class at his elementary school. â€Å"The ABA class encourages positive behaviors and discourages negative behaviors in order to improve a variety of skills† (Guldberg, 2010). Benjamin has shown improvements in speech over the past three years but he still has trouble recognizing words and drawing letters and telling his parents why he can get suddenly sad or angry.On a typical day Benjamin has at least two temper tantrums. He understands and follows directions very well and he also has a close connection to loved ones. His parents are very happy with the improvements Benjamin has made and look forward to getting him involved in the Sunday school program at Fellowship Bible Church. Church-Family-School Partnership For continued success Benjamin will need the combined efforts of his family, school, and church. Benja min’s family, school, and church have established four goals to broaden his educational, spiritual, emotional, and psychological well-being.IEP Goal – 1 Benjamin will learn to recite his ABCs. Teachers could make home visits to interact with the child one on one in order for Benjamin to have more practice reciting and learning his ABC’s. Although Benjamin’s parents and church volunteers would like him to reach this goal within a month they have decided to remain patient and committed to working with him regardless of how long it takes him to achieve this goal. IEP Goal 2: Spiritual – Benjamin will learn and be able to sing along with his peers in one new Sunday school song a month.Benjamin has always had a positive response to music. This goal will is tailored to his IEP since he takes interest in music. This will also aid in his socialization skills. IEP Goal – 3 Benjamin will decrease the amount of temper tantrums by 50% in the next three months. As stated before Benjamin typically has two temper tantrums a day. To meet this goal Benjamin will need to decrease his temper tantrums by one daily. IEP Goal – 4 Benjamin to establish a new friendship with one peer a month.This goal is attainable since there are numerous children in the Sunday school program and at school. This goal could be particularly difficult for him since he has displayed poor social skills and often intimidates his peers. His peers are sometimes intimidated or confused by his behavior and therefore avoid social interaction with Benjamin. Plan for Growth Benjamin’s Parents have attended Fellowship Bible Church for the past ten years. Now that their son’s autism is becoming more and more under control they are excited about introducing him into FBC’s full inclusion Sunday school program.The Button family is willing and eager to take what steps are necessary and aid in the advancement of this program. The proper steps have be en taking for a successful full inclusion program to be integrated in FBC’s Sunday school program and will do nothing but improve as devoted members of the church come alongside the Button family to ensure that. One Year In the next year Fellowship Bible Church aim to advance the Full Inclusion Program in a big way. The short term goal is to acquire skilled volunteers that are qualified to work with a child suffering from autism spectrum disorder.The one year goal for FBC’s full inclusion Sunday school program is to expand the ministry by adding at five children suffering from a mental disability. Advertising the churches special needs mission statement to the community and prospective volunteers with the intent of acquiring qualified staff and children with disabilities. Five Years By the grace of God Fellowship Bible Church’s will be prospering and successful in the next five years. FBS’s five year plan for the Sunday school full inclusion program is to have an established ministry that is trusted by the church and community.FBC aims to achieve these goals by obtaining qualified volunteers and being proactive in the community to spread the news of the program in order to increase the number of children with disabilities in the program Conclusion The success of Fellowship Bible’s full inclusion Sunday school program will be established by combining efforts of the Button family, the church, and the community. This full inclusion program is intended to give Benjamin the opportunity to be engaged in the word with his peers. This is done by giving him a comfortable setting that will reduce the symptoms of his disorder.FBC plans to develop this program by recruiting the necessary volunteers. Trainings and accommodations will be incorporated in order to ensure quality care from the volunteers. Family support in combination with a variety of treatments and goals is an all-inclusive plan for Benjamin. The goal of this plan is to pro vide a full inclusion program that meets the needs of each child. FBC has set up a one year and a five year plan to execute this program to its full potential. References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (2011).Autism spectrum disorders: Research. Atlanta, GA http://www. cdc. gov/ncbddd/autism/research. html Coffey, K. M. , & Obringer, S. , (2004). A case study on autism: School accommodations and inclusive settings. Education, 124(4), 632-639. Fellowship Bible Church, (2013) About fellowship bible church. Samurai Virtual Tours. http://aboutfbc. org/ Gerdts, J. , & Bernier, R. , (2011). The broader autism phenotype and its implications on the etiology and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. Autism Research & Treatment, 1-19. oi:10. 1155/2011/545901 Guldberg, K. , (2010). Educating children on the autism spectrum: Preconditions for inclusion and notions of ‘best autism practice' in the early years. British Journal of Special Education, 37(4), 168-174. doi:10. 111 1/j. 1467-8578. 2010. 00482. x Jones, G. , English, A. , Guldberg, K. , Jordan, R. , Richardson, P. & Waltz, M. , (2008). Educational provision for children and young people with autism spectrum disorders living in England: A review of current practice, issues and challenges, Autism Education Trust.Jones, G. & Guldberg Mash, E. J. , Wolfe, D. A. , Parritz, R. H. , & Troy, M. F. , (2011). Exceptional child psychology – Liberty University. Bellmont, CA: Cengage. [CUSTOM] NIASA (National Initiative for Autism: Screening & Assessment), (2003). National autism plan for children, the NIASA guidelines. London: National Autistic Society. WebMD, (2010). Autism spectrum disorders health center, Autism – Treatment overview. Healthwise. http://www. webmd. com/brain/autism/autism-treatment-overview

Reading Habits

1 Findings FINDINGS 1. English is the most preferred language for reading; Mother tongue claimed the 2nd spot with 48% preferring to read in their mother tongue against 46% preferring Hindi. 2. Preferences of activities (PUMBA Vs Non-PUMBA) [where candidates were asked to rank their preferences on a 1-5 ranking scale] shows that: a. PUMBA candidates rank better on Reading and TV watching over other than PUMBA institutes. b. Other than PUMBA institutes rank higher on Music listening and chatting over the internet. . A large chunk of the sample population rate Chatting as the most preferred activity. d. The least preferred activity of the sample is Shopping. 3. Candidates aged: a. 20-23 are most interested in Entertainment b. 24-27 are most interested in Technology c. 28 + are most interested in Business 4. Areas of Interest (Work experience-wise): a. 80% of Freshers’ areas of interest lie in Entertainment b. 72% of Work experienced candidates’ area of interest lies in Bu siness and Technology both. 5. Intention to read: a. The general trend that is seen is that the candidate either male or female read to learn, to be informed and for academics. b. The data shows that for 15% of females read out of habit as against 5% male candidates. c. 40% males read for news, contrary to female populations’ 5%. Reading Trends Among Students Department of Management Sciences, University of Pune PUMBA 2 Findings 6. The Internet followed by friends/colleagues and Newspapers/magazines form the major sources of information about Reading material. 7. Sources of Reading Material a. 3% of the respondents from Institutes other than PUMBA source their reading material from Websites. b. A majority of candidates from PUMBA i. e. 85% of the candidates consider the Library as their main source of reading material. 8. The most popular strategy adopted to overcome difficult reading material is to ask others for help. 9. The two major hurdles in reading are Time and Surroundings. 10. A whopping 91% of the sample population adm it ‘Strain on the eyes’ as the biggest reason for not preferring E-Reading. 11. Accessibility and Economy are the biggest pros for E-Reading. 12. There are NO differences Graduation stream-wise in the time spent on reading but there are differences Age-wise in the time spent on reading. 13. There are NO differences gender-wise for the reading intention to learn. 14. There are differences gender-wise for the intention of reading to stimulate imagination. 15. There are NO Gender-wise differences in the total time spent on reading. Reading Trends Among Students Department of Management Sciences, University of Pune PUMBA

Nutrition Related Diseases Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Nutrition Related Diseases - Essay Example The presence of these nutrients in the adequate amounts is essential for proper functioning of the body. Mudambi (2007) lists out the major nutrients as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals. Each of these nutrients performs their unique function, and various processes takes place through their unified functioning (p. 4). Each group of these nutrients altogether constitute over 40 essential nutrients which again produce over thousands of other substances that are essential for various body processes. As Ridgwell (1996) describes, among the various nutrients, carbohydrates and fats provide us with energy; proteins are used for growth and repair, vitamins and minerals help to protect our body and are also needed for maintenance. A diet can be considered as a balanced diet if it includes variety of healthy foods which supplements all the nutrients in the right proportion. Due to unhealthy eating habits world is now witnessing a rise in food borne illnesses and diet relate d disorders like obesity, diabetes, cancer, hypertension and heart diseases. Food borne illnesses are caused due to the consumption of contaminated food infected by microorganisms like bacteria, viruses or parasites or due to some chemicals in the food (NDDIC). Person suffering gets infections or irritations in gastrointestinal tract which result in symptoms like vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and fever. Food borne illnesses can affect a person suddenly after eating contaminated food. If food is highly contaminated, food borne illnesses may become severe which can even lead to death. Thus if a person is severely affected with food borne illnesses, immediate medical attention should be provided. The people who are most susceptible to food borne illnesses include infants, pregnant women, elderly persons or individuals with weak immune system. Thus extra care should be given for keeping food safe for people belonging to this risky category. Nutrient

Google Versus Microsoft Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Google Versus Microsoft - Essay Example By designing strategies that enhanced further applications through the PageRank search algorithm, in concurrent with online advertising services and employing highly competent, qualified and professionalized experts in the industry, Google has managed to be the leader in the technology industry. On the other hand, Microsoft’s business model and strategies focused initially on the desktop computer with the applications provided by Windows operating system and Office desktop productivity programs. It is continually seeking innovative strategies that would enhance further applications of current core competencies, while trying to expand applications in the internet. (2) Has the Internet taken over the PC desktop as the center of the action? Why or why not? The Internet has continued to find ways and means to take over the PC desktop as the center of the action, specifically through Google’s cloud computing. Plummer (2009) defines cloud computing as â€Å"a style of Comput ing where scalable and elastic IT capabilities are provided as a service to multiple customers using Internet technologies† (par. 3). ... 289). For consumers without internet connections and are apprehensive to expand applications due to security reasons were appeased through Google’s emphasis on the ubiquitous characteristic of the Internet, as well as the increasing proliferation of Wi-Fi and broadband connections. However, users of PC desktop, particularly businesses and consumers who have been accustomed to Office and Windows applications aver that the wide range of applications provided by the PC desktop are firmly entrenched and innovative Internet applications would not abruptly shift their loyalty to these models. (3) Why did Microsoft attempt to acquire Yahoo!? How did it affect its business model? Do you believe this was a good move? As any organization’s reason for acquisition, Microsoft’s attempt to acquire Yahoo! was due to prospects of increasing its market share in the technology industry by combining Yahoo!’s second line leadership. As emphasized in the case facts â€Å"Micr osoft wanted not only to bolster its Internet presence but also to end the threat of an advertising deal between Google and Yahoo!† (p. 290). The move manifested an attempt of Microsoft to divert from its business model of confining to desktop computers by purchasing an organization with an antithetical business model focusing on the Internet and the search engine. Rather than going through the intricate details of learning the trades of the internet business model, Microsoft’s attempt could facilitate entering the search engine model through Yahoo!, deemed to be an expert in the field. Taking the decision in perspective, Microsoft’s attempt to acquire, despite being unsuccessful, was still a good move given the potentials and prospects that the strategy offers.

A Response To the Promp Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

A Response To the Promp - Essay Example He believes that to be unhelpful, and wants the readers to focus on confronting the fact that everyone’s mind works differently and following the same morals - regardless of their perception of life - can be considered as dangerous. This, he thinks, is a much better approach as everyone should not be judged similarly, peoples’ situation in life is different thus, their thoughts about what is right and what is wrong may differ, too. One of the themes that is most talked about in his book is about the master-slave morality. He believes that the good and evil forces in the world are in a constant struggle against each other. The definition of good and evil is different for the rich and the poor. The aristocrats are the ones with the power, the wealth and even the health and are, thus, considered as good. This reminds one of Aristotle’s ethics which stated that only the noble could achieve moral excellence; the poor had no hope of doing that. The bad are those who we re poor, unwell and weak, which would be the slaves in Nietzsche’s time. This was master-morality. In reference to the master-morality came the slave-morality, this seemed to be a contrast to the master-morality. The concept behind this is that the good are those who are meek and submissive; they are not worldly and are pious. These are, of course, the people who are a part of the lower caste group. The evil, on the other hand, are those who are rich and cruel, are worldly and egotistical. Nietzsche considered slave morality to be pessimistic as well as fearful; he believed it to be of value to only those who suffered from similar circumstances. In his book, he says that slave-morality was introduced by the slaves themselves who were resentful of their low station in life. He argues that this concept of equality allowed the slaves to be in peace with their current conditions without being hateful towards themselves. Believing that those who were successful or wealthy were bad allowed them to be content with their own lack of progress in the society, allowed them not feel inferior about themselves when compared to the rich. They tried to convince themselves that their position in society was by choice that they were meek because they wanted to be, and should not be thought of as weak. He writes about how slave-morality is the reason behind nihilism, which has taken over Europe. There are tensions due to the contradictory nature of the master-slave morality, which is an issue as both have values which are followed by most of the Europeans. Nietzsche says that the extraordinary people should not be ashamed of their individuality when concerning the morality which is followed by the general public. It may work for them but can be harmful for the exceptional people. However, he also says that morality in itself is not bad for the public, but it should not be forced on people. Those people, who do not find it right, should not be forced to follow it, but inst ead choose to believe in their own version of morality. The master-slave morality should not be followed to the point. Of course, there are some very successful people who are rich and that may lead them to be selfish or cruel or possessing any other number of bad qualities, but one cannot just write them off. The fact of the matter is that they are successful and rich, they must be doing something right to achieve that. So there is a positive and negative side – both – in master morality. On the other hand, if these people are thriving by doing bad things such as stealing,

Political Economy of Japan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Political Economy of Japan - Essay Example . In terms of liberalism, the main element employed by the Meiji Japanese leaders was the idea of equal opportunity, which allegedly guaranteed that everyone could get awarded according to his/her talent. However, the elite group did not go as far as providing total individual freedom in order to achieve the unified population, which was essential for the process of catching up with the West in terms of industrial capacity as well as people’s living standard. Instead of the western liberal ideas, they invented and employed some social ideas allegedly from the feudal society of Edo-tradition in order for the leaders to keep the power in their hands. This was where many of contemporary understandings of the supposed Japanese tradition were originated (Gluck 1998). The result of this mixture of the imported and historically retrieved concepts of social organization has been most obviously seen in the educational institutions. In the current educational system in Japan, which Barthes calls the "Empire of Signs", to graduate from one of the best universities directly provides a ticket to obtain a secure, well paid, and lifetime employment. In order to study at one of the best universities in Japan, one has to be trained at one of the best high schools and follow the technique of answering standardised questions, which would be likely to be asked in entrance examinations of the universities. To do so one has to be trained at one of the best junior high schools. Surprisingly this process goes down to the kindergarten level 2 . In fact, this system is prevalent, evidenced, for example, by 40 percent of medical students at Tokyo University, which is known as the most prestigious university, being from the top four private high schools (Lorriman and Kenjo 1994: 47). Many students do not care about the subjects of their study, but do the reputation of the universities, which they graduated from or are studying at . This means that the ranking becomes the most important criteria in selecting universities. Students' concern is not with what they study or what sort of knowledge they can get out of universities, but where they study, how it is socially regarded - crave for better ranks, thus better signifier. As a result, they often apply for several departments in one university (Horio 1997: 75). The Japanese education system is famous for its notorious competition among students on the basis of the market-like competition among individuals as well as educational institutions for better signifiers. This educational setting forces students to become commodities, parents to be consumers, universities to be competitive businesses, teachers to be instructors, and the curriculum to be a set of bureaucratic requirements. All of them are institutionalised and mechanised to stimulate the consumption of, and demand for, education among consumers. None of them are related to the quality, principle or ethics of education. They are exclusively concerned with their rankings and social status. Behind the logic of harsh competition among students, there is, as I mentioned above, an imported logic of liberal economics. While students compete each other, their competition will supposedly achieve the most desirable and efficient allocation of resources. More talented students will engage in more difficult and specialised jobs while the rest will work as un-skilled labour. This is supposedly the equilibrium, which maximises the economic welfare of the society as a whole. It is this moment when

Improving Local Health Care Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Improving Local Health Care - Research Paper Example Community practitioners are also responsible for documenting information concerning a patient’s conditions for treatment in the future. It is a requirement for healthcare practitioners to record a patient’s data to enhance success during operations. This involves the documentation of the patient’s name, age and their condition. This happens before the provision of healthcare services to the patient by a practitioner (Tom, 2001). As discussed in the piece, coordination of various components is necessary in the delivery of healthcare services to the public. Furthermore, technology is fundamental to the delivery of quality services in healthcare facilities. The provision of healthcare services requires the coordination of various stakeholders within the healthcare profession. It is imperative for healthcare practitioners to keep records when conducting their duties (Tom, 2001). Indeed, record keeping is fundamental in the provision of critical care for conditions such as asthma. At the local healthcare facility that I visited, the practitioners were struggling to meet some of the needs of the patients because they were facing challenges prioritizing healthcare services to clients. The absence of an electronic medical record made it difficult for the practitioner to asses my previous record. Besides, the practitioner was having difficulty communicating with his subordinates. Lack of proper policies for handling healthcare issues compromised the delivery of quality healthcare at the facility. The manuals testing kits contributed to pharmaceutical discrepancies at the facility. Additionally, the manual recording system contributed to the difficulties in communication amidst practitioners and professionals from other facilities. Indeed, most of the challenges at the facility required the implementation of sound policies concerning delivery of quality healthcare services (Richard, 2003). Some patients were unhappy with the services

Victims and The Criminal Justice system of England and Wales Essay

Victims and The Criminal Justice system of England and Wales - Essay Example Also ‘Everyone has a right to follow a course of action that others judge to be unwise or eccentric, including one which may lead to them being abused ’according to the document ‘Safeguarding Adults’( page 21). routine activity theory, this being also known as either opportunity theory or exposure theory and is described by David Garson on his web page ‘Routine Activity Theory’ Garson believes that victimization is because of exposure to risks, by which he means that more people place themselves in positions of risk obviously the more they increase their chance of becoming victims. The problem with such theories is that they place the responsibility for lessening risk on the victim alone, rather than placing any stress on the motivation of criminals or the responsibilities of law enforcement officials. Also some factors are beyond the person’s ability to change – females are more likely to be victims as are the poor and those who are obviously different - whether because of their skin colour, mental incapacity or religious beliefs. The Sociology 4099 lecture page speaks about social structure being a factor, the poorer section of society being more likely to be victimized, but the causes are seen as both economic and concerned with power – money speaks and the murder of children for instance, especially females , is described as socio-structural victimization. Although the police and social services will often offer some initial support, simply because they may be the first people involved outside a victim’s family, the majority of support available in England and Wales comes from Victim Support, a government aided charity as described on the You Gov web page ‘Victim Support in England and Wales’. The group offer confidential support, advice and give practical help with such things as replacing locks or making repairs. They also offer a witness support role whereby they do such things as accompanying a victim to the court, showing

Propeller Governor Operation and Maintenance of Propellers Article

Propeller Governor Operation and Maintenance of Propellers - Article Example With the suspension method, the propeller is hanged by cord and the imbalance noted by the eccentricity between the disks attached firmly and the cylinder that is attached to the part under test (FAA, 2012). However, the suspension method is not used frequently as compared to the knife edge method which is simpler and accurate to carry out. The knife edge method involve the use of two hardened steel pieces that are mounted so that there is free rotation of a propeller (assembled) in between them. The setting of this knife edge test should be done in a room or area free from air motion and other form of hard vibration. Whenever a propeller is balanced statically, it remains in that position as compared to the one that is not statically balanced (FAA, 2012). It should be noted that during the balance check, the blades must be at the same angle. This is necessary because it would enable the person checking to have finite details. The propeller should not rotate to any other position unless specified by the manufacturer, as this will avoid damaging the entire propeller

Operant Conditioning Paper Essay Example for Free

Operant Conditioning Paper Essay The theory of operant conditioning was thought of by B.F. Skinner. Skinner came up with this theory based on the work of Thorndike (1905). The theory of operant conditioning states that organisms learn to act or behave in a way which obtains or gets a reward yet avoids a punishment. It is an instrumental type of conditioning. Type R conditioning is also known as operant conditioning. Type R conditioning is shown by the response rate. Type S conditioning is determined by the amount of the conditioned response. Skinners R conditioning is similar to Thorndike’s instrumental conditioning, and Skinners S conditioning is very similar to Pavlov’s classical conditioning (Olson Hergenhahn, 2009). The focus in operant conditioning is on a behavior and the consequences surrounding that behavior. The organism must behave in a way to cause stimulus reinforcement. This is also known as contingent or dependent reinforcement because getting the reinforcement or reward is based on a particular behavior or performance by the organism. An example of this would be, if a dog wants a treat, he must do a new trick hew has been taught. Positive reinforcements are those which cause a behavior to be repeated. An example would be a child crying at night (when they should be sleeping) and knowing that when he or she cries someone will come. This may be a positive reinforcement for the young child or baby because the child is being comforted and getting attention like he or she wants whenever they cry. The positive reinforcement is the person coming. On the other hand it could be negative for the person getting awakened. They do not want to have to get up in the middle of the night. They may eventually just let the child self soothe. Then eventually the person, if he or she decided not to respond to the child would not come anymore. This would be a negative reinforcement for the child because they are not getting a reward or what he or she thought of as a reward any longer. If the child did learn to stop crying in middle of the night, then the person getting up would have the positive reinforcement of silence instead of noise in the middle of the night. I think the form of reinforcement that is most effective is the dependent or contingent reinforcement. I reward my children with doing things they like if they do well in their school since they are homeschooled. If they know ahead of time that they will get special stuff, be able to go somewhere, or do something they like, they are more likely to try harder on their school work and act better. I will try operant conditioning with our dogs. Training a dog with the reward system is a good way to start or stop a certain behavior. The dog will perform the behavior habitually for a long time, and if it ever has to have reinforcement, it is only once in a while. I will try this with my dogs when taking them outside every day for the next two weeks at least three times a day. I will let them go off leash, because we have a non-fenced in yard, and I am trying to get them to stay within their bounds without leaving our property area. I have decided that if I take treats outside with me for the three out of the five times a day they are taken out, and offer it to them when I call them as they start to go out of their area, while at the same time telling them no and calling their name, they will learn where their boundaries or parameter is in our yard. I will do it gradually less and less so the reinforcement, which is the treats, eventually does not have to be used. The behavior will just become natural to the dogs, and eventually they will know where they can and cannot go. References Olson, M.H. Hergenhahn, B.R. (2009). An introduction to theories of learning (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall

Climate Change Impact On Sub Saharan Africa Environmental Sciences Essay

Climate Change Impact On Sub Saharan Africa Environmental Sciences Essay The vulnerability to climate change is considered to be high in developing countries due to social, economic and environmental conditions that amplify susceptibility to negative impacts and contribute to low capacity to cope with and adapt to climate hazards. In addition, projected impacts of climate change generally are more adverse for low latitudes, where most developing countries are located, than for higher latitudes. The developing countries face many challenges poverty, a high disease burden, rapid population growth, food insecurity, and limited water access. Climate change is likely to drive the majority of the population into destitution, as assets are lost and resources are diverted to deal with emergencies, instead of being used for development. Historically, the earth has experienced periods of cooling and warming, with mean temperatures remaining relatively stable. These changes were due to the energy balance between land, sea and atmosphere. However, human activities s uch as burning fossil fuels and deforestation have contributed to the increase in greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere. These trap much of the heat that would otherwise escape from the earth, leading to a generally warmer world. An agricultural expansion seems unlikely and increases in agricultural productivity are needed in order to avoid additional people being forced into poverty and hunger (Cline 2007). Current climate hazards and the impacts of projected climate change threaten human development (African Development Bank et al, 2003). Climate is linked to all the Millennium Development Goals, but is most directly relevant to the goals to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, reduce child mortality, combat disease, and ensure environmental sustainability (Martin-Hurtado et al, 2002). Agriculture, which is highly sensitive to climate and which is projected to be negatively impacted by climate change in much of the tropics and sub-tropics, is the direct or indirect source of livelihood for about two-thirds of the population of developing countries and is a substantial contributor to their national incomes. About 70% of the worlds poor live in rural areas. Management of climate hazards and climate change impacts in the agriculture sector and rural communities will be critical for success. Climate change threatens the basic elements of life for people around the world access to water, food, health, and use of land and the environment. The vulnerability of people to food insecurity, which accompanies poverty, is increased due to the degradation of the natural environment and the products (e.g. fruits, fish, water and range-fed livestock) and services (e.g. regulating climate) that it provides (Biggs et. al., 2004). Degradation is due to a number of trends including climate change, soil erosion, the conversion of ecosystems into croplands, overgrazing and urban expansion, among other factors (Biggs et. al., 2004). Climate change poses a serious threat to ecosystems in the developing countries in both the medium and long term. Increases in temperature will lead, not only to an increase in the frequency of extreme events, but also to severe degradation of biodiversity and the loss of water resources that are already scarce (Biggs et. al., 2004). Sub-Saharan Africa is the region most vulnerable to the impacts of change because of widespread poverty and low levels of technical development which limits adaptation capabilities. There is considerable evidence that climate change is already affecting Africas people and its environment to the greater extend than any other region of the world in terms of their livelihoods (Lindsay, et al 2009). The impacts of climate change are predicted to affect the livelihoods of most people in developing countries and most especially in Africa in many ways. By 2020, between 75 and 250 million people are predicted to be exposed to increased water stress due to climate change. By 2020, yields from rain-fed agriculture in some countries could be reduced by up to 50 percent, increasing food insecurity and hunger. By 2080, an increase of 5 to 8 percent of arid and semi-arid land in Africa is projected. Climate change is likely to affect the distribution patterns of infectious diseases; for example, there is likely to be an increase in mosquitoes which spread dengue and yellow fever. Sea levels are projected to rise by around 25cm by 2050; Africas coastal areas are already experiencing environmental problems including coastal erosion, flooding and subsidence. (Said Kolawole et al 2009). Alessandra Giannini, et al, 2008, reviews the evidence that connects drought and desertification in the Sahel with climate change past, present and future in the sub-region. Their study concludes that there is a correlation between the desertification and climate change in the Sahel region of Africa. The African Sahel provides the most dramatic example of multi-decadal climate variability that has been quantitatively and directly measured. Annual rainfall across this region fell by between 20 and 30 per cent between the decades leading up to political independence for the Sahelian nations (1930s to 1950s) and the decades since (1970s to 1990s). Lindsay, et al 2009, further throws more light on the impacts of climate change, drought and desertification and how they are closely interlinked, and most acutely experienced by populations whose livelihoods depend principally on natural resources. Their paper examines three interlinked drivers of adaptation; climate change, desertification and drought, assessing the extent to which international and national policy supports local adaptive strategies. 2. Problem Statement The unimpeded growth of greenhouse gas emissions is raising the earths temperature. The consequences include melting glaciers, more precipitation, more and more extreme weather events, and shifting seasons. The accelerating pace of climate change, combined with global population and income growth, threatens food security everywhere. Agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate change. Higher temperatures eventually reduce yields of desirable crops while encouraging weed and pest proliferation. Changes in precipitation patterns increase the likelihood of short-run crop failures and long-run production declines. Although there will be gains in some crops in some regions of the world, the overall impacts of climate change on agriculture are expected to be negative, threatening global food security. Populations in the developing world, which are already vulnerable and food insecure, are likely to be the most seriously affected. In 2005, nearly half of the economically active population in developing countries-2.5 billion people-relied on agriculture for its livelihood. Today, 75 percent of the worlds poor live in rural areas. (Gerald C. et al 2009). Climate change issues require multiple stakeholders, global challenges and social sustainability issues. This is because there are varying debates on the causes, impacts of climate, adaptation and mitigation issues when identifying sustainable solutions on the topic. The presence of significant uncertainties has led researchers to emphasize the analysis of regional and national effects (Mendelsohn Dinar, 2004). The issue of climate change is without doubt important for developing countries with an agrarian economy and very difficult to apprehend easily as it is multi- faceted in approach. The topic is very complex, transnational in nature and integrated in perspective and approach. The linkage of social impact of climate change in the developing countries have not been well researched and most especially in connection with Sub Saharan Africa and non-Sub-Sahara Africa (NSSA) countries. Climate Change has several livelihood impacts in developing countries as it reduces yields, household incomes, health issues, environmental problems and the vulnerability of the disadvantages in rural communities. 3. Hypothesis The socio-economic impact of climate change is much more likely to affect Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) than non-Sub-Sahara Africa (NSSA) countries and socio-economic dimension of adaptation respectively. 4. Overall Objective To undertake a comparative studies on the socio-economic impact of climate change and their socio- economic dimensions of adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and non-Sub-Sahara Africa (NSSA) countries. 5. Empirical Research Questions 1. To review literature on the socio-economic impacts of climate change in the developing countries. 2. To identify the linkages between Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and non-Sub-Sahara Africa (NSSA) countries in terms of climate change socio-economic impacts. 3. To analyse the socio-economic dimensions of adaptation in these countries, taking into account, pro-poor adaptation, microfinance, safety net, new technologies, index insurance and livelihoods. 6. Theoretical and Conceptual Issues A substantial amount of research has been conducted on the potential effects of climate on agricultural productivity (Parry, 1990; Leemans Solomon, 1993). Some studies have used climate induced changes in crop yield to estimate potential global economic impacts (Kane et al., 1992), while others have examined the indirect impact on economic variables such as farm revenue and income (Lang, 2001; Molua, 2003). Schimmelpfennig et al. (1996) present a simple taxonomy that classifies the method of analysis as either structural (Adams et al., 1990, 1995, 1998) or spatial analogue (Darwin et al., 1999; Kurukulasuriya Ajwad, 2007). This study would employ some institutional economics theories and the sustainable livelihoods framework analysis in doing the comparative studies. 7. Methodology The study would make use of quantitative and qualitative reviews of literature from secondary sources and data already collected from the various regions and undertake the comparative review and analysis. The study would as well make use of participatory rural appraisal methods when visiting the field for data collection to get first hand information on the impacts of climate change and adaptation in the various regions. Quantitative analysis and econometrics methods would be applied in this study as well. Data analysis would as well be made with reference to the research problems and objectives. Data collected would be classified after the collection process and Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) would be used to analyse all the data collected in the field.

walt whitman :: essays research papers

Walt Whitman   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Walt Whitman, born in 1819 to a family in Long Island, lived a very humble life before becoming a well known writer. He grew up in a community full of Quakers and followed religion very strictly as a child. Whitman loved reading the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson because he thought he related to Emerson’s ideas and theologies which closely corresponded to his own. At the age of 35, Whitman published his first book, Leaves of Grass, which was so successful that it appealed to other known poets worldwide. His talent was a great surprise to many. Whitman's abilities as a poet were unknown because his previous job was working for a local newspaper from which he got fired for being an abolitionist. It is believed, however, that Whitman's inspiration came from his trip to New Orleans and New York. Whether it was a love affair or the great scenery from the countryside that truly inspired him is unknown; nevertheless this first book was the beginning to an exciting c areer. Whitman viewed himself as the first real American poet. His poetry was symbolic of freedom and democracy, as well as emotions and beliefs. Later editions of Leaves of Grass were published in 1856 and 1860. These editions were full of new poems as well as revised earlier ones. At this time, Whitman was the editor of a local newspaper, the Brooklyn Daily Times, in addition to helping is father in carpentry. It was in 1862 when he found out his brother was injured in the war and he traveled South to serve as a volunteer nurse to the military until 1867. During his time as a nurse, Whitman composed several war poems which were published in the 1867 edition of Leaves of Grass.

Essay --

In this day and age, many argue that the United States has an â€Å"apathy problem.† According to The Huffington Post, â€Å"America is truly exceptional in its ability not to care.† The only time we are concerned about an issue, is only if and when it personally affects us. This is also the circumstance in regards to politics. Citizens must have reliable information in order to make good, rational decisions that will help our political system run efficiently. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. According to Converse, â€Å"most Americans glance at public life innocent of ideological concepts and unguided by any broad outlook on government policy† (Kinder and Sanders, 1996, p. 167). In such a society, there is no such thing as equal representation, only popular representation, as a result of the disparities and ignorance of the people. Converse makes very valid arguments that confirm that regardless of ideological innocence, political electorates, as a wh ole, will continue to be consistent with the changing conditions of society. In the past, the â€Å"information problem† was the scarcity of information and the disconnected flow of information to the voters. Today, the problem is one of â€Å"superabundance† (Converse, 1990, p. 371). Because there is such a massive volume of information available, it is difficult to organize and rummage through it all. Corresponding to Down’s Rational Choice theory, rational voters will not make an effort to analyze such information because there are higher costs than benefits to search through and find â€Å"good† information (Converse, 1964, p. 33). Consequently, there is a huge disparity—a difference that we greatly underestimate—between the ignorant and the well-informed constituents. According to Converse, there... ...presentation fidelity â€Å"is higher for the better-educated constituents† (Converse, 1990, p. 387). This is the case because politically sophisticated entities will be more vocal and more involved in legislation. Our society is a mix of the two models, issue-public and top-down, so it only makes sense that information will be unequally distributed. Although we don't like to admit it much, we are a very indifferent society, so people do not care; they will simply delve into and further develop their expertise on topics that they are specifically interested in. However, there is no need to fret. Everyone is different and has distinct interests and skills. After all, there are nine different types of intelligences—some excel in Math while others outshine in English. Therefore, we should leave politics to the professionals and the well-informed constituents.

Ancestral Puebloans: The Southwest American Indians Essay -- Explorato

Ancestral Puebloans: The Southwest American Indians "Man corn", warfare and atlatls were not the only interesting aspects of the Anasazi culture. The history and lifestyles of the Ancestral Puebloans may have contributed to their mysterious disappearance. Their societies were more complex than most humans realize. The Anasazi, or to be politically correct, the Ancestral Puebloans, traveled to the Southwest from Mexico around 100 A.D. (Southwest Indian Relief Council, 2001). The word "Anasazi" originated from the Navajo word that translates to "ancestral enemies." The name was changed from Anasazi to Ancestral Puebloans so that their ancestors today do not take offense to the history of the people in their past. The Anasazi were known to be a nomadic people. They generally moved around until they found the perfect land for farming. This perfect land happened to be scattered across the southwest portion of the United States, mostly in the Four-Corner region of Arizona, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico (SWIRC, 2001). Mesa Verde, Chaco Canyon and Hovenweep were some of the most attractive places for these nomadic farmers to settle down. Mesa Verde provided the Anasazi with a high plateau full of canyons, caves and "Cliff Palaces." Chaco Canyon served as the center for all Anasazi activity. Hovenweep contained many cliff dwellings, perfect for a thriving, but remote Anasazi site. The Anasazi Indians developed their farming methods gradually once they found the perfect homelands. They would grow and eat corn, squash, pinon nuts, fruits and berries. Once the corn was fully-grown, the Anasazi women ground the corn with ametate and a mano. The metate is a "flat stone receptacle" and the mano is a "hand-held stone" (Ferguson... ...mber/October). Flight of the Anasazi. Archaeology, 44 Noble, D. G. (1985). Understanding the Anasazi of mesa verde and hovenweep. Pgs. 35-37. Santa Fe: Ancient City Press. Pueblo Indian. (2002, April). History of the pueblo indians (cont.). Retrieved March 12, 2003, from http://www.puebloindian.com/pueblo_history_003.htm Roberts, D. (1996). In search of the old ones. Pgs. 13, 31. New York: Touchstone. Southwest Indian Relief Council. (2001, July). Southwest indian history: 300 B. C.: Anasazi. Retrieved March 11, 2003, from http://www.swirc.org/history/anasazi.html S. P. (2002, September). Could the Anasazi have stayed? Science News, 174. Torres, N. & Stuart, S. Anasazi indians. Retrieved March 12, 2003, from http://www.crystalinks.com/anasazi.html Williams, S. (1991). Fantastic archaeology. Pgs. 339-340. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.

Bei Dao’s poem “Recollection” Analysis

I will be using Bei Dao's poem â€Å"Recollection† to demonstrate how his use of imagery and writing style can give a ‘simple' poem written during a time of political turmoil in China during the 1970's can have so much more in depth meaning as well as how his poetry baffles critics. The title of the poem, ‘Recollection', suggests to readers an act of remembrance or reminiscence of something, someone, or a sequence of events that Bei Dao wants/hopes to elaborate and tell his readers about. Here, the title of the poem does not indicate a simple reminiscence, but serving a far deeper meaning and purpose as well as a grasp of experience. One is unable to analyze and understand exactly why Bei Dao uses ‘Recollection' as a title, as the title acts as a form of teasing and attraction for the reader to follow through and read the powerful words which are written down word for word; hear and visualize the imagery that is created within. As one reads through the poem word for word, Bei Dao's use of imagery is instantly caught, as the poem is based solely on the imagery of visualization and sound. Candle light / flickers on each face / leaving not a trace / the shadow's spray / strikes the white wall lightly'. Throughout these five lines in the poem, each line contains at least on word that emphasizes and gives readers an image, i. e. light, flickers, trace, spray, strikes, white. Here, the imagery of visualization Bei Dao creates for his readers leaves them pondering about in a ‘unrealistic' state of mind, where readers are able to understand that Bei Dao is using his imagination to portray a deeper message perhaps. The visual imagery here can be tied in with the title as the visual images are pleasant, which hints the recollection of a pleasant and pure beauty that which the poet himself has encountered with different people (faces) on several occasions, although these people seem not to leave a trace which hints the numerous amounts of people the poet might have encountered with to emphasize his connection with all those he has come into contact with.  Read also Critical appreciation of the poem â€Å"Old Ladies’ Home†. As ‘Recollection' was written during a time of change and revolution, along with our understanding of how Bei Dao opposed the Maoist society, the first five lines use of unrealistic/imaginative imagery along with how these five lines tie in with the title, can suggest the numerous amounts of people who felt the same way about the changing society of China. Thus, the use of the unrealistic/imaginative words creating this visual imagery is not stating that these encounters are in the poets head, but were most and very possibly true events – the people whom the poet has come into contact with are those who are true people, people who are unable to be contained and still have their own free thoughts, feelings as well as emotions; the unrealistic and imaginative part being the Chinese government that was reshaping and reforming its people in hope that all would think like a Maoist where freedom of thought, speech, etc was suppressed. Here, the poet, Bei Dao is simply arguing that suppression of thought, speech, freedom, etc†¦ are unrealistic achievements that the government is pressing for, for they will never succeed. Directly following the use of visual imagery, after the fifth line in the poem, one might notice how the imagery and tone, shifts in a very smooth, eloquent, and contained matter. the guitar hanging from the wall / begins to sound in the darkness / like the masthead light reflected in water / stealing whispers'. Like the first five lines previously discussed, the use of imagery is crucial, however instead of using just visual imagery here, Bei Dao adds in sound. The ‘guitar' mentioned in line 5 is a ‘hint' of sound, as it can also have deeper meaning; Bei Dao continues his use of words to symbolize sounds such as ‘whispers', etc. nd seems to get more serious in contrast to his pleasant tone from before. The new tactic where Bei Dao uses the addition of sound affects to his visual imagery creates a more in depth and less constrained opinion based on the people and the Maoist society; in retrospect, the peoples opinions towards the Maoist society as they seem to be speaking up for themselves after being suppressed for so long. This is caught as Bei Dao uses more powerful imagery, tying in both vision and sound i. e. ‘begins to sound in the darkness', ‘darkness' merely representing the suppression of the people, and ‘begins to sound' to emphasize that his encounter with all these people have shown him something different, as they seem to be starting to stand up for themselves by sharing opinions, which by itself is going against this ‘darkness'. Subsequently/Next, Bei Dao gets more serious about the issue as he states ‘like the masthead light reflected in water', the ‘masthead light' representing all the people in China, and the ‘reflected water' being a mere representation of purity and innocence or a ripple affect, symbolizing how all the people who are suppressed seem to realize their own rights and are slowly starting to rub off on one another as more and more people get influenced and start fighting for themselves and their own freedom and happiness. Notice, how drastic the change is from the beginning of the poem's first five lines to the poems last four lines. Although the first five lines of the poem is focused on the visual images that briefly gives its readers an understanding of what he, as a poet is trying to express in his own words, mind-set, and understanding towards society/things from his own experience; one can see how the visual images tie in with sound, creating an even more dramatic and strong emotional effect, just like his encounters with people during the time of the Chinese revolution when China was a Maoist society where people were being forced into suppression. Bei Dao's tactic and use of visual imagery ties in with sound to create and tell a story of what he had experienced, along with the millions of other Chinese, as he uses ‘Recollection' to represent not only himself who suffered, but all citizens. Here, Bei Dao uses the creativity, tone, language, trope and theme of this poem to emphasize and be a representative of all the people who were stuck in a Maoist society, as he states the peoples capacity for freedom and their uprising and realization that suppression is acknowledged, however not and will never be achieved.