The present thesis deals with current and delicate topic of social integration of learners with mental disabilities into their local social environment. What we were particularly interested in, was the level of susceptibility of the wider social environment for our shared needs.
The main purpose of the research carried out within the framework of the thesis is to provide pupils with moderate, severe and profound mental disabilities with qualitative and broad integration into their social environment and to examine the quality of their lives and the associated activities. Cooperation with external institutions, associations and organizations provides the activities throughout which learners can gain new experience, knowledge and skills. Those activities are crucial not only for the learners – the entire community benefits from them, and there are external participants who gain new experience as well.
Our desire was to implement all of the above, and for that, we created a project “Mini School in School,” which is merely one of the possibilities of encouraging communication, cooperation and connectivity between Centre for Education and Training Velenje and the social environment of Šalek Valley.
The theoretical part deals with the starting points on the quality of life, the opportunities, the conditions and the needs of involving individuals with mental disabilities into the social environment of the Šalek Valley.
In the empirical part, we tested our theoretical frameworks and hypotheses through the practice. We approached the arguments and the handling of obtained information analytically and statistically. There were three survey questionnaires intended for pupils, employees and for external visitors. The participants were 40 pupils with moderate, severe and profound mental disabilities, 16 employees of the Centre for Education and Training Velenje and 38 external visitors, who are members of scout association “The Tribe of Lake Dragon Velenje.”
A unique challenge presented an implementation of the project, which for all those involved signified a practical test and an evaluation of all statistically interpreted results. The project became an indicator of variety of new findings that require additional inquiries and fulfillments.
|