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| http://www.karunahome.org/holiness.html |
Statement
of Intent
This
field study will describe the services provided to individuals with
disabilities at Karuna Home, a private Tibetan refugee residential and
rehabilitation center in Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India. The study will describe the residents at the center
and their disabilities, the intended learning outcomes for the residents, the
curriculum and instruction, the training and expertise of the staff and
administrators, and attitudes and perceptions about
disability within this cultural context. The data from the study will be
analyzed and synthesized to provide a broad description of current school
services and personnel preliminary to establishing a plan for improving the
effectiveness and cultural sensitivity of the educational program. Karuna Home has requested assistance from the
Brigham Young University Department of Counseling Psychology and Special
Education in assessing needs and developing the plan.
Personal Benefit
Nine
years of experience in working with individuals with severe disabilities give
me a strong background and interest for this endeavor. Studying the needs of these students and the
services provided for them will enhance my understanding of the state of
special education for this and similar populations in developing areas of the
world. I expect my increased
understanding of cultural diversity among this marginalized population to add
value to my professional practice as I address the needs of students from
increasingly diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. In addition, I expect to learn how local special
education practices either enhance or detract from effective services for
students with disabilities, and how I can help others address the needs of
these students.
My research will be a guide for developing a systematic way for future BYU students to best help the individuals at Karuna Home with research-based methods, while remaining culturally sensitive and aware. In the future, I will be able to use my knowledge to better develop systematic ways to help unique individuals with severe disabilities in my field.
