Invisible Group Research Articles

Evaluating outcomes of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt procedure among Native Americans

BackgroundThis study aims to explore racial disparities in immediate outcomes of Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) among Native Americans, a group that have higher prevalence of liver cirrhosis but were the “invisible group” in previous TIPS studies due to their small population size. MethodsThe study identified Native Americans and Caucasians who underwent TIPS in National/Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from Q4 2015–2020. Preoperative factors, including demographics, indications for TIPS, comorbidities, etiologies for liver disease, primary payer status, and hospital characteristics, were matched by 1:5 propensity score matching. In-hospital post-TIPS outcomes were then compared between the two cohorts. ResultsThere were 6,658 patients who underwent TIPS, where 101 (1.52 %) were Native Americans and 4,574 (68.70 %) were Caucasians. Native Americans presented as younger, with a lower socioeconomic status, and displayed higher rates of alcohol abuse and related liver diseases. After propensity-score matching, Native Americans had comparable in-hospital post-TIPS outcomes including mortality (8.33% vs 9.09 %, p = 1.00), hepatic encephalopathy (18.75% vs 25.84 %, p = 0.19), acute kidney injury (28.13% vs 30.62 %, p = 0.71), and other adverse events. Native Americans also had similar wait from admission to operation (2.15 ± 0.30 vs 2.87 ± 0.21 days, p = 0.13), hospital length of stay (7.43 ± 0.63 vs 8.62 ± 0.47 days, p = 0.13), and total costs (158,299 ± 14,218.2 vs 169,425 ± 8,600.7 dollars, p = 0.50). ConclusionNative Americans had similar immediate outcomes after TIPS compared to their propensity-matched Caucasians. While these results underscore effective healthcare delivery of TIPS to Native Americans, it is imperative to pursue further research for long-term post-procedure outcomes.

Using multiple lenses to see an invisible group

Social work in Poland and in the United States shares the values of human dignity and self-determination, but there are often value conflicts in terms of how various groups experience social roles and social expectations. This paper explores the use of multiple lenses to understand the past and current conditions for LGBT+ people in Poland. An international, university-level collaboration uses a framework of “invisible groups” to highlight the needs of those who are on the margins of society and whose human and individual rights are suppressed. The article reviews the results of a recently published on-line survey of LGBT+ populations and their views of their experiences in Polish society to illustrate their “invisibility” and the need for advocacy from the international social work community.

Making the invisible, visible: older lesbian, gay and bisexual victim-survivors’ “lived experiences” of domestic abuse

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the use of coproduction to create a film “Do You See Me?”, to amplify the voices of a “hard to reach” group: older lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB) victim-survivors of domestic abuse (DA).Design/methodology/approachQualitative methods were used as part of the co-production, which included two practitioner focus groups and 14 narrative interviews with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning persons or the community (LGBTQ+) victim-survivors.FindingsDespite differences in gender, sexualities, roles and “lived experiences” across stakeholders, there was a shared aim to ensure victim-survivors had a sense of ownership in this endeavour. Consequently, a positive reciprocity existed that helped to foster effective communication, allow for capacity building and subsequent knowledge exchange. The collaboration produced a nuanced meta-narrative making visible the “lived experiences” of LGB victim-survivors’ perceptions of perpetrator behaviours.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is original in two ways, firstly, providing insights into the “lived experiences” of an invisible group; older LGBTQ+ victim-survivors, and secondly, in involving them in the co-production of a film. The paper aims to reveal how interdependencies that developed between stakeholders helped to disrupt understandings, develop new ways of knowing and build levels of trust. Group interactions helped to dismantle hierarchies, so those with experiential knowledge: the survivors, had greater control throughout the research process. The paper is significant in providing a critical reflection on the ethical, methodological and resource challenges involved in co-production. It also makes recommendations for researchers and funders about the value of using co-production as a method to engage with hard-to-reach groups.

Mandibular advancement with clear aligners and functional appliances in the treatment of skeletal ClassⅡmalocclusion: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis of the efficacy of mandibular advance clear alig-ners with traditional functional appliances as the control group. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China Biomedical Abstracts Database, China Knowledge Network Database, Wanfang Database, and Weipu Database were used in this study. The two groups of researchers screened the literature and extracted data based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria established by PICOS entries, and used the ROBINS-I scale for quality evaluation. Revman 5.4 and Stata 17.0 software were used for meta-analysis. Nine clinical controlled trials were included in this study with a total sample size of 283 cases. No significant difference was found in SNA, SNB, ANB, Go-Pog, U1-SN, Overjet, and other aspects between the invisible group and the traditional group in the treatment of skeletal class Ⅱ ma-locclusion patients; there was a 0.90° difference in mandibular plane angle between the two groups; the growth of the mandibular ramus (Co-Go) in the traditional group was 1.10 mm more than that in the invisible group; the lip inclination of the lower teeth in the invisible group was better controlled, 1.94° less than that in the control group. The invisible group can better control the lip inclination of the mandibular anterior teeth when guiding the mandible. Furthermore, the mandibular plane angle (MP-SN) can remain unchanged, but the growth of the mandibular ramus is not as good as the traditional group, and auxiliary measures should be taken to improve it in clinical practice.

Reaching Out: Using Social Media to Recruit ‘Invisible Groups’: The Case of South Asian Women in the UK Experiencing Gender-Related Violence

The rise of social media use has been phenomenal, particularly during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, Facebook has also seen its share of users rise at a meteoric rate. At the same time, the academy is producing a growing body of literature concerning the use of online methods for primary data collection. Yet, despite the increase in the use of the internet as a research tool, very little still exists on the use of social media to recruit research participants, particularly those deemed “socially invisible”. This paper addresses this gap. Another research project explored the experiences of South Asian women who had departed the social norms of arranged marriage to form an intimate relationship with a partner of choice and who then experienced forms of gender-related violence (GRV). The project encountered difficulties in recruiting participants from this marginalised and often invisible group in UK society, who are often too frightened or ashamed to come forward. This study demonstrates how to use Facebook ethically and methodologically, highlighting some of the methods used to overcome the challenges that were presented. The research was undertaken before the COVID-19 pandemic (which prompted a widespread use of social media in social science research). We argue that, despite the ethical challenges, the advantages of using social media to recruit participants when researching a highly sensitive topic such as GRV with ‘invisible groups’ was highly beneficial. We therefore suggest that social media should be an integral part of the research recruitment process, alongside non-digital methods, so that other ‘invisible groups’ are not created comprising those who cannot access technology. We share the lessons learned for the benefit of researchers using a similar approach today when recruiting research participants from invisible and marginalised groups. The authors caveat their recommendation of using social media with suggesting that those who do not have high levels of experience of data collection with such cohorts instead consider working with gatekeepers to facilitate the recruitment.

The usefulness of liquid-based cytology of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid combined with bronchial brush specimens in lung cancer diagnosis.

To explore the diagnostic value of liquid-based cytology (LBC) of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) combined with bronchial brushing (BB). One hundred patients with pulmonary masses or nodules found by chest computed tomography (CT) or X-ray before bronchoscopy or other diagnostic biopsy examinations were selected consecutively for this retrospective study. BALF and BB were performed for all patients. After conventional smear via BB, we mixed the BALF and BB samples in a prepared thin-layer bottle. The sensitivity of LBC of BALF combined with BB was noticeably higher than that of BB alone in the total sample group (65.15% vs. 32.84%, respectively). Similarly, in both the bronchoscopically visible group and invisible group, a higher sensitivity for LBC of BALF with BB vs BB alone (68.89% vs. 39.13%, respectively; 57.14% vs. 19.05%, respectively) was observed. Additionally, the negative predictive value of LBC of BALF with BB was higher than that with BB alone (58.56% vs. 42.31%; 61.29% vs. 44.73%; 53.47% vs. 37.83%; total sample vs visible vs invisible groups, respectively). Regardless of whether lesions or nodules are bronchoscopically visible or invisible, LBC of BALF combined with BB may increase the diagnostic value over BB alone in lung cancer diagnosis.

Reflecting on past language brokering experiences: how they affected children’s and teenagers’ emotions and relationships

AbstractIn many immigrant families, children often learn the language and culture of the host society quicker than adult immigrants. Consequently, children serve as language brokers, translating and interpreting face-to-face communication. The aim of this paper is to present a study based on 19 qualitative in depth interviews with young adults reporting on how they felt and managed their emotions when acting as language brokers in their childhood and adolescence. The study shows the key role that emotions play in the Child Language Brokering experience and how the relationships that the broker establishes with their immediate context (family, teachers, and the community) is intrinsically related to how they assess the experience. It also shows that emotions had an impact on how brokers modulate the message they rendered, especially when they had to deal with sensitive topics. This research proves the importance of the first-person retrospective narratives of the protagonists, which allows to give a voice to a highly invisible group.

Differences in Demographic and Radiographic Characteristics between Patients with Visible and Invisible T1 Slopes on Lateral Cervical Radiographic Images.

Introduction: The T1 slope is important for cervical surgical planning, and it may be invisible on radiographic images. The prevalence of T1 invisible cases and the differences in demographic and radiographic characteristics between patients whose T1 slopes are visible or invisible remains unexplored. Methods: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the differences in these characteristics between outpatients whose T1 slopes were visible or invisible on radiographic images. Patients (n = 60) who underwent cervical radiography, whose T1 slope was confirmed clearly, were divided into the visible (V) group and invisible (I) group. The following radiographic parameters were measured: (1) C2-7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), (2) C2-7 angle in neutral, flexion, and extension positions. Results: Based on the T1 slope visibility, 46.7% of patients were included in group I. The I group had significantly larger C2-7 SVA than the V group for males (p < 0.05). The C2-7 SVA tended to be larger in the I group, without significant difference for females (p = 0.362). Discussion: The mean C2-7 angle in neutral and flexion positions was not significantly different between the V and I groups for either sex. The mean C2-7 angle in the extension position was greater in the V group. The T1 slope was invisible in males with high C2-7 SVA.

Workplace mobbing and organizational intelligence - healthcare risk management in a crisis

Abstract Issue Mobbing is the old syndrome of the new age. A phenomenon of invisible systemic group pressure on a selected dissident victim and a visible harassment that sticks strongly in a crisis. A victim with a strong character, a person competent and leadership skills to a degree that exceeds another placed leader, as an expression of his fear and frustration. The presence of mobbing is always an expression of a bad organizational culture. The opportunities for risk reduction are based in the creation of a highly effective, tactical-strategic flexibility and creative program of control, mediation and modeling of the risk factors leading to mobbing. Description of the problem A particularly interesting scene for the manifestation of mobbing is the academic environment. The manifestation of mobbing leads to serious losses, social isolation and has health consequences on the attacked and subjected to emotional pressure member of the team. A creative scientist and charismatic teacher, a wonderful and eroded specialist does not go unnoticed by the more mediocre. Circles are formed with different scope and degrees of trust in the initiator of the mobbing, who generates and manages directly several with the role of accomplices and indirectly dozens to hundreds of cowardly and sufficiently obedient performers. Results Basic human rights are violated and the organizational culture of the institution is compromised through mobbing. A process of a cyclical nature in which only the victim changes. The implementation of a policy of zero tolerance for mobbing is a starting point, but it is not enough for a lasting solution to a problem with the volume and nature of a socio-economic disaster. Lessons Mobbing is a conflict of interest in which the better prepared fall victim to the more mediocre. Insufficiently good level of management at all levels in the institution leads to mobbing when a competent and eroded member of the team appears. Key messages No one is protected from mobbing in bad and destructive management. A mobbing risk reduction program is applicable to each prevention indication at each level.

Understanding an Invisible Minority: A Literature Review of LGBTQ+ Persons in Music Education

The topics of inclusivity and diversity in music education have drawn increased attention to how different minority groups experience music education. Unlike concerns surrounding most gender and race issues, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and other sexual and/or gender minority (LGBTQ+) students and teachers are not always as visibly identifiable as other minority groups and therefore can easily be overlooked. In this literature review, I examine research specific to the LGBTQ+ community, representing an invisible minority group in music classrooms with the aim to raise awareness of the unique obstacles that LGBTQ+ music teachers and students face, so that further discussions engaging music educators might have a stronger knowledge base. Findings suggests that many LGBTQ+ music educators struggle to fully embrace their identity, often having to negotiate professional and personal personalities out of fear or uncertainty. Although music classrooms are often considered safe spaces for LGBTQ+ students, the music curriculum should be more inclusive.

Very young adolescent perceptions of growing up in rural southwest Uganda: Influences on sexual development and behavior.

Very young adolescents (VYAs) are at the beginning of major physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes that will set the course for a lifetime of health risks or resilience and yet, they have been largely an invisible group in global health research. The study explored perceptions of VYAs of the context for adolescence in rural Uganda and how these perceptions relate to sexual and reproductive health. Twenty VYAs, aged 11-14 from a southwest province in Uganda participated; 10 girls and 10 boys. All were of low socioeconomic status and attending school. With Institutional Review Board approval, a community-based participatory design was used with community advisory board (CAB) guidance. Community mapping and photovoice were data collection strategies as deemed developmentally appropriate for this age group. VYAs narrated their maps and photographs in focus groups. Field notes were taken on observations of adolescent life in the villages. The CAB assisted in the interpretation of data. Focus group interview transcripts and field notes were thematically analyzed and triangulated with observational field notes to verify and amplify findings. VYAs dichotomized people and places that offered support and protection or exposure to risk and vulnerability. Cultural norms (gendered expectations for roles and responsibilities, the primacy of work), the influences of significant others (peers, family, other important adults) and places in their environment that represented either safe havens or danger zones comprised the major themes. VYA perceptions of their context and experiences will contribute to design of developmentally appropriate and community tailored interventions to promote their health.

Real-time intraoperative co-registration of transesophageal echocardiography with fluoroscopy facilitates transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantation in cases of invisible degenerated bioprosthetic valves.

Transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve (TMViV) implantation is an alternative treatment to surgery for high-risk patients with degenerated bioprosthetic mitral valves. Some types of bioprostheses are fluoroscopically translucent, resulting in an 'invisible' target deployment area. In this study, we describe the feasibility and outcomes of this procedure using intraoperative fusion of transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and live fluoroscopy to facilitate valve deployment in cases of invisible bioprosthetic valves. We reviewed all TMViV implantations at our centre from July 2014 to July 2019. Patient, procedure and outcome details were compared between those with a visible bioprosthesis (N = 22) to those with an invisible one (N = 12). Intra-operative TEE and live Fluoroscopy co-registration were used for real-time guidance for all invisible targets. All valve implantations were completed successfully in both groups without cardiovascular injury, valve migration or left ventricular outflow-tract obstruction. Technical success was 100% in both groups. One-year survival was 83% [95% confidence interval (CI) 70-96] for the entire cohort, with 79% (95% CI 63-100) survival for the visible group and 92% (95% CI 77-100) for the invisible group. Probability of 1-year survival free from mitral valve reintervention, significant valve dysfunction, stroke or myocardial infraction was 78% (95% CI 63-93) for all patients whereby the probability was 72% (95% CI 54-97) in the visible group and 80% (95% CI 59-100) for the invisible group. The use of intraoperative TEE and live fluoroscopy image fusion facilitates accurate TMViV among patients with a fluoroscopically invisible target-landing zone.

COVID-19: Compounding the health-related harms of human trafficking.

Those affected by human trafficking are exposed to multiple severe health risks, including physical, sexual, and psychological violence, occupational hazards, and deprivation, and usually require urgent medical care to address the physical and psychological consequences of extreme exploitation [[1]Oram S. Stöckl H. Busza J. et al.Prevalence and risk of violence and the physical, mental, and sexual health problems associated with human trafficking: systematic review.PLOS Med. 2012; 9 (https://dx.doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001224)e1001224Crossref PubMed Scopus (242) Google Scholar]. COVID-19 threatens to exacerbate the health disparities faced by this vulnerable group. Existing inequalities are being globally compounded by the pandemic's widespread socio-economic impacts, representing an international crisis that disproportionately affects society's most vulnerable groups. COVID-19 has increased job insecurity and unemployment, informal and unskilled labour, food and housing insecurity, poverty, and healthcare unaffordability. These drivers of enslavement increase the risk of sexual and labour exploitation, and are being used by criminal groups to scale-up modern slavery activities [[2]UN News. COVID-19 crisis putting human trafficking victims at risk of further exploitation, experts warn. 06 May 2020. https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/05/1063342[accessed 19 May 2020]Google Scholar]. Simultaneously, as health systems and law enforcement refocus on COVID-19, and governments impose strict physical distancing policies, efforts to identify trafficking are significantly undermined, as healthcare providers, labour inspectors, social workers, and third sector actors are limited in their actions and contact with at-risk groups. The resulting rise in trafficking is similar to previous outbreaks [[3]Worsnop C.Z. The Disease Outbreak-Human Trafficking Connection: A Missed Opportunity.Health Security. 14 June 2019; 17 (https://doi.org/): 181-192https://doi.org/10.1089/hs.2018.0134Crossref PubMed Scopus (6) Google Scholar], reflecting a significant burden of unmet physical and psychological needs in an invisible group of all genders and ages. Victims of trafficking are disproportionately at risk of COVID-19 infection due to pre-existing health needs, unregulated and unsafe working environments, over-crowded living conditions, poverty, malnutrition, and substance misuse. They also face significant barriers to healthcare both during and post-trafficking, including controls imposed by exploiters, fear of repercussions from traffickers, law enforcement, or immigration authorities, language barriers, lack of knowledge of healthcare availability or entitlements, and lack of identity documentation [[4]Westwood J. Howard L.M. Stanley N. et al.Access to, and experiences of, healthcare services by trafficked people: findings from a mixed-methods study in England.British Journal of General Practice. November 2016; 66: e794-e801https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp16X687073Crossref PubMed Scopus (27) Google Scholar]. Restrictive public health strategies exacerbate these barriers, while health systems worldwide are redesigned to prioritise COVID-19, significantly reducing the availability of services, and inequitably transferring them online. This further prevents timely or confidential access to healthcare, increasing morbidity and mortality due to untreated acute and long-term conditions including communicable diseases, physical injuries, mental illness, substance misuse, and suicide attempts [[5]Kiss L. Pocock N.S. Naisanguansri V. Health of men, women, and children in post-trafficking services in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam: an observational cross-sectional study.The Lancet Global Health. 01 March 2015; 3 (https://doi.org/): 154-161https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(15)70016-1Summary Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (134) Google Scholar], while opportunities are missed for healthcare workers to screen, identify, and disrupt trafficking activity. The rights and health needs of those who have experienced trafficking must be urgently prioritised during COVID-19. Health workers must be educated to expect a rise in trafficking, and health services preserved, equitable care facilitated, and access barriers removed. This will require reimagining approaches to identifying and appropriately responding to trafficking, and strengthening coordination between healthcare providers, statutory services, and third sector organisations. We declare no competing interests.

“You Feel Like You Belong Nowhere”: Conflict-Related Sexual Violence and Social Identity in Post-Genocide Rwanda

Globally, the systematic use of sexual violence in modern warfare has resulted in the birth of thousands of children. Research has begun to focus on this often invisible group and the obstacles they face, including stigma, discrimination and exclusion based on their birth origins. Although sexual violence during the Rwandan genocide has been documented on a massive scale, little research has focused on the relational dynamics between mothers who experienced genocide rape and the children they bore. This paper explores the post-genocide realities of these two under-explored populations, revealing two key tensions in relation to identity-building and belonging. Drawing upon in-depth interviews conducted with 44 mothers and 60 youth, we examine how youth participants’ quest for the truth in forming their own identities is often in conflict with mothers’ efforts to disassociate their identities from sexual violence and genocide. Furthermore, both mothers’ and children’s identities remain ‘caught’ in the rigid ethnic politics of the genocide at the national level. Ultimately, this article highlights that the distinction between the self and the larger politics of post-genocide Rwanda are not easily disentangled, as challenges faced by these families exist at the nexus of the personal and the national, the individual and structural.

An invisible population—Young carers in Aotearoa New Zealand

INTRODUCTION: This paper discusses the situation of young carers, a population of children, young people and young adults who have received little attention in Aotearoa New Zealand social policy, social work practice and research.METHOD: The authors draw attention to the status and needs of this group through a review of literature and through their reflections, as two English-registered social workers, on practice with young carers in the United Kingdom.FINDINGS AND IMPLICATIONS: The paper argues that young carers are a vulnerable, invisible group who require recognition and respect. Using a children’s rights framework,it is suggested that more attention should be given by social workers to understanding the complexity of this role, and the rights of young carers as children under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Exploring US Federal Policy Discourse on Refugee Access to Post-secondary Education

Multiple refugee crises are taking place simultaneously in several regions of the world. Despite the fact that large numbers of refugees are children and youth, research on policy discourse related to the educational access of refugees beyond remains limited. This situation is particularly acute in the USA even though over 3 million refugees have resettled in that country over the course of the last three decades. In this paper, we take a policy-as-discourse approach (Ball in Education reform: a critical and post-structural approach, Open University Press, Philadelphia, 1994; Discourse Stud Cult Politics of Educ 36(3):306–313, 2015) to analyze policies related to post-secondary education access among refugees in the USA. This analysis reveals refugees’ status in US policy as an invisible group, frequently confounded with other groups under the euphemistic umbrella term “New American.” Moreover, in these policies, refugees are represented as economic burdens, and their economic independence is presented as the key priority of relevant US policies.

Letting him B: A study on the intersection of gender and sexual orientation in the workplace

Compared to the attention that gay male, lesbian, and even transgender employees have received in the last 30 years, research focused solely on bisexual employees is lacking. With the exception of a handful of studies, there have been surprisingly few attempts to both understand the potentially unique characteristics associated with a bisexual sexual orientation and also develop related psychological theory. The current study focuses on this often invisible and understudied population and examines both individual and organizational characteristics that theoretically and practically influence bisexual employees' workplace experiences. Our data reveal several important findings, the most striking of which is the divergence of experiences, attitudes, and outcomes between men and women who are bisexual. First, we found evidence of more bias against bisexual men than bisexual women. Second, our data show that bisexual men are less likely to disclose their sexual orientation at work both prior to and during employment. Third, bisexual men report experiencing more workplace discrimination than do bisexual women, and they also report increased minority stress, psychological distress, and substance use. Finally, we conducted a moderated mediation analysis for this population, examining employee gender, psychological distress, and substance use. We ultimately concluded that sexual orientation moderates these relations (with the exception of substance use), which are also serially mediated by “outness,” workplace discrimination, and minority stress. These findings suggest that the distinct experiences of bisexual employees, particularly men, may contribute to more negative work- and health-related outcomes for this invisible group as compared to their gay male and lesbian counterparts. We conclude with directions for future research, as well as theoretical and practical implications.

Students Voicing Collegiate Recovery

Young adults increasingly enter college with substance use addiction. Some may achieve recovery before setting their foot on a college campus whereas others during their college years. These students often struggle to maintain sobriety as they act out their daily lives because they find themselves in abstinence-hostile environments (Bugbee et al., 2016; Harris et al., 2008). This presentation will discuss students’ collegiate recovery experiences and will report on a photovoice project documenting students’ recovery experience and recovery management and support needs. Photovoice is a participatory social action method that uses photography to answer research questions (Wang, 2006); a photovoice exhibit, involving a gallery of participants’ photographs and linked narrative text to explicate the photos’ meaning, disseminates the findings. The presentation will focus on the narratives of students in recovery and attendees will obtain an in-depth understanding of recovery students’ experiences of stigma, shame and isolation, and marginalized social positions, which are intimately tied to their addiction histories. Students in recovery represent an invisible student group that struggles to access resources and needed healthcare services. The photovoice method can act as a powerful tool to empower marginalized students to share their recovery experiences and articulate their needs; ultimately providing a vehicle for structural-level and systemic change.

University student perspectives on institutional non-disclosure of disability and learning challenges: reasons for staying invisible

ABSTRACTStudents with disabilities (SWD) in Australian higher education need to disclose to their institution to access a range of ‘reasonable adjustments’ to support their learning. Nationally, 5.8% of the university population disclose their disability to their institution. It is suspected that there is a much larger population of students who choose non-disclosure, and therefore decide not to access support. Very little is known about the reasons for non-disclosure as this group represents a hidden population in higher education. The research reported here is based on a survey of undergraduate students in one regional Australian university where disability was reframed as ‘learning challenge’. This identified the institutionally non-disclosed group. This research identified that there were sound reasons for non-disclosure, students continually weigh up potential disclosure during their study, and students have difficulty with the disclosure process. We conclude that institutions need to understand that they have an invisible group of non-disclosing SWD in their student populations and that, to meet their learning challenges, universities need to support changes to policies, procedures and curriculum design.

Girl child soldiers: Towards a gender-sensitive approach?

Though the recruitment of child soldiers is a violation of universally accepted human rights and humanitarian law, hundreds of thousands of children participate in armed conflicts today all over the world. Among these child soldiers, girls are the most vulnerable group. Apart from actively participating in the conflict, they usually experience other grave human rights violations, including forced marriage and sexual abuse. Yet, they still constitute the most invisible group of those participating in armed conflicts. The paper aims to fill this gap and examines the current situation of girl child soldiers with particular attention to the post-conflict reconstruction process and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programmes. It builds on the assumption that the experience of girls is distinct from that of boys, and argues that a gender-sensitive approach has not yet been sufficiently incorporated into strategies. Therefore, the paper proposes the adoption of a distinct protection regime in international law and the recognition of the complexity of girl child soldier experiences during policy making. The implementation of this approach can lead to more efficient DDR programmes and higher participation rates, while it can also transform the public perception that places boys at the core of the child soldier phenomenon.