Journal of economics and sustainable development, 2017
Agriculture is the heart of Kenya’s economic development and will continue to play a significant ... more Agriculture is the heart of Kenya’s economic development and will continue to play a significant role for many years to come. The government of Kenya, has been implementing key macroeconomic policies every succeeding year to improve the performance of the economy through agricultural productivity. The identified macroeconomic policies used, have included, fiscal, monetary and, trade policies. Fiscal policy involves the use of public expenditure, taxation and borrowings, while monetary policy is the control of money supply and credit by use of monetary instruments to regulate interest rates in the economy. Trade policies relates to how, our local products competes with other agricultural products globally, thus impacting on the current account balance and thus aggregate demand. Given the fact that international trade in agri-food products is characterized by oligopolistic competition, the competitiveness of local agri-food produce has often had mixed results, leading to a negative cu...
Mobile phones/devices are an important part of our daily lives for sighted people and those with ... more Mobile phones/devices are an important part of our daily lives for sighted people and those with visual impairment (VI) in India. This study explores how Indian university students use and perceive mobile apps and identify the challenges in their usage. A paper-based survey was administered for 124 college students who were legally blind. The survey had items relating to sociodemographic information, use of mobile devices and apps, and the use of apps specifically designed for persons with VI. Results show that, on average, the participants with VI have been using a mobile device for more than 5 years. Many participants used Android devices and free apps. In addition, they found that the mobile apps were user-friendly and accessible. Results also found that Facebook and WhatsApp are more frequently used. Participants had a high level of self-efficacy and positive attitudes toward special apps for VI. Android devices are popular in India because of lower cost compared to iOS devices....
This article presents a narrative review of research revealing a need for professionals trained t... more This article presents a narrative review of research revealing a need for professionals trained to serve students with DeafBlindness. The synthesis was conducted to glean evidence from the literature and to answer questions regarding the need for professionals to serve children with DeafBlindness. Twelve articles provided the needed evidence under the following identified themes: the need for resources and services for students with low-incidence disabilities including DeafBlindness, the need for training opportunities for professionals in DeafBlindness, the role of personnel preparation programs, the use of specific models and intervention strategies, and the recommended practices and competencies for professionals in DeafBlindness. Four of the articles addressed more than one of these themes, while the remaining eight articles addressed one theme each. This review supports the findings of previous studies that have identified the need for professionals in DeafBlindness and recomme...
Journal of economics and sustainable development, 2017
This report provides an overview and illumination of key institutional incentives that can optimi... more This report provides an overview and illumination of key institutional incentives that can optimize smallholder agricultural productivity, market access, food security and poverty alleviation in rural Kenya. Analysis is by extensive literature review, stakeholder interviews emanating from international training, seminars, workshops and general observations in the Netherlands. The results inform the existing opportunities and obstacles for the transformation of the Kenyan smallholder agricultural system through optimization of institutions. This Publication is the initial phase towards documenting and sharing key institutional incentives, macroeconomic policies and innovations that leverage smallholder agricultural productivity, market access, food security and poverty reduction in the context of increasing global population, climate change, rising food prices, poverty and food insecurity in Kenya. The findings and recommendations will direct policy discourse and action in transformi...
Introduction: The purpose of the study was to survey orientation and mobility (O&M) instructors w... more Introduction: The purpose of the study was to survey orientation and mobility (O&M) instructors who are blind concerning the identification of accommodations, teaching techniques, and resources to teach students with visual impairments (i.e., blindness or low vision). Methods: The study utilized an online survey via Qualtrics (2019) with 27 closed- and open-ended items to identify accommodations, teaching techniques, and resources needed. The survey was e-mailed to membership and certification organizations requesting O&M instructors who are blind to participate for 12 weeks. The participants were 15 O&M specialists, mostly male and Caucasian. Survey data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Forty percent of the participants reported that there were minimal standards that they had to demonstrate prior to their admittance into an O&M program. About one-fourth of the participants mentioned their program was modified because of their visual impairment. Eleven parti...
Background: This study examined how students enrolled in a university orientation and mobility pe... more Background: This study examined how students enrolled in a university orientation and mobility personnel preparation program in the Southwestern part of the United States perceived their competency levels regarding their knowledge of orientation and mobility principles and applications. This graduate master's degree or certification program includes students with various backgrounds (e.g., special education teachers, social workers, general education teachers). Method: To enter this Orientation and Mobility program perspective students must hold an undergraduate degree with a Grade Point Average of 3.0 on a 1-4 scale, and submittal of a resume, a personal statement, and transcripts from previous college/university coursework. These materials are then reviewed, and perspective students are accepted or rejected into the university's Orientation and Mobility Program. The Orientation and Mobility Program consists of nine 3-hour semester courses. The internship course is the last course in their program of study for a certificate. To pursue a master's degree students, complete an additional nine credit hours in special education. Most of the students maintain fulltime employment while completing their coursework. Using a selfevaluation form that included competency criteria provided by the Academy for the Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals, 74 orientation and mobility interns at the university evaluated their capabilities and proficiencies before they began and after they completed their internship. Results: Before beginning the internship, the participants, on average, considered themselves to be moderately or somewhat proficient in all 13 orientation and mobility competencies (M = 3.25-3.53, SD = 0.62-0.94). After completing the internship, the participants, on average, reported feeling significantly more proficient (p < .001) in each of these 13 orientation and mobility competencies (M = 4.13-4.49, SD = 0.49-0.66). Significance: This study represents an initial attempt to examine interns' perceptions of their proficiency levels vis-à-vis orientation and mobility competencies before beginning and after completion of the internship. Future research could examine the relationship between the interns perceived mastery of competencies and the actual mastery of these competencies.
Journal of economics and sustainable development, 2017
Agriculture is the heart of Kenya’s economic development and will continue to play a significant ... more Agriculture is the heart of Kenya’s economic development and will continue to play a significant role for many years to come. The government of Kenya, has been implementing key macroeconomic policies every succeeding year to improve the performance of the economy through agricultural productivity. The identified macroeconomic policies used, have included, fiscal, monetary and, trade policies. Fiscal policy involves the use of public expenditure, taxation and borrowings, while monetary policy is the control of money supply and credit by use of monetary instruments to regulate interest rates in the economy. Trade policies relates to how, our local products competes with other agricultural products globally, thus impacting on the current account balance and thus aggregate demand. Given the fact that international trade in agri-food products is characterized by oligopolistic competition, the competitiveness of local agri-food produce has often had mixed results, leading to a negative cu...
Mobile phones/devices are an important part of our daily lives for sighted people and those with ... more Mobile phones/devices are an important part of our daily lives for sighted people and those with visual impairment (VI) in India. This study explores how Indian university students use and perceive mobile apps and identify the challenges in their usage. A paper-based survey was administered for 124 college students who were legally blind. The survey had items relating to sociodemographic information, use of mobile devices and apps, and the use of apps specifically designed for persons with VI. Results show that, on average, the participants with VI have been using a mobile device for more than 5 years. Many participants used Android devices and free apps. In addition, they found that the mobile apps were user-friendly and accessible. Results also found that Facebook and WhatsApp are more frequently used. Participants had a high level of self-efficacy and positive attitudes toward special apps for VI. Android devices are popular in India because of lower cost compared to iOS devices....
This article presents a narrative review of research revealing a need for professionals trained t... more This article presents a narrative review of research revealing a need for professionals trained to serve students with DeafBlindness. The synthesis was conducted to glean evidence from the literature and to answer questions regarding the need for professionals to serve children with DeafBlindness. Twelve articles provided the needed evidence under the following identified themes: the need for resources and services for students with low-incidence disabilities including DeafBlindness, the need for training opportunities for professionals in DeafBlindness, the role of personnel preparation programs, the use of specific models and intervention strategies, and the recommended practices and competencies for professionals in DeafBlindness. Four of the articles addressed more than one of these themes, while the remaining eight articles addressed one theme each. This review supports the findings of previous studies that have identified the need for professionals in DeafBlindness and recomme...
Journal of economics and sustainable development, 2017
This report provides an overview and illumination of key institutional incentives that can optimi... more This report provides an overview and illumination of key institutional incentives that can optimize smallholder agricultural productivity, market access, food security and poverty alleviation in rural Kenya. Analysis is by extensive literature review, stakeholder interviews emanating from international training, seminars, workshops and general observations in the Netherlands. The results inform the existing opportunities and obstacles for the transformation of the Kenyan smallholder agricultural system through optimization of institutions. This Publication is the initial phase towards documenting and sharing key institutional incentives, macroeconomic policies and innovations that leverage smallholder agricultural productivity, market access, food security and poverty reduction in the context of increasing global population, climate change, rising food prices, poverty and food insecurity in Kenya. The findings and recommendations will direct policy discourse and action in transformi...
Introduction: The purpose of the study was to survey orientation and mobility (O&M) instructors w... more Introduction: The purpose of the study was to survey orientation and mobility (O&M) instructors who are blind concerning the identification of accommodations, teaching techniques, and resources to teach students with visual impairments (i.e., blindness or low vision). Methods: The study utilized an online survey via Qualtrics (2019) with 27 closed- and open-ended items to identify accommodations, teaching techniques, and resources needed. The survey was e-mailed to membership and certification organizations requesting O&M instructors who are blind to participate for 12 weeks. The participants were 15 O&M specialists, mostly male and Caucasian. Survey data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Forty percent of the participants reported that there were minimal standards that they had to demonstrate prior to their admittance into an O&M program. About one-fourth of the participants mentioned their program was modified because of their visual impairment. Eleven parti...
Background: This study examined how students enrolled in a university orientation and mobility pe... more Background: This study examined how students enrolled in a university orientation and mobility personnel preparation program in the Southwestern part of the United States perceived their competency levels regarding their knowledge of orientation and mobility principles and applications. This graduate master's degree or certification program includes students with various backgrounds (e.g., special education teachers, social workers, general education teachers). Method: To enter this Orientation and Mobility program perspective students must hold an undergraduate degree with a Grade Point Average of 3.0 on a 1-4 scale, and submittal of a resume, a personal statement, and transcripts from previous college/university coursework. These materials are then reviewed, and perspective students are accepted or rejected into the university's Orientation and Mobility Program. The Orientation and Mobility Program consists of nine 3-hour semester courses. The internship course is the last course in their program of study for a certificate. To pursue a master's degree students, complete an additional nine credit hours in special education. Most of the students maintain fulltime employment while completing their coursework. Using a selfevaluation form that included competency criteria provided by the Academy for the Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals, 74 orientation and mobility interns at the university evaluated their capabilities and proficiencies before they began and after they completed their internship. Results: Before beginning the internship, the participants, on average, considered themselves to be moderately or somewhat proficient in all 13 orientation and mobility competencies (M = 3.25-3.53, SD = 0.62-0.94). After completing the internship, the participants, on average, reported feeling significantly more proficient (p < .001) in each of these 13 orientation and mobility competencies (M = 4.13-4.49, SD = 0.49-0.66). Significance: This study represents an initial attempt to examine interns' perceptions of their proficiency levels vis-à-vis orientation and mobility competencies before beginning and after completion of the internship. Future research could examine the relationship between the interns perceived mastery of competencies and the actual mastery of these competencies.
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Papers by Vitalis Othuon