The influence of a person’s environment and its modifying potential on participation is well recognized for most childhood disabilities, but scarcely studied for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A scoping review was conducted, the aim of which was to map the existing literature about supporting and hindering environments for the participation of adolescents with ASD. Sources of scientific evidence were searched for in four databases. Inclusion criteria were the perspectives of adolescents between 12 and 21, families, peers, or significant others; ecologic validity; and a clear connection between environment and participation. The publication dates ranged from 2001 to 2014 and partly up to 2018. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) served as the guiding framework for inclusion/exclusion during the selection process. Thematic analysis was performed by five independent reviewers. Results were additionally validated by stakeholders. This scoping review identified 5528 articles, and finally included 31 studies. Two main themes were found: “providing security” indicates how the environment, and specifically the parental, physical, and informational environments, have a securing or intimidating effect. The second theme, “helping to connect”, indicates which environments support or hinder social relationships or social activities, and hence participation. An additional third main theme, “tension in participation”, relates to ambiguities that seem essential to understand participation or isolation of adolescents with ASD. Results show that participation is a value-laden concept. This research widens the field of dealing with adolescents with ASD, as it directs attention towards the responsibility of the environment regarding participation.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated remote working and working at the office. This hybrid working is an indispensable part of today's life even within Agile Software Development (ASD) teams. Before COVID-19 ASD teams were working closely together in an Agile way at the office. The Agile Manifesto describes 12 principles to make agile working successful. These principles are about working closely together, face-to-face contact and continuously responding to changes. To what extent does hybrid working influence these agile principles that have been indispensable in today's software development since its creation in 2001? Based on a quantitative study within 22 Dutch financial institutions and 106 respondents, the relationship between hybrid working and ASD is investigated. The results of this research show that human factors, such as team spirit, feeling responsible and the ability to learn from each other, are the most decisive for the success of ASD. In addition, the research shows that hybrid working creates a distance between the business organization and the IT department. The findings are valuable for Managers, HR professionals and employees working in the field of ASD as emphasizing and fostering Team Spirit, Learning Ability, and a Sense of Responsibility among team members can bolster the Speed of ASD.
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We used a validated agent-based model—Socio-Emotional CONcern DynamicS (SECONDS)—to model real-time playful interaction between a child diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and its parent. SECONDS provides a real-time (second-by-second) virtual environment that could be used for clinical trials and testingprocess-orientedexplanationsofASDsymptomatology.Weconductednumerical experiments with SECONDS (1) for internal model validation comparing two parental behavioral strategies for stimulating social development in ASD (play-centered vs. initiative-centered) and (2) for empirical case-based model validation. We compared 2,000 simulated play sessions of two particular dyads with (second-by-second) time-series observations within 29 play sessions of a real parent-child dyad with ASD on six variables related to maintaining and initiating play. Overall, both simuladistributions. Given the idiosyncratic behaviors expected in ASD, the observed correspondence is non-trivial. Our results demonstrate the applicability of SECONDS to parent-child dyads in ASD. In the future, SECONDS could help design interventions for parental care in ASDted dyads provided a better fit to the observed dyad than reference null
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Introduction: Although some adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) require intensive and specialized ASD treatment, there is little research on how these adults experience the recovery process. Recovery is defined as the significant improvement in general functioning compared to the situation prior to treatment. Methods: This qualitative study describes the recovery process from the perspective of adults on the autism spectrum during intensive inpatient treatment. Semi-structured interviews (n = 15) were carried out and analyzed according to the principles of grounded theory. Results: Our results indicate that, given the specific characteristics of autism, therapeutic interventions and goal-oriented work cannot be carried out successfully, and the recovery process cannot begin, if no good working relationship has been established, and if care is not organized in ways that a person on the autism spectrum finds clear and predictable.
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from the article: "We present a case study as part of an investigation into the value of Embodied theory for the design of mixed physical digital interactive products. An interactive light system was designed that empowers an independent living person with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in managing domestic activities. Reflecting on the case we develop our vision of Embodied Functionality (EF). Designing for EF goes beyond ‘distributing’ information technology in the environment. It aims at creating interactive physical digital products that play a functional role (i.e. become part of) a person’s embodied being‐in‐the- world, involving a person’s identity. It does so by utilizing existing structure and by supporting action ‐perception couplings, reflection in- and on action and autonomy in social coordination. EF opens up an alternative design space holding the promise of a more successful appropriation of interactive (assistive) products into people’s everyday lives. "
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Abstract Purpose: This study aimed at evaluating (1) right ventricular (RV) mean power during exercise, (2) the contribution of flow and pressure to RV mean power, and (3) the impact of pulmonary artery pressure on RV function during exercise. Methods: Fifty patients with atrial septal defect (ASD) type secundum (20 open, 30 closed) were enrolled. All underwent standard echocardiography, a bicycle stress echocardiography, and symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing. RV mean power was calculated as the product of RV cardiac output and mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP). RV function was assessed using RV fractional area change (FAC) at rest and at peak exercise. Results: RV mean power was linearly related with oxygen uptake (VO2) in patients with open (R2¼0.88; p<0.0001) and closed ASD (R2¼0.90; p<0.0001). The increase in RV mean power was steeper in open than in closed ASD patients (p<0.0001). The change in RV cardiac output (7.13.4 vs. 5.72.4 l/min; p¼0.132) was not statistically different, but the change in mPAP (21.79.6 vs. 12.84.6 mmHg; p<0.0001) and RV mean power (0.970.56 vs. 0.530.22 W; p¼0.009) were higher in patients with an open ASD. The change in RV FAC from rest to peak exercise was related to peak mPAP in open (R¼0.589; p¼0.010) and closed (R¼0.450; p¼0.021) ASD patients. Conclusion: RV mean power during exercise is higher in patients with an open than in patients with a closed ASD. The workload of the RV in patients with an open ASD is higher at rest due to a left-to-right shunt, at peak exercise due to an additional increase in mPAP. A higher increase in afterload may affect RV function during exercise.
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De economische gevolgen van de COVID-19 pandemie komen vooral bij economische kwetsbare werkenden terecht. Dit zijn flexwerkers, zelfstandigen en kleine ondernemers in de zwaarst getroffen sectoren zoals horeca en cultuur. In deze sectoren lopen de inkomsten het hardst terug en liggen ontslagen en faillissementen in het vooruitzicht, als ze niet al plaatsvinden. Dat dit volgens de Nederlandse Vereniging voor Volkskrediet (NVVK) in de zomer nog niet tot extra aanvragen voor de gemeentelijke schuldhulpverlening heeft geleid, zegt niet zoveel. Bedrijven stellen ontslagen en faillissementen uit door de inkomensondersteunende maatregelen vanuit de overheid. Schuldeisers, met de belastingdienst voorop, hebben het afgelopen voorjaar dikwijls uitstel van betaling gegeven aan bedrijven in nood. En het duurt vaak een paar jaar tussen de eerste schuld en het moment dat mensen om schuldhulpverlening vragen. Door een wetswijziging gaan gemeenten vanaf 2021 mensen met betalingsproblemen actief schulphulp aanbieden. Hoewel dit de drempel tot schuldhulp verlaagt, draagt dit niet bij aan het voorkomen van schulden en betalingsproblemen. Schulden voorkomen vraagt om een preventieve aanpak. Gemeenten hebben echter problemen met het sluiten van hun begroting, wat een dergelijke aanpak belemmerd. Toch kunnen we met de juiste maatregelen een vloedgolf van schulden onder economisch kwetsbare mensen voorkomen.
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Nowadays the term “neurodiversity” is used more and more to indicate people with a form of autism and/or ADHD. The idea here is not to view autism or ADHD as a disorder or a deficit, but as a natural variation in the development of cognitive processes in the human brain. In this article, our research with ItVitae on persons with ASD is reported. It is conluded that if ASD is a disorder, it is with also great potential!
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