C.E. Jottings

Some limits of randomized controlled trials for evidence-based policy: not "What works" but "Why things work"

"What Works is based on the principle that good decision-making should be informed by the best available evidence. If evidence is not available, decision-makers should use high quality methods to find out what works." So says the Government website. Stands to reason, doesn't it? Evidenced based public policy. Spend scarce resources on what works. Increasingly often in education, it seems, the evidence comes from randomised control trials. Well maybe we should pause for a little thought? For instance: "Understandings and... Read more →

Work, Citizenship and Orthofunction 3: Keys to Citizenship poster

I just wanted to help extend awareness of this powerful poster for The Centre for Welfare Reform's "7 Keys to Citizenship". Shortly, I will add a note as to its origin and the links. Meanwhile, here's the poster. What I'm asking myself is whether these 7 keys to citizenship help us discuss orthofunction and conductive education across the lifespan when our children with developmental disabilities become adults. Read more →

Work, Citizenship and Orthofunction (2) #CondEd

My previous post scratched at the surface of thinking about "Work, Citizenship and Orthofunction". Andrew Sutton picked up on it in "Adults' Voices - Three Bloggers". I think he gets somewhere near the nub of it in describing our society as one that "has little real idea of how it thinks of children with developmental disabilities, what it really wants for their future lives". I read a thought-filled blog post a couple of days ago, that might be worth a... Read more →