PERCEPTIVE-MOTOR SKILLS IN CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Perceptual-motor skills (PMS) are very important for the functioning of children in general, including children with developmental disabilities, and enable a person to, based on the stimulus through movement it acts on the space that is surrounded. This paper aims to review the research of enriched knowledge of PMS of children with disabilities, which emphasized the importance of performing activities of everyday life and the acquisition of academic skills. The papers collected a search of electronic databases using the keywords: PMS, children with disabilities, visual perception, gross and fine motor skills, visual-motor coordination, visual-motor integration. Criteria for the selection of papers have been published in full and in the last 10 years. A total of 12 works met the criteria. The results of the research review showed that children with disabilities have a limitation in PMS, and showed that PMS differ separately from the type and degree of difficulty, but differences also exist within the same category of children with disabilities. Implementation of education and rehabilitation programs improves PMS. The results showed that there is a correlation between PMS and activities of everyday life and a correlation between visual perceptions and the acquisition of reading skills. It is important to point out that PMS can be practiced and it is important to implement incentive programs for children with disabilities, but also children at risk for some difficulty, to prevent possible difficulties that children may have in performing daily life activities and in acquiring academic skills. The results of the presented research should be considered concerning the limitations of the presented research, but also to the limitations of this research. Keywords: visual-motor integration, fine and gross motor skills, developmental difficulties

HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS AND C-REACTIVE PROTEIN IN PREDICTION OF DISEASE SEVERITY AND MORTALITY IN PATIENTS WITH SEPSIS

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition characterized by a systemic inflammatory response of the body caused by a severe infection. The aim of this study was to examine the importance of hematological parameters and c-reactive protein (CRP) in the diagnosis of sepsis, assessment of disease severity, and prediction of final outcome of these patients. The prospective study included 106 hospitalized patients with a clinical diagnosis of sepsis. Haematological parameters and CRP correlated with sepsis stage, and using ROC (Receiver operating characteristic) analysis were evaluated in the prediction of the final outcome of these patients. Among haematological parameters, patients with sepsis had a significantly higher proportion of total unsegmented neutrophil granulocytes, a lower percentage of lymphocytes, as well as a lower total platelet count (p<0.05 for all measurements). An excellent positive correlation was found between serum CRP concentration and disease stage (r=0.77). The best predictive value for the presence of sepsis was shown by CRP at the cut- off value of 165 mg/L (AUC 0.98), followed by the percentage of unsegmented neutrophil granulocytes for the cut-off value of 15.5 (AUC 0.67), and the percentage of lymphocytes less than 9.9 (AUC 0.66), platelets lower than 118x109/L (AUC 0.63). At the CRP cut-off value of 294.7 mg/L (AUC 0.84; 95% CI 0.74-0.93), death could be predicted in 80.95% of patients with sepsis, with the sensitivity of 43.75% and the specificity of 89.71% (p<0.0001). By monitoring changes in haematological parameters and CRP concentration in combination with other clinical and laboratory indicators, disease severity and final outcome in patients with sepsis can be predicted. Key words: CRP, lymphocytes, platelets, SIRS, sepsis

THE ATTITUDES OF STUDENTS OF HUMANITIES TOWARD PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY AND INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

Although the attitudes toward people with disabilities had improved, there is still evidence that they remain stigmatized. The aim of this research was to determine the differences in attitudes toward people with disabilities among participants based on their sociodemographic characteristics and attitudes toward inclusive education. The sample consisted of 261 students that were surveyed using the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale toward Persons with Disabilities, and a questioner designed by the authors regarding attitudes toward inclusion. Students who have had previous contact with people with disabilities had more positive attitudes. The majority of them had positive attitudes towards inclusive education and had the opinion that children who are enrolled in inclusive classes do not disrupt typically developing children‟s‟ educational process. It is of great importance to examine attitudes of students toward people with disabilities, because it is considered that attitudes of students represent future attitudes of the population. Key words: attitudes, students, disability, inclusion.

THE ROLE OF KINDERGARTEN IN THE FUNCTION OF PREPARING CHILDREN FOR STARTING SCHOOL

The partnership between kindergarten and family has a special function and importance in the upbringing and education of the child. The content of the topic refers to the introductory part, which explains what we will be researching. The partnership between family and kindergarten has a special significance and role in the function of preparing children for school. Numerous definitions of family are mentioned in the literature, but given the diversity of structure, relationships, functions, ways of formation, there are many combinations and it could be said that each family is unique or a separate definition should be made for each family. The child is the center of attention in the partnership. The results show that parents are involved in kindergarten activities, and that they are available for cooperation. This is the first prerequisite for establishing, above all, quality communication, and thus cooperation. All parents are interested in the progress of their child and want to cooperate with the kindergarten in this area. This research is of a theoretical-empirical character. We used specifically descriptive statistics, which have special significance. The educational preparation of a child refers to what we call the formation of work habits of learning, on the one hand, and the acquisition of prior knowledge, on the other. Kindergarten children do not read or write, make figurines, play, draw, learn numbers up to ten. Educators need to continuously learn and establish a partnership with the family and the child, in order for the child to feel accepted, satisfied, happy and successful. It is certainly evident, through our theoretical research, that we can conclude that educators need to be specially educated to work with the population of preschool children with a special “dose” of sensibility. Key words: child, kindergarten, family.

FAMILY AND MOTHER LEISURE OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY

Leisure is often associate with quality of life of an individual. Objective leisure definitions are used by economic, business and recreational researchers, and focused on behaviors that we can observe. Subjective definitions are more concerned with scientists who are focused on the microsphere of an individual. Modern families are under great stress and that through different family activities the reduction of stress can be achieved and also increase feel of family well-being. Family leisure is considered as very important component of family life. It often shows as idealized, constantly happy time in which everyone enjoys together, time that is pleasure for all family members as individuals and also for the whole family.During family leisure mothers usually have mixed roles of caring for children and caring for the household, thus disrupting their sense of freedom and enjoyment. Many roles that parents of children with disabilities need to take over creates a time pressure that does not occur to parents of children without disabilities. That time pressure is reflected on psychological and physical health of the parents, affecting simultaneously the lack of time for different activities such as going to work, leisure activities, personal care and social interactions. Research has shown that mothers of children with disabilities generally have much less time for themselves and family activities than when it comes to mothers of children without disabilities, no matter what type and level of disability is about. Key words: leisure, family, mothers of children with disabilities

OBSTACLES TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES FROM THE EMPLOYER'S PERSPECTIVE

The role of employers in obtaining a job for people with disabilities can be crucial. The law on “Professional rehabilitation and employment of people with disabilities” was supposed to be a key factor in improving the position of this population in the labor market, but in practice this has not been confirmed. One of the major obstacles to the employment of persons with disabilities is the lack of a register of persons with disabilities where employers colud find potential candidates with appropriate skills and competencies. This research was conducted with the aim of identifying potential barriers to employment of persons with disabilities perceived from the perspective of employers. The sample consisted of 50 employers of both state and private companies in the city of Novi Sad. Employers were surveyed with a questionnaire created for the purposes of this research, modeled on the Employers' Motivation Questionnaire for Employment of Persons with Disabilities with the prior consent of the author. The results schow that the adaptation of the workplace and access to means of transport are the biggest obstacle when we are talking about employing people with disabilities. In order to gain a deeper insight into the perspective of employers regarding the employment of people with disabilities, it is important to take into account their direct experiences as well as what worries them and what they feel insufficiently competent when it comes to employing this population. Key words: people with disabilities, employers, barriers.

EDUCATIONAL INTEGRATION OF PEOPLE WITH VISION IMPAIRMENTS

The educational integration of blind and visually impaired children has proven to be an upward trajectory in the process of upbringing, education, acquisition of knowledge and competencies in children with visual impairment. In addition to the benefits for the child's intellectual development, the integration process is of great importance in the social context. The education system has changed over time, both for visually impaired students and for their without visual impairment peers. Modern approaches and methods in the process of upbringing and education have made many means for work and learning for children who are blind and visually impaired inaccessible. We strive to adapt the environment for children with disabilities in order to fully include them and give them the opportunity to follow the most modern methods and use modern teaching aids in the process of upbringing and education. Key words: modern approaches, modern methods, integration, blind, visually impaired