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Empowering Through Technology: An Internship Report on Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices
Get PDFAugmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices play a crucial role in supporting individuals with communication challenges, particularly children with developmental disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This paper provides a comprehensive review of the literature on AAC and offers a detailed report of an internship experience at the University of Arkansas WE CARE Summer Camp. During the internship, firsthand experiences provided valuable insights into how AAC technologies can be applied to enhance communication, foster social connections, and support behavioral regulation.
The literature review explores the different types of AAC systems, including both aided and unaided options, and discusses the benefits and challenges of implementing these technologies. The internship report reflects on the day-to-day experiences of working with children who use AAC, highlighting the practical applications of the devices in a supportive camp environment. Observations from the internship illustrate the importance of individualized communication strategies and the impact of AAC on a child\u27s confidence and overall quality of life.
By combining academic research with real-world experiences, this report offers a well-rounded perspective on the role of AAC in the lives of children with developmental disabilities. It highlights the importance of continued education, caregiver and educator training, and collaborative support to maximize the benefits of AAC in various settings
Evaluation of Two Methods of Automated Adversary Emulation
Get PDFThe purpose of this paper is to present a framework for selecting between two methods of Automated Adversary Emulation (AAE). As IT systems become increasingly complex and interconnected, adopting a zero-trust mindset of cybersecurity is essential. This mindset extends to cybersecurity testing, where a combined offensive/defensive approach ( purple teaming ) can utilize adversary emulation to uncover vulnerabilities efficiently and effectively. While AAE is rapidly gaining traction across various industries and applications, there is limited guidance in the current literature on how to choose the optimal method for different testing scenarios. This paper defines two common approaches to AAE and examines eight key variables to consider when selecting the most suitable method. To illustrate the framework, a small test of web application vulnerabilities is conducted, demonstrating how the framework provides valuable guidance in choosing the appropriate AAE method for a given scenario
Sustainable Agricultural Practices and Societal Impacts: A Case Study in Central Belize
Get PDFThis thesis examines the relationship between climate change, sustainable agriculture, and rural development through a case study in Central Belize. Built from observations, interviews, and academic research gathered during a summer internship with the Belize Ministry of Agriculture, the research explores the challenges small farmers face as they navigate worsening climate threats - including drought, wildfire, and resource scarcity. With climate change accelerating at a faster rate in Belize than in many other countries, agricultural resilience has become a national priority. This internship focused on collecting applications for the Sustainable and Inclusive Belize Program, a government initiative that provides financial assistance and technical support to small farmers adopting climate-smart technologies. This thesis highlights the urgency of sustainable development in climate-vulnerable nations by evaluating the economic implications of agricultural investments
Effective Best Practices in Social Studies Education: Empowering Students Despite Institutional Barriers
Get PDFSocial Studies has remained a prevalent feature of the curriculum taught in the United States education system since the start of the 20th century as society became concerned with teaching children to be active citizens in their communities, and has evolved to integrate the development of critical and historical thinking skills that will enable students to analyze historical events and figures to generate a historical narrative (Coleman, 2021; Smith et al., 1995). The lack of standardized tests centered around social studies has meant that legislation like No Child Left Behind limits the funding provided to social studies as opposed to English, Mathematics, and Science, which has resulted in slow approval of new social studies curriculum, funding issues within individual school systems, and less time being devoted to social studies classes (O’Conner et al., 2007).
Therefore, to combat obstacles within the school system that place social studies at a disadvantage, teachers need to utilize effective instructional strategies considered by prior research to be the best practices for social studies education. Instructional strategies deemed to be the best practices to use in social studies classes are effective because they empower students to be an active participant in their learning, and to take on an increased amount of responsibility for their learning as they interpret historical events and figures to generate their own understanding of history and identify historical patterns that have resulted in the social issues that persist in modern society (Bolinger and Warren, 2007, Hattie and Timperley, 2007)
Securing Distributed Energy Resources: A Secure Gateway for Modbus to Solid Communication Using a Raspberry Pi
Get PDFAs distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage systems become more common, securing their communications has become increasingly important. Many of these systems still rely on legacy communication protocols such as Modbus, which were not designed with cybersecurity in mind. This project addresses this challenge by developing a secure communication gateway that allows Modbus RTU devices to interface with decentralized Solid pods, which are personal data storage units that give users control over their information. This system is built on a Raspberry Pi 4, and it translates telemetry data from Modbus into a Solid-compatible format. This approach preserves the functionality of legacy equipment and additionally introduces modern privacy-preserving data ownership concepts into industrial energy telemetry. The work contributes to the broader effort to secure critical infrastructure, particularly in a crucial time of change in the larger energy landscape
The Relationship of Peer Recovery Support Specialists and Recovery of Perinatal Women with a Substance Use Disorder
Get PDFIntroduction: Substance use in pregnant and postpartum women is a growing issue in the United States. Drug use while pregnant can lead to birth defects, stillbirths, and problems providing positive parenting to their children. Many women with substance use disorders (SUD) feel extreme shame and stigma related to their substance use and have trouble accessing recovery-related treatment and other services. Peer recovery support treatment uses the lived experiences of individuals in current recovery from SUD to facilitate and support recovery in others. Purpose: The purpose of this review was to evaluate the impact of peer recovery support specialists on the recovery outcomes of perinatal women with SUD. Methodology: Studies of peer recovery and their influence on pregnant and postpartum women with a substance use disorder were reviewed. Studies on recovery programs for perinatal women that included some form of peer recovery were included. A targeted search through PubMed and ProQuest was utilized to evaluate existing literature on SUDs, perinatal women, and peer recovery. Results: Findings of the studies demonstrated that peer recovery is an effective way to retain perinatal women in substance use recovery programs. Particularly effective mechanisms related to recovery support specialists serving as role models, accountability partners, and non-judgmental coaches for these women in recovery. Conclusion: This review of the literature demonstrated that peer recovery support specialists provide valuable recovery outcomes for perinatal women struggling with a substance use disorder. The presence of peer recovery specialists creates a non-judgmental environment where perinatal women with a substance use disorder feel comfortable sharing their experiences without stigma. Many recovery organizations would benefit in the recruitment and retention of recovery participants if peer support specialists were present at the treatment facility. Peer specialists can also provide help with childcare, transportation, and accountability with the women participating in the recovery process
Self-Compassion Mediates the Relationship between Childhood Adversity in the Prediction of Later Health Outcomes among U.S. Adults
Get PDFAdverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events, such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, that occur before 18 years old. ACEs are strong predictors of negative health outcomes, such as poor physical health and risky health behaviors (Felitti et al., 1998; Merrick et al., 2017; Hughes et al., 2017). Previous research has proposed self- compassion may serve as a robust protective factor against childhood adversity (Hazzard et al., 2021) and may help explain the negative consequences of ACEs. The present study investigated the relationship between retrospectively reported ACEs and health outcomes in the context of self-compassion. 458 U.S. adults aged 18-45 were surveyed to assess self-reported levels of childhood adversity, self-compassion, mental health, risky behaviors, and physical health. Higher amounts of childhood adversity were found to predict worse mental health, engagement in more risky behaviors, and poorer physical health. Moreover, self-compassion partially mediated the associations between adversity types experienced in childhood with mental health, risky behavior, and physical health in adulthood
Introduction to Building Energy Modeling and Analysis using EnergyPlus
Get PDFRetail stores are dynamic environments where human activities significantly influence energy consumption patterns, particularly affecting heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) demands. Existing energy models, such as those developed using EnergyPlus, often rely on generalized assumptions about human occupancy and behavior, leading to discrepancies between predicted and actual energy usage. This research aimed to enhance the accuracy of energy modeling for retail stores by conducting a sensitivity analysis of occupancy using EnergyPlus simulations. The study investigated how variations in occupancy levels impact HVAC loads, cooling and heating demands, and overall energy use. Results showed that increasing occupancy leads to higher internal heat gains, which elevated annual cooling electricity demand by approximately 11.4% and fan energy electricity demand by 12.7%. Higher occupancy also necessitated increased outdoor air intake, resulting in greater heating penalties during winter months, with natural gas consumption for heating increasing by about 2.3%. These heating penalties indicated that the potential wintertime energy savings from occupant-generated heat gains are offset in the mixed-humid climate studied. By varying occupancy-related parameters, the research identified the impact that occupancy has on retail store building energy use. Overall, the study provides insights into the effects of occupancy in retail environments and supports the development of more reliable, energy-efficient management practices for large commercial spaces
Small Business Development in the Tourism Industry in Dangriga, Belize
Get PDFThe thesis, Small Business Development in the Tourism Industry in Dangriga, Belize, examines efforts to bolster economic opportunities and entrepreneurial resilience in a culturally rich but economically underserved town. The project focused on addressing the underperformance of Dangriga’s tourism sector relative to other Belizean destinations, despite its potential. By engaging directly with local entrepreneurs and organizations, the initiative aimed to improve marketing practices, digital presence, and long-term business viability through practical interventions.
Major accomplishments included the development of a reservation-capable website for the Bonefish Hotel, social media and marketing consultations for various small businesses, and advisory work for the Dangriga Town Council’s beautification and tourism efforts. Challenges included resistance from certain business owners and a lack of institutional support from national tourism agencies. Nonetheless, the project highlighted the transformative potential of grassroots entrepreneurship, youth engagement, and strategic marketing in driving inclusive growth and community development in Dangriga