Articles by John Armstrong
| July, 2008 | Developing Instinctive Skills – Do Our Systems Get in the Way? PDF As a parent you get lots of practice at reading a situation quickly, but mistakes are frequent. If you're attentive though, you can become more accurate in reading circumstances quickly. That is, what starts out as an unconscious and sometimes foolhardy prediction can develop into true insight with sustained practice and analysis. |
| June, 2007 | Making the Most of Autonomy and Choice PDF In recent decades the notion of exercising choice has obtained ascendancy over many other long held and important qualities for citizens to exercise. So much so, 'choice' is frequently thought of as the single most important ingredient in a secular and "progressive" society. Fuelled by consumerism, having or exercising choice is now seen by many people as more important than the quality or content of the choice. |
| Feb, 2007 | Getting the Best and Reducing the Worst in How Humans Act PDF |
| 2007 | "Wishing Upon A Star" - The Problems and Solutions of Relying On an "Inclusive Society" To Foster and Provide A Better Life for People
PDF We know that behaviour is deeply affected by our physical and social environment. Even one's own outlook and values in life have deep roots in the culture one lives within. Cultures provide order and meaning to our lives, give us reasons to live and make life worth living. When cultures do this poorly problems arise. |
| 2006 | Re-thinking Respite PDF - . This article examines one particular service model – the traditional respite service model – to assess the ways the potential for valued roles is facilitated or impeded, and what steps might be taken to increase the chances that children especially, but also their parents might receive the benefits that valued social roles may bring. |
| The Application of Social Role Valorization in Supporting People with an Intellectual Disability – An Overview PDF This article introduces the reader to the major implications of social devaluation and proposes a set of strategic responses utilising substantial empirical evidence taken from the fields of education, psychology and social science especially role theory. |
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| The Potential Use and Misuse of Natural Consequences PDF The potency of consequences has always been known and appreciated as an essential part of learning. Ideally, from the earliest age our parents exposed us to consequences for our actions; if we refused to eat we went hungry, if we touched a hot stove we felt its fiery sting, if we came home late and dinner is over... We also hoped that our parents shielded us from some consequences that cannot be repeated, like playing in traffic. What may be less clear is to why people with and without intellectual disabilities fail to take notice of natural consequences for so many of life's decisions and actions – sometimes with devastating consequences! |