Saint Patrick

Saint Patrick was born in Kilpatrick, Scotland, in the year 387. His parents are Calphurnius and Conchessa. When Patrick was sixteen, he was carried off into captivity by Irish marauders and was sold as a slave to a chieftan named Milchu in Dalriada. In Dalriada, he tended his master’s flocks in the valley of the Braid and on the slopes of Slemish. When he was working the fields, he acquired a perfect knowledge of the Celtic tongue. His master was a druidical high priest, in which gave Patrick an opportunity to become familiar with all the details of Druidism from whose bondage he was destined to liberate the Irish race. Warned by an angel after six years, he fled from his cruel master and bent his steps toward the west. He traveled about 200 miles to Westport. He found a ship ready to sail and after some rebuffs was allowed on board. In a few days he arrived in Britain, but now his heart was set on devoting himself to the service of God in the sacred ministry. After wandering in dense forest for twenty-eight days they were found by others and eventually Patrick made it home to his family. He remained with them for a few years, and then decided to pursue the priesthood in answer to dreams he had about returning to Ireland. After a number of years, while he was on a short visit to the continent, probably Gaul, his name was proposed to lead a missionary expedition to Ireland. He set out around the year 432 as a bishop, and went to the headquarters of the Ulaid in Emain Macha, and there established his first church at what is now Armagh. From there he traveled predominantly in the north and west and made many converts, and trained many priests. After some time, his integrity was questioned, resulting in an inquiry at the hands of the British bishops, but he was subsequently vindicated. As the Ulaid were pushed out of more and more territory, Patrick moved with them to spend his last days in Down, from which he wrote his Confession. He died March 17, 461, in Downpatrick, Ireland. Kilpatrick still retains many memorials of Saint Patrick. His feast day, St. Patrick’s Day, is March 17, or the day he died.

Pulse and Heart Rate Essay

1. Determine your heart rate by taking your radial pulse and then your carotid pulse. What was your heart rate in each instance? For my radial pulse my heart rate was 86 beats per minute. For my carotid pulse my heart rate was 90 beats per minute. Explain which artery you found easier to use and why. The artery that I found easier to use was the carotid artery and my reason for that is because the pulse felt stronger. 2. Which two websites did you use to determine your target heart rate? The two websites I used to determine my target heart are www.active.com/fitness and www.webmd.com/body-bmi-calculator 3. What was your target heart rate zone on each of these websites? Were the zones the same? According to Active.com my target heart rate is between 101-131 beats per minute. Webmd.com determined my target heart rate to be between 101-131 beats per minute. Yes, the heart rate zones were very similar. 4. Do you think the range for your target heart rate zones identified by these websites is reasonable? Why or why not? Yes, I do think that the range of my target heart rate zone is reasonable because my heart rate should be faster when I am exercising. 5. How does understanding your target heart rate zone help you improve your physical fitness? Understanding your target heart rate zone can help improve your physical fitness because it can help you maintain your intensity level when exercising. 6. Describe a physical activity you have done before when you have failed the talk test. What would you change about that activity in order to pass the talk test? One physical activity that I have done before where I had failed the talk test was when I had to swim out to a marking point in a lake. What I would change about that activity so I can pass the talk test is to practice more on my swimming.

You Are Never Too Old to Do Anything

You are never too old to do anything People that think that elderly people are too old to do the things which the younger generation are quite capable to do are guilty of both; lack of conviction and uncertainty. Long-standing people are just as capable as we are of fulfilling their dreams and living the way that they want to live due to them being more experienced than us in life for which they know more than the younger generation. Undoubtedly, there will be differing opinions from their family members and from the people that care about them about this issue.However, taking the movie Rocky as an example, it was is clearly obvious how outstandingly well talented boxer he was for which he returned in the ring and became a role model for the younger generation looking up to him. Do you think that elderly people are too old to do anything? Furthermore, aged people are not to be doubted on as they have worked harder than us at our age to achieve what they have achieved. This portrays t he determination that elderly people have to achieve their targets and that if they are given a chance they can do unexpected things with their will power.Conversely, it could be bad for their health as well due to their age, as they are getting older their health is becoming a very essential factor because old people’s bones and functions in the body are becoming weaker day by day. As well as that, as you get older your body takes time to respond to new things differently and takes time to adapt. Therefore, there are positive and negative sides to old people doing things that people think that is harmful for them.Moreover, Fauja Singh for example is known as a veteran because he is 101 years old and is continuously participating in marathons and getting past the finish line in 6 hours which he wants to beat to break the record. This portrays the commitment and determination old aged people have when they set themselves a target, in addition, it also demonstrates that when ol d aged men keep fit they can achieve anything they want. In July 2012, Fauja Singh carried the Olympic torch which is a great achievement for a very old man; aged people need a sense of accomplishment to keep them going and also to keep them occupied rather than sitting at home.Obviously, there would have been downfalls to earn this achievement but the accomplishment in the end outweighs the downfalls. On the other hand, other people may be against old people trying to achieve unthinkable goals because they want to give the younger generation a chance. When old people do unthinkable things they are all over the news for doing it due to which the younger generations will get less popularity, they are then compared to veterans. However, when old people return from retirement to do what they want to do, they enjoy doing it for which they maintain a good health and sound mind to improve furthermore.A living example right now for this is a famous football player called Paul Scholes. Neve rtheless, there are some others who might be against this because they think that elderly people are not capable of doing what they want to do anymore therefore they try keep them away from it so that they don’t get harmed or get a critical illness which is very likely as you get old. Caring for your elders is a very superior thing to do and it is understandable but if you really worry about your elders then you should encourage them to do what they want to do.Then again, if older people get a long term injury in doing what they want to do then it will cause a lot of pain not only for the aged person but also to his/her family. After all he/she has responsibilities to fulfil as well, therefore, it is really hard for the old aged people to return doing what they love doing because of their everyday jobs and their family which they now have to look after whether it’s a male or a female they both share equal responsibilities. As a result, if a long term injury occurs then all of these factors can’t be put aside.Alternatively, injuries happen to everyone whether the person is young or old so you can’t stop doing something just because of the risks it has for the reason that everything has risks. To conclude, old people need to motivated and encouraged to do what they want to do because an elder doing something, even just participating, gives them a sense of accomplishment which is better than sitting at home depressed. I am aware of the risks of physical injuries and internal damages that may occur but no one should give up on doing something before trying.These elders can inspire the younger generation at the end of the day, therfore; I think elderly people should be motivated in doing what they want to do. 6 5 4 3 2 1 To conclude, old people need to motivated and encouraged to do what they want to do because an elder doing something, even just participating, gives them a sense of accomplishment which is better than sitting at home dep ressed. I am aware of the risks of physical injuries and internal damages that may occur but no one should give up on doing something before trying.These elders can inspire the younger generation at the end of the day, therefore; I think elderly people should be motivated in doing what they want to do. Then again, if older people get a long term injury in doing what they want to do then it will cause a lot of pain not only for the aged person but also to his/her family. After all he/she has responsibilities to fulfil as well, therefore, it is really hard for the old aged people to return doing what they love doing because of their everyday jobs and their family which they now have to look after whether it’s a male or a female they both share equal responsibilities.As a result, if a long term injury occurs then all of these factors can’t be put aside. Alternatively, injuries happen to everyone whether the person is young or old so you can’t stop doing something j ust because of the risks it has for the reason that everything has risks. On the other hand, other people may be against old people trying to achieve unthinkable goals because they want to give the younger generation a chance. When old people do unthinkable things they are all over the news for doing it due to which the younger generations will get less popularity, they are then compared to veterans.However, when old people return from retirement to do what they want to do, they enjoy doing it for which they maintain a good health and sound mind to improve furthermore. A living example right now for this is a famous football player called Paul Scholes. Nevertheless, there are some others who might be against this because they think that elderly people are not capable of doing what they want to do anymore therefore they try keep them away from it so that they don’t get harmed or get a critical illness which is very likely as you get old.Caring for your elders is a very superio r thing to do and it is understandable but if you really worry about your elders then you should encourage them to do what they want to do. Furthermore, aged people are not to be doubted on as they have worked harder than us at our age to achieve what they have achieved. This portrays the determination that elderly people have to achieve their targets and that if they are given a chance they can do unexpected things with their will power.Conversely, it could be bad for their health as well due to their age, as they are getting older their health is becoming a very essential factor because old people’s bones and functions in the body are becoming weaker day by day. As well as that, as you get older your body takes time to respond to new things differently and takes time to adapt. Therefore, there are positive and negative sides to old people doing things that people think that is harmful for them.People that think that elderly people are too old to do the things which the youn ger generation are quite capable to do are guilty of both; lack of conviction and uncertainty. Long-standing people are just as capable as we are of fulfilling their dreams and living the way that they want to live due to them being more experienced than us in life for which they know more than the younger generation. Undoubtedly, there will be differing opinions from their family members and from the people that care about them about this issue.However, taking the movie Rocky as an example, it was is clearly obvious how outstandingly well talented boxer he was for which he returned in the ring and became a role model for the younger generation looking up to him. Do you think that elderly people are too old to do anything? Moreover, Fauja Singh for example is known as a veteran because he is 101 years old and is continuously participating in marathons and getting past the finish line in 6 hours which he wants to beat to break the record.This portrays the commitment and determination old aged people have when they set themselves a target, in addition, it also demonstrates that when old aged men keep fit they can achieve anything they want. In July 2012, Fauja Singh carried the Olympic torch which is a great achievement for a very old man, aged people need a sense of accomplishment to keep them going and also to keep them occupied rather than sitting at home. Obviously, there would have been downfalls to earn this achievement but the accomplishment in the end outweighs the downfalls.

Nursing research Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nursing research - Assignment Example On the other hand Van Schoonhoven defines the concept as the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of the best current evidence which is available in the decision making process. The decisions made should be applicable to the individual patients; above all the optimality of the evidences is core (Herdman & NANDA International 2011). EBP helps nurses to make informed decisions on the quality of the services they offer, it is very crucial to base judgements and formulate decisions based on the use of EBP as compared to the traditional methods. By doing this it improves the health care system as it basically facilitates and ensures consistency in the decision making process. According to Prior, Wilkinson, and Neville (2010) the system helps nurses to make informed decisions based on an up to date technology, thereby ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in the practice (Herdman & NANDA International 2011). EBP is the right channel towards achieving fully functional nursing services. Each of the techniques imparted on these nurses is a clear functional criterion which will spearhead the whole process of efficiency and effectiveness. Most times patients will have beneficial and improved outcomes where the EBP mechanism has been utilized which typically gives maximum results on different topologies in the practice. By doing this different preference of the individual and the entire society are addressed (Hoffmann, Bennet & Del Mar 2010). Prior, Wilkinson, and Neville (2010) quantitative analysis was the start incarnation to formulate a robust and quantitative question which was intended to provide a clear cut direction to the literature search. This study suggests that a strong question corresponds to the research technique, it also touches on; methods used for research, the interactions and the general outcomes of interests. It is also evident that there are three aspects of consideration; search of relevant evidence, the decision on whether the evidence is

Preparing fast and healthy meals on the go Essay

Preparing fast and healthy meals on the go - Essay Example Likewise, eating even a hurried breakfast or other meals could also cannot give the full complement of nutrients to the body, with the energy draining out later in the day. In addition, skipping meals or having hurried meals could also lead to binge eating, as missed breakfast could lead to heavy lunch or even dinner to overcome the tiredness. â€Å"Youll either overdo your evening meal, taking in too many calories because youre famished, or youll run low on energy and patience, since your body isnt adequately fueled to manage a busy schedule.† (Ehrensberger, 2009). Thus, it is clear that fast paced life and inability to have food at appropriate times and in apt quantities could lead to major short-term as well as long-term problems, thus being a ‘recipe’ for nutritional disaster. â€Å"If your normal busy-day routine is to skip meals or just grab an empty-calorie snack, sooner or later youre sure to collide with nutrition disaster.† (Ehrensberger, 2009). Chances of ‘disaster’ can be averted or even minimized if one starts to prepare and quick and healthy meals on the go, which can provide the ‘fuel’ to keep on going, as well as fulfill the needed nutrients. Preparing fast and healthy meals particularly the breakfast on the go will go a long way in providing the necessary energy for the day. So, individuals living in the fast lane or husbands and wives who both have tight professional commitments, can try out various fast and healthy meals, instead of skipping the meals or consuming hurried ready-to-eat high calorie foods. There are sizable numbers of fast and healthy meals, which apart from providing the needed energy and nutrition, can surely satisfy their palates. People always go for tasty foods, more than healthy ones, and so these quick and healthy meals have to be tastier. One of the steps that can be taken to prepare fast and healthy meals is to buy and stock key healthy foods. â€Å"Pre-cut veggies, purchased hard boiled eggs, individual cartons

Final Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 1

Final - Research Paper Example The company was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, students of Stanford University willing to create a web database that would help in listing webpages according to their requirements. Till date, Page and Brin hold 16 present of the total share of the company. The project was initially known as â€Å"BackRub† that used links to determine the importance of individual webpages. The company was incorporated as a private company in the year 1998 and was subsequently made public in the year 2004. The main mission of the company is to consolidate the world’s facts and figures and to make them universally available and accessible by the common people (1Google, n.d.). The rapid growth of the organisation is determined to be resulting from its continuous introduction of innovative products, procurement and cooperation outside Google’s basic search engine business. In addition, Google also provides online productivity software along with services such as email (Gmail) an official suite (Google Drive) and social networking sites such as Orkut and Goggle+. Furthermore, along with the mentioned products and services, Google also offers a wide range of desktop products like image editing and instant message service (Barr, 2013). It is worth mentioning that android considered to be one the most used mobile Operating Software (OS) is also owned by Google. The main objective of this paper is to provide a detailed evaluation showing the major reasons behind the rapid strides taken by Goggle in the IT industry. Additionally, it would also provide evidence and data that would reveal why the company is recognised as one of the world’s most secretive organisations (2Google, n.d.). Historical Performance of Google With the increasing internet users around the world, Google has become one of the most popular Information Technology (IT) based entities. Every individual who has been a regular under of Google tends to study the history on how the company w as established and what were the major reasons behind creating such a search engine that has unified every kind of vital information into a single place. The history of Google started in the year 1995. Larry Page and Sergey Brin were two individuals who met each other at University of Michigan, where both of them went to peruse their PhD degree in computer science. The idea of creating Google as a web page started in the year 1996 as a research project by Brin. In the year 1996, both Page and Brin collaborated to create a search engine which was first started by Page and named it as BackRub (3Google, n.d.). The website was developed in the same year and is believed to have operated on Stanford servers for more than a year. However, it has been viewed that the search engine eventually took up much bandwidth in comparison with other search engines available on the World Wide Web (WWW). Considering the growing issue of bandwidth as well as to convert the data gathered by BackRubâ€℠¢s web crawler assumed greater measure of importance for a given webpage. It was then when Page and Brin both developed the PageRank algorithm and realized that the platform can be used to build a search engine which could be far more superior to the entire users in the web. PageRank is a set of rules developed by Page that analyses the relevancy of the back links of a webpage and list them accordingly. The first version of Google webpage was launched in the

Norwalk Agreement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Norwalk Agreement - Essay Example The FASB sets the accounting standards in the US, while the IASB performs a parallel function on an international level. Subsequently, the FASB and the IASB met on several occasions to reaffirm their commitment to the earlier agreement. This they did so in April and October of 2005 and on February 27, 2006 reconvened for the purpose of drafting a blueprint of convergence between the FASB’s GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and the IASB’s IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards), to be implemented between 2006 and 2008 (Gibson 65). Short-term topics were laid out on the table subject to examination by both or individually by either of the parties as well as major topics. In July 2007, performance reporting was tackled where a proposal to change the layout of the face of financial statements was made. Recent events, such SEC’s announcement of acceptance of IFRS in lieu of GAAP and an agreement signed by Bush allowing use of IFRS instead of G AAP, show a likelihood of adoption of a substantially modified IFRS and the elimination of the US GAAP (Gibson 65; Fletcher 1-4). References: (2002) The Norwalk Agreement. Fletcher, Leslie. Update on the Norwalk Agreement: Progress Towards IFRS?GAAP Harmonization. 29 October 2009.

What I would do with the remaining time if found out to have only 24 Assignment

What I would do with the remaining time if found out to have only 24 hours to live - Assignment Example Despite the fact that my doctor’s pronunciation has taken me by surprise and I must die within the next 24 hours, I strongly believe that this is the time for me to focus on physical, spiritual, family and emotional issues. Knowing that I have lived my life imperfectly before my creator, I will dedicate a lot of my last moments in prayer and repentance. Although it will be difficult to praise and worship God, I will try to dedicate some moments to focus on my life and praise and worship God for the time He gave me on earth. I will also delve into scriptures for reassurance about a brighter future after death. I will as much as possible make my path straight before God so that my eternity may be spent in paradise. The reality of death is a harsh one even to the bravest of people. This being the case, I have no doubt that I feel very scared about the whole experience of dying. I imagine myself kicking and struggling to disentangle myself from the grip of death in vain. I imagine seeing my mother and close family members weeping at the news of my death. I wish I was never born in the first place so that I would not have to endure the pain of death. Stressed about having to leave my loved ones behind shortly, I will try and share my last moments in the company of my family and closest friends. I will take some time to share my goals, expectations, and concerns with them to ensure that I leave everything in order. Since most families tend to engage in a dispute over sharing of properties after their beloved ones have passed on, my first move will be to avoid such happenings by drafting a will. In the will I will direct how I would wish my property to be shared among my family members. I will also detail my debts and obligations to other people and instruct my family to repay the debts and if possible fulfill the obligations that I will not have fulfilled within the time left. In addition to the will, I will write a letter of instructions. The letter of instru ction will help my family make decisions at the end of my life, and once I am gone. In the letter of instruction, I will include a list of names and phone numbers of those I want to be contacted after my death. To ease the tension that I am feeling, I take a short walk around our garden and within town alone. As I walk about, I will focus on what life is all about and how I spent my life. I will take note of my achievements and failures and try to convince myself that I did my part in life the best I could albeit as an imperfect person. In overall, I will pray that my eternal destiny would be a good one. # 2. My Funeral Plan Funeral is one of the most important stages in a person’s â€Å"life†. Once a person is dead, the next stage is usually to organize a funeral service in accordance with the deceased’s wishes. However, in order for the funeral service to be conducted in accordance with the deceased’s desires, it is important for the deceased to live be hind a plan of funeral service, stating how he/she wants the service conducted. However, very few people normally get the chance to draft their funeral plan. I am among the lucky few who have had the opportunity to write a funeral plan. Below is a plan of how I want my funeral service conducted once I am dead and gone. I would like to be given a decent send off once I am dead. Immediately I am pronounced dead, my body should be taken to the private wing of a mortuary where my body will be well preserved. I would not wish to have my loved ones see my body in bad shape when I am gone. I wish to see my funeral attended by as many of my friends and acquaintances as possible. For this reason, I will

Women and Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Women and Leadership - Essay Example Women were first hindered by rules that made them under the shadows for years. Women were blocked by laws passed by the government that is why they cannot move smoothly in the society especially in the government posts (Eagly and Carli 3). However, this problem was given some actions through changing some laws but another problem evolved, the glass ceiling. This problem was long been a challenge to women in the workplace. Women were allowed to take posts however, they were not allowed to acquire higher posts (4). However, as the society moves toward modernity, the barriers against women also moved forward that concrete wall and glass ceiling were no longer the main problems but only parts of the bigger picture. Women now face the so-called â€Å"labyrinth† wherein the barriers are vague but there. These kinds of problems are collective and have higher effect on women’s improvement because the problems have chain reaction (Eagly and Carli 6). Women can now attain higher posts but the path to be taken is harder compared to men. Women are faced with more difficult standard than men because employers consider other factors compared to men who are applying for higher posts (8). These are the reasons why women take longer time to attain higher posts compared to men both in the workplace and in the government. The hindrances against women on acquiring leaderships still exist however, more research that disproves the high difference between men and women leadership characteristics are coming out. According to Eagly and Carli (47), the differences that people claim about the differences between men and women are just a show for hindering women in attaining higher positions. Eagly and Carli believe that women and men have only slight leadership skill differences and women are much capable of handling heavy positions in the society. On the other hand, Wilson (n.p.) strongly believes that women lead differently compared to men. Wilson’s book,

Afghanistan Taliban Regime Essay Example for Free

Afghanistan Taliban Regime Essay The motion picture Osama really has the capacity to move anyone’s heart. Unsurprisingly, it garnered awards and commendations from several award-giving bodies in the film industry (Ebert 500). However, the bonafide intention of this motion flick is for the world to know the story of women under the Afghanistan Taliban regime. Moreover, women and young girls suffered so much misery under the sadistic governance of Taliban people. Real life story such as this reflects that women from some parts of the world have little freedom or truly there is no liberty at all. We are on the era where everything seems so easy to achieve and women have the power to rule things within their hands. However, many female individuals including Afghan women take so many years before they can do something for their own welfare. Afghanistan is severely devastated from the past hostilities and so as the Afghan women. No doubt that Afghanistan is one of the most poverty-stricken countries on earth. Nevertheless, the mortality rate of both maternal and child are extremely below par which is considered to be the second highest among nations in the world. Women’s literacy is beyond acceptable rate for the reason that they are not given enough education. So to speak, only few female individuals are given the chance to study and participate in building the nation. During the Taliban’s dictatorship, female population is strictly discriminated in many aspects. Women and girls do not have enough access to employment, education and most especially to health care facilities. Inadequate medical assistance worsens the circumstances of pregnant women and newborn child. Malnutrition among Afghan people also increases every month and the unacceptable governance of the Taliban regime aggravates the present condition. There is a very small portion of female population who are lucky enough to receive informal primary education. Even the education system of the opposite gender is also affected by the prohibition of female employment because most of the educators are women. Since the Talibans take charge of the Afghan government, education system starts to descend. Apparently, fewer educated individuals mean lesser chance of getting a descent job. Women are not able to travel or wander alone so those widowed women and single women who participate as the head of the family are well affected. A male relative must accompany a female family member at all times or else the latter will be captured and put into jail. Another thing that disregards women’s contribution in building a nation is when a decree was issued by the Taliban regime banning women from driving vehicles in any form. Women’s seclusion in their homes is an obvious chauvinism of the Taliban government. Several reports of harassments and physical assaults are also perceived among Afghan women. The closing stage of Osama breaks my heart. As I see the finale, my mind starts to contemplate what would happen to Osama now that she has to be a wife of an old man. Osama’s so young to live through things which are not really meant to be. She must not be in that situation. Moreover, she must still be studying or perhaps enjoying her life as a kid. Women are not objects that can compensate a person’s debt to other people. Women are part of this world, they give life. Their presence is very significant in each and every one. Without these women, there will be no tomorrow. Mr. Siddiq Barmak, the director of the film leaves the viewer to hang into something that would strengthen one’s hope and faith. He believes that life is a journey and each road leads us to a situation where we need to choose what we think what’s best for us. He clearly reminded the spectators that though we’re on the side of the world where we only see how the sun shines and sets, there is also another half of the world who could not get a glimpse of the sun until now. He effectively strikes a chord to wake up the other side of world to lend a hand to let the dying Afghan women and children to experience freedom and live a normal life. Warfare among women and children must be ended and democracy among people must win to end this kind of battle. The battle to raise children and women’s welfare isn’t over. This is just the beginning – when realization takes place. Work Cited Ebert, Roger. Roger Ebert’s Movie Yearbook. Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2008.

Effect of Disabilty of Child Socialisation Processes

Effect of Disabilty of Child Socialisation Processes ‘Being born or acquiring an impairment has an impact on the childs socialization process’. Discuss this statement and state whether you agree with it or not. Make reference to literature and to the lecture debates. Draw from your professional experience. The first few years of life are important in developing physically, psychologically and also in forming relationships, initially with the primary caregivers (Diem-Wille, 2011). Socialization is â€Å"the process by which individuals acquire the knowledge, skills and character traits that enable them to participate as effective members of groups and societies† (Berns, 2013, p.6). The process of socialisation during childhood years is a crucial aspect in life which enables an individual to fulfil his goals, needs and wishes throughout his lifetime. Factors that affect the socialisation process in children, namely family, school, peers and the disabling condition will be discussed. Family According to Talcott Parsons, Primary Socialization occurs when a child is developing personality characteristics, beliefs and values in relation to their upbringing. This initially occurs at home, thus being based on beliefs of family members. This process develops as a child grows and starts to learn what is acceptable and what is not acceptable (Owens, 2010). The family plays a crucial role in whether having an impairment, both congenital or acquired, impacts the child’s socialization process. This includes the values that they pass to their children as well as the socio-economic factors. In a study conducted to research the quality of mother and child interactions between preterm- and term-born children at age 5, and whether this interaction is effected by socio-demographic characteristics and child disability (Potharst, Schuengel, Last, van Wassenaer, Kok, Houtzager, 2012), it was found that mothers of pre-term children were more intrusive into their child’s auton omy resulting in decreased socialization. This relationship was also found to be poor with a child with a disability, especially if the mother has a low education background. Many times parents of children with disability are more over-protective of their children, which can result in these children finding it more difficult to interact with others and also impeding that child to fully developing his or her potential. Some parents of children with disability have discussed with me, that there were times that their children were invited to peer’s birthday parties, and have not taken their son to it. A particular parent questioned what will his son gain by going to this party and still not participate in the games since he uses a wheelchair. My reasoning with this father was that his son might have been included in different games, as they can be adapted or he can be helped to participate by another friend. I believe that it is not just the participating in a game that is the m ost important aspect of attending such social events, but the interaction with his peers, the being part of a group of friends, to continue strengthen the child’s socialisation process. When adults control their disabled children, they are limiting them in developing appropriate social skills and self-confidence. With this comes a lack of experience of what childhood is, which might lead to being more dependent in adulthood. This supports the medical model of disability which believes in the dependency of individuals. This however can also be the opposite, where parents still help their disabled children to achieve and hence giving the opportunity for their children to become independent adults (Shah, Arnold, Travers, 2004). In Rana (2011) it is cited that it is the parents’ duty to provide care, protection and proper upbringing of their children. â€Å"Such a belief is predicated on age-long traditions and norms of societies that children must be properly socialized at home and at school to prevent them from engaging in antisocial or improper behavior† (p.44). I believe that under any circumstance, proper family upbringing is of major importance when discussing a child’s socialisation process. Hence this makes no difference as to being born or acquiring the impairment later in childhood. In fact, a Maltese 16 year old adolescent with cerebral palsy has now acquired good socialization skills, thanks to his family in providing appropriate upbringing. Despite being dependent in nearly all aspects of his daily life, having received appropriate education and nurturing, he has some good friendships, is able to understand the norms of society and participate within his community to the bes t of his abilities. Schools and Peers Children with disabilities in schools are more at risk of being bullying and of being socially excluded. They are often seen as being different and with less confidence. Having an accepting social environment will promote healthier friendships and this is important in developing appropriate social skills (Lindsay McPherson, 2012). In the Conventions of the Rights of the Child (United Nations, 1989), it is stated that Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child. In fact, a group of children with cerebral palsy were interviewed to understand their views on how to minimize social exclusion. A point they brought up is that they feel that their classmates should be informed about their condition, and that there is nothing wrong with being different, but one should focus on their abilities (Lindsay McPherson, 2012). Through this learning of knowledge non-disabled peers will understand how a communication book is used for example. During my experience at a special school in Belgium, which mainly caters for children with physical disabilities, having some of its classes that follow mainstream education, it was so refreshing to see social bonds between each kid in class. It did not matter to them whether someone uses a wheelchair or a walking aid, they helped propel each other or carry things for each other. They even helped each other play games, like helping a kid with limited hand function, to still throw a small sized ball at a target, and henc e participate in the same activities. The school system, staff, parents and hence the children all share the idea that everyone should be given the opportunity to participate according to their capabilities. Social Identity Development Theory (SIDT) is based on research that indicates that childhood is identified by children as being part of social groups, and hence developing their social interaction. It states that the way children display prejudice is distinctive to each social situation rather than to chronological or cognitive age. Schools also form a secondary role in a child’s socialization process, where children are taught how to behave in society. In a study by Nesdale and Lawson (2011), it was found that school norms and beliefs leave a significant impact on young children’s group attitudes. This leads to imply that children understand the importance of listening and responding appropriately to adults in authority, hence in understanding attitudes and behavi ours considered as appropriate or inappropriate (Nesdale Lawson, 2011). I believe that in Malta schools should also instil in their students the idea that we should focus on each other’s abilities, as this will help to increase the socialisation skills of children with disabilities. When the teachers and learning support assistants help to involve all the children in helping each other out in tasks that one might encounter a difficulty in, enhances such peer bonds. From school visits that I have carried out, one notices differences in the school attitudes and how peers relate to individuals with disabilities. This was easily be observed from a simple aspect like the class layout; when the disabled child was on a separate table at the back of the class, he was easily forgotten and excluded, whereas when the child was integrated with his peers, it led to him being included during break times, social events etc. It has also been found that children with cerebral palsy attending a mainstream school in Canada were different from their peers in the number of friendships and social isolation behaviours amongst others (Nadeau Tessier, 2006). Inclusion in mainstream education does not necessary mean that children with disabilities are socially included (Meyer 2001), thus it is important that good education is given to children both from school and from home and that these children with disabilities are supported and given opportunities to socialise and relate to their classmates. Impairment The condition or impairment itself can affect a child’s socialization process. It is known that children and young adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) report feelings of loneliness or the need to have more meaningful friendships, as many times they lack the social competence to feel at ease with typical peers. Therapy interventions should include involving these individuals in activities that are around their preferred interests, to help develop typical peer relationships. This can be linked to a child with ASD, aged 3 and a half, to whom I offer Occupational Therapy intervention, who is fascinated by insects. His socialising with his class mates and interacting in simple crafts activities was limited. It was suggested that pictures of butterflies or caterpillars are included within the classroom setting, and to involve such subjects during crafts activities. This child is now seen to participate and interact more with peers, as lessons and tasks are more about thi ngs he can relate to. A study by Koegel, Kim, Koegel and Schwartzman (2013) also showed these findings, were adolescents who were engaged in activities that related to their interests, were able to socialize with typical peers more appropriately following intervention. Such activities included a Basketball club, Cooking Club and also Computer Graphics club. Intellectual disability is another impairment that may hinder a child’s socialization process. In a study conducted by Baurain, Nader-Grosbois and Dionne (2013), a group of pre-schoolers with intellectual disability and other typical developing children were studied to understand the socio-emotional regulation and also their adjustment to society. The latter includes relationships and development of social skills. The teacher’s perspective was taken using two tests. It resulted that children with intellectual disability did not differ in their social adjustment in relation to typically developing children. However difficulty was found when intellectually disabled individuals had to adopt others’ perspective in social relations. This was stated to be due to some difficulties in social behaviour or behavioural disorders. The level of the intellectual disability is of course an important aspect when discussing whether being born with this disability impacts socializ ation. This can be linked with two clients (both 7 year old) I provide therapy too. Their families are friends, and thus children also spend some time together. One of them is intellectually disabled due to a congenital condition (which is not yet known) which is quite severe. In fact it is difficult for this child to understand society’s norms and thus has difficulty to participate adequately in society, as she just screams in public and just throws everything to the ground, for no particular reason. On the other hand, the other child with a mild intellectual disability is able to participate well in his society, being able to understand what is acceptable in the different contexts that he is exposed to (no particular behaviours observed). Both kids have so far been brought up in approximately the same family values and hence primary socialization; however their impairment severity level has an influence on their socialization process. Having a physical disability, both born or acquired, will have an effect on the child participation at school. This does not only include physical limitations that the child might encounter on a daily basis. Child/individual characteristics also play an important role. Having the motivation, will and also the knowledge to be able to perform in the context and appropriate social skills, most often compensates the physical limitations (Egilson Traustadotti, 2009). All these are other important factors in line with socialization process. Acquiring the disability at a particular age, the child might have a stronger will or motivation to strive to achieve the most their abilities, as they know life prior to the disability. On the other hand, this can also be the case of a child with a born impairment, who would still have high motivation to achieve and develop good socialization. Taking a step further and looking at whether born or acquired disability in relation to the socialisation process and how it will eventually be transferred to adult life Michelsen, Uldall, Hansen, and Madsen (2006) conducted a study of adults with cerebral palsy, compared to adults without a disability to identify the level of social integration and independence. Being born with a disability impacted the socialization process; however 68% of those studied where living independently with 28% of them cohabiting. However when compared to the non-disabled individuals, this resulted to only half the amount to be socially integrated. This difference can be due to cognitive difficulties, which ultimately does effect how much one can fully integrate with society at any age throughout the course of the lifetime. Thus it is important that all aspects that lead to acquiring good socialisation skills are provided to children from a very young age, to help them develop and reach their full social potential by adulthood. I believe that the way our society is built with its norms, values and thoughts with regards to impairments and disabilities, does effect children’s socialisation process. Being born or acquiring the impairment does have an effect; however the other constructs and points mentioned above define this impact further. Thus the socialisation process of a child is acquired when a mixture of the entire above are provided within a child’s life. 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