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In this paper, the accessibility of e‐learning environments designed for deaf learners is discussed. Starting from a discussion of the meaning of text and web accessibility, the paper describes the development of a Deaf‐centered E‐Learning Environment (DELE) which focusing on utilizing the visual skills of the target users. This work is conducted under the auspices of the Italian FIRB‐VISEL project (E‐Learning, Deafness, Written Language: A Bridge of Letters and Signs Towards Knowledge Society) which involves the development of a distance learning environment aimed at improving the literacy skills of prelingual deaf children and young adults.

The e‐learning environment is based on embodied cognition/semantics, imitation, storytelling, and the construction of educational games. Conceptual metaphors provide the browsing structure of the entire environment, in which the learning paths are developed.

DELE is currently undergoing testing in which end‐users are providing feedback about their use of the system.

The authors think that DELE could positively affect the didactic methodology used with deaf young people, through a new visual‐based approach to teaching.

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first time in which such a theoretical approach has been applied to an e‐learning environment for deaf users.

This chapter discusses the challenges and support structures of MENA refugee women in their workforce transitions after resettlement in the United States. With a growing number of displaced individuals worldwide, the United States will undoubtedly continue to welcome immigrants and refugees in the coming years. While women comprise half of this population, MENA women participate in the US workforce at a far lower rate than do men from MENA. However, there is limited research examining workforce transitions for MENA refugee women once resettled. The partnerships of community stakeholders, including the education sector, non-government organizations, refugee agencies, and employers, are responsible for facilitating MENA refugee women toward self-sufficiency. Implications and suggestions for future research involving MENA refugee women are provided.

This paper aims to present the findings of a government-initiated project that sought to explore the possibility of incorporating cultural connections to land within the federal national accounting system using the United Nations Systems of Environmental-Economic Accounting (UN-SEEA) framework as a basis.

Adopting a critical dialogic approach and responding to the calls for critical accountants to engage with stakeholders, the authors worked with two Indigenous groups of Australia to develop a system of accounts that incorporates their cultural connections to “Country”. The two groups were clans from the Mungguy Country in the Kakadu region of Northern Territory and the Ewamian Aboriginal Corporation of Northern Queensland. Conducting two-day workshops on separate occasions with both groups, the authors attempted to meld the Indigenous worldviews with the worldviews embodied within national accounting systems and the UN-SEEA framework.

The models developed highlight significant differences between the ontological foundations of Indigenous and Western-worldviews and the authors reflect on the tensions created between these competing worldviews. The authors also offer pragmatic solutions that could be implemented by the Indigenous Traditional Owners and the government in terms of developing such an accounting system that incorporates connections to Country.

The paper contributes to providing a contemporary case study of engagement with Indigenous peoples in the co-development of a system of accounting for and by Indigenous peoples; it also contributes to the ongoing debate on bridging the divide between critique and praxis; and finally, the paper delves into an area that is largely unexplored within accounting research which is national accounting.

Life studies are a rich source for further research on the role of the Afro‐American woman in society. They are especially useful to gain a better understanding of the Afro‐American experience and to show the joys, sorrows, needs, and ideals of the Afro‐American woman as she struggles from day to day.

From the cataloging librarians' point of view, this paper aims to present how technical services, especially the cataloging department, can play important roles in the improvement of user services.

The paper examines the practices of the University of Oklahoma Libraries.

The paper identifies several aspects in which technical services can enhance the quality of user services, especially in the cataloging department. A library's online catalog becomes the first point of access to the library's information resources. Its quality can be improved and enriched in many ways to raise users’ satisfaction. Aside from the improvement in technical aspects, efforts should also be made to promote collaboration between technical and public services so as to ensure efficient processing of materials and to meet the needs of library users.

The value of the paper is in showing that the quality of an online catalog and the cooperation between public and technical services are two of the key factors in achieving high quality of user services.

In both Norway and Sweden the law governing food hygiene is similar to that in Britain. Powers are vested in local authorities by one general Act couched in wide terms, and by more detailed regulations or byelaws drawn up as required. The degree of severity with which local authorities interpret the regulations varies, and in both countries the functions of central government in relation to food hygiene are mainly advisory. Outbreaks of food poisoning are rare. The various salmonella infections and the cattle diseases liable to infect food are well known, and the supervision in slaughterhouses and on farms is such that the organisms, if present, are identified. Salmonella out‐breaks due to infected imported dried eggs have also been traced. Yet such knowledge and careful supervision is common to other countries where notified outbreaks of food poisoning are comparatively numerous. Whether the relative absence of notified outbreaks in Norway and Sweden is entirely due to a higher standard of food hygiene, or to the prevailing custom of preparing food immediately before or even during a meal, is not clear. It is noticeable that in restaurants some time elapses between ordering a meal and receiving it, and that the food is always freshly prepared. In neither country are food handlers examined medically, except those in the milk trade, who are said to be examined every year. Some doubt exists about the value of this examination and the extent to which it is enforced, though in Stockholm enforcement would not be difficult as over 90 per cent of the milk supplied to that city is handled by one combine, controlled by the farmers' co‐operatives. In both countries all milk supplied in towns must be pasteurised, though bovine tuberculosis has been almost eliminated. Owing to a shortage of glass, milk is still sold “ loose ”, but it is hoped to introduce compulsory bottling in the near future. As the result of requests for more detailed instructions from Medical Officers of Health of small towns and country districts new regulations governing the sale of food have recently been drawn up. Restaurants, hotels and food shops must be licensed by local authorities; they are not licensed until they have been inspected and approved. The local authority can revoke a licence, but the proprietor of the establishment concerned has the right of appeal to the courts.

The purpose of this study is to discuss the significance of “contextual factors” on the talent development of underserved populations. Understanding the “context” and background of an individual provides greater insight into their life experiences (Paik, 2013). Race, class and gender, in particular, play a role in one’s life, providing both barriers and opportunities.

To examine contextual and other factors, in-depth biographical case studies were systematically studied across 10 diverse notable artists and scientists. Over 85 autobiographies, biographies and other sources were carefully content-analyzed for commonalities and differences in artists’ and scientists’ lives.

Because of their ascribed statuses (e.g. race, class, gender), these individuals had to navigate their unique school and life circumstances. Within their sociocultural contexts, however, key relationships (e.g. parents, teachers, mentors and peers) helped mitigate the challenges. All artists and scientists had a “village” – key stakeholders who invested in them at every stage of their talent development.

Parents, teachers, mentors and peers are not only critical, but they are lifelines for talent development. Key implications discuss the role of contextual factors and support networks for aspiring diverse artists and scientists.

The theoretical framework for this study is based on the productive giftedness model (PGM) (Paik, 2013, 2015). PGM includes 10 key psychosocial and environmental factors and how they influence “productive giftedness” (e.g. achievements, accomplishments, leadership). Within the model, both “alterable” and “contextual factors” provide access to different opportunities, support and resources. The model is considered generalizable and applicable for diverse populations.

Examines the demographic transformation of Orange County, Los Angeles, USA and the designation of districts known as Little Saigon and Koreatown. Contends that Orange County is fifth in the USA for fastest growing Asian communities. Uses a comparative social ecology approach to show how Koreans and Vietnamese have managed to establish their ethnic communities. Finally discusses the challenges faced in sustaining their communities, given the resistance from Anglo residents for “foreigners”.