Thesis (M. A. (Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / The aim of this study was to determine the psychological experiences of family caregivers of children with an intellectual disability. The study was conducted along the lines of an exploratory sequential mixed-method design. Firstly, 15 family caregivers were purposively sampled as participants. They described their experiences of caring for children with a formal diagnosis of mild intellectual disability. The research question, which was used as a “grand-tour” question, was: “What are the psychological experiences of family caregivers of children with an intellectual disability?” Themes that emerged included the following: understanding intellectual disability; disclosure of the disability as a result of schooling difficulties; reaction to the disclosure of the disability; challenging behaviour of the child’s integration into the family system, unemployment and financial strains due to the child’s condition and community reaction; social support and stigmatisation. In the quantitative aspect of the study, the researcher used a close-ended questionnaire to collect data from one hundred self-declared primary family caregivers (one per household) of children with an intellectual disability. Results of regression analysis indicated that psychological wellbeing as measured by the Psychological General Well Being Index and its dimensions was predicted mainly by psychological stress and family support. Significant other support and support from friends only predicted life satisfaction. Policy recommendations are advanced based on the findings of the study.

The diploma thesis "Information literacy lessons and persons with mental disabilities in libraries of the Czech Republic" brings besides the basic concepts in the mental disablilities and information literacy field also their mutual context in the information education field. Further it presents results of the questionnaire survey, which focused on mapping of services for persons with mental disabilities in libraries in the Czech Republic and it brings a concept of a complex solution to providing these services in the Czech Republic.

This dissertation titled "Special catechesis. Theory and Practice" explores the methods of teaching religion to mentally handicapped children. The research focuses on the presentation of theoretical and practical methods introduced by D, Jucha, J. Madeja, D.Doroszewka, B. Janosz and other significant Polish catechists. The theoretical part, besides a systematicly processed terminology also deals with the actual content and the main aim of special-care catechesis. In addition, it provides an interpretation the dignity of man as it can be found in some church archives. Last, but not least, attention is drawn to the important role of families, parishes and catechists. The second, practical, part is inspired by the methods of B. Janosz - whether it is put to creative use along with new teaching materials as well as new communication tools that motivate mentally handicapped children for active participation in special-care classes. The author of this study concluded that even the weakest must be provided adequate catechesis as every human being, no matter how limited, is capable of growth to sanctity. These people feel the need and are entitled to life in faith. There is a need for oligo-catechesis and it is unquestionable.

Diploma thesis "The influence of the activities of non-profit sector on the quality of life of people with mental retardation" is concerned with the analysis of the area of social services for people with mental retardation. The thesis aims at characterising the current position of the non-profit sector in meeting the needs of people with mental retardation, identifying problem areas and proposing recommendations, which could support the activities of the non-profit sector in this area. Methods such as institutional framework analysis, stakeholder analysis, interview with experts and stakeholders and questionnaire survey in NGOs are used. The issue of mental retardation is based on the theory of needs, the quality of life concept and the concept of human rights. The role of the non-profit sector is analysed in a broader institutional and social context. The availability of social services provided by NGOs for people with mental retardation in the Czech Republic is investigated and the main spheres of activities of NGOs according to the services provided are indentified. The description of examples of good practice follows. In the next part the relations between non-profit sector and state are analysed. Recommendations leading to improving the system of social services for people with mental retardation are...

The Diploma Thesis "Utilization of art therapy methods and techniques in social services for mentally disabled people" deals with topic of art therapy and its elements which are used while working with mentally disabled people. The thesis defines the term art therapy and describes art therapy methods and techniques which are used in social services for mentally disabled people. Object of the thesis is to ascertain to what extent art therapy methods and techniques are utilized while working with mentally disabled people and whether these methods and techniques help to develop mentally disabled people. The theoretical part of the thesis defines the term art therapy and its position in a system of coordinated rehabilitation. It also describes the history of art therapy, its forms and possibilities of utilization of colors in art therapy. The other part of the theoretical part defines mental retardation and its classification and social services for mentally retarded people are described here as well. In the end, the theoretical part is devoted to art therapy methods and techniques. The practical part of the thesis deals with two researches. The quantitative one which was performed with mentally retarded people ascertains whether mentally retarded people like using art therapy methods and techniques...

The object of the research was the hardiness of adolescents with mental retardation. The subject of the research was the personal characteristics, manifestations of hardiness, as well as features of the coping-strategies choice of adolescents with mental retardation. The master's thesis consists of an introduction, two chapters, conclusion, list of references (153 sources) and an Appendix, including the test results forms for the subjects, as well as the results of mathematical data processing performed in the SPSS Statistic program. The volume of the master's thesis is 158 pages, which contains 4figures and 32 tables. In conclusion, the results of the theoretical and empirical parts of the work, as well as conclusions on the hypotheses put forward, the practical significance of the study and the possible prospects for further development of this problem are described in a generalized form. / Объектом исследования явилась жизнестойкость подростков с задержкой психического развития. Предметом исследования стали личностные характеристики, проявления жизнестойкости, а также особенности выбора стратегий совладающего поведения подростков с задержкой психического развития. Магистерская диссертация состоит из введения, двух глав, заключения, списка литературы (153 источника) и двух приложений, включающих в себя бланки с результатами тестирования для испытуемых, а также результаты математической обработки данных, выполненные в программе SPSS Statistic. Объем магистерской диссертации 158 страниц, на которых размещены 4 рисунка и 32 таблица. В заключении в обобщенном виде изложены результаты теоретической и эмпирической частей работы, а также выводы по выдвинутым гипотезам, обоснована практическая значимость исследования и описаны возможные перспективы дальнейшей разработки данной проблематики.

В диссертации рассмотрены особенности психического и физического развития, а также двигательные способности детей с умственной отсталостью. Разработана программа коррекции координационных способностей посредством игры в бочче. Предложенная программа может быть рекомендована преподавателям адаптивного физического воспитания, педагогам дополнительного образования, воспитателям группы продленного дня, работающим с детьми 12-15 лет с умственной отсталостью. / The dissertation examines the mental and physical development as well as motor abilities of children with intellectual disabilities. A programme for the correction of coordination abilities by playing bocce has been developed. The proposed programme can be recommended to teachers of adaptive physical education, teachers of additional education, educators of day-care groups, working with 12-15 years old children with mental retardation.

No description available.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The implementation of eugenic policies reached its peak during the zo" century when thousands of people with intellectual disabilities and other "undesirable qualities" were involuntary sterilized. Although most of the eugenic policies have been removed, countries such as South Africa, still make legally provision for the involuntary sterilization of people with intellectual disabilities. Torbjërn Tannsjë (1998) used the "argument from autonomy" to argue that involuntary sterilization practices are wrong because it involves compulsion. According to him, society should never interfere with people's reproductive choices and people should never be required to qualify for the right to have children. The aim of this assignment was to systematically assess the "argument from autonomy" as far as the policy of involuntary sterilization of people with intellectual disabilities is concerned. To this end, the concept of autonomy and the principle of respect for autonomy are discussed and applied to the intellectually disabled. It is argued that autonomy and respect for autonomy are useful concepts to apply to some people with intellectual disabilities. These individuals should not be automatically assumed to be incompetent, but their competence needs to be determined on an individual level, with reference to the complexity of the decision to be made. Special effort is needed from health care professionals to obtain (where possible) informed consent from people with intellectual disabilities. The application of the principle of respect for autonomy to matters of reproduction leads to the conclusion that people with severe to profound levels of disability, are unable to provide informed consent for sexual intercourse. Therefore some form of paternalistic protection is needed for these individuals. People with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities who are however competent to consent to sexual intercourse should never be prohibited from procreation by means of involuntary sterilization. State interference in matters of reproduction should be limited to interventions where (i) children are seriously harmed by parents and (ii) to protect those who are incompetent to consent to sexual interactions with others. Apart from these exceptions, the intellectually disabled is entitled to the same procreative rights as all other citizens. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die implementering van eugenetiese beleid het gedurende die 20 ste eeu 'n hoogtepunt bereik met die onwillekeurige sterilisering van duisende persone met intellektuele gestremdhede en ander "ongewensde kwaliteite". Alhoewel meeste van die eugenetiese wetgewing verwyder is, maak lande soos Suid-Afrika steeds wetlik voorsiening vir die onwillekeurige sterilisasie van persone met intellektuele gestremdhede. Torbjërn Tannsjo (1998) maak gebruik van die "outonomie argument" om te argumenteer dat onwillekeurige sterilisasie praktyke onaanvaarbaar is omdat dit dwang bevat. Hy voer aan dat die samelewing nooit in die reproduktiewe keuses van mense behoort in te meng nie en dat dit nooit vir mense nodig moet wees om vir ouerskap te kwalifiseer nie. Die doel van hierdie werkstuk was om sistematies die "outonomie argument" te analiseer ten opsigte van die beleid van die onwillekeurige sterilisasie van persone met intellektuele gestremdhede. Met hierdie doel voor oë word die konsep outonomie en die beginsel van respek vir outonomie bespreek en toegepas op die intellektueel gestremde persoon. Daar word aangevoer dat outonomie en respek vir outonomie nuttige beginsels is om in ag te neem in kwessies rakende intellektueel gestremdes. Hierdie individue moet nie outomaties as onbevoeg beskou word nie, maar hul bevoegdheid moet eerder op 'n individuele basis beoordeel word, inaggeneem die kompleksiteit van die besluit wat geneem moet word. Voorts word daar van gesondheidsorgpersoneel verwag om moeite te doen met die verkryging van oorwoê toestemming (waar moontlik) by persone met intellektuele gestremdhede. Die toepassing van die beginsel van respek vir outonomie op aspekte rakende reproduksie, lei tot die gevolgtrekking dat persone met ernstige intellektuele gestremdhede nie in staat is om toestemming tot seksuele omgang te verleen nie. Dus, is 'n vorm van paternalistiese beskerming in hierdie gevalle aangedui. Persone met intellektuele gestremdhede wat egter wel bevoeg is om toestemming tot seksuele omgang te verleen, moet nooit weerhou word van voortplanting deur middel van onwillekeurige sterilisering nie. Inmenging deur die staat in kwessies rakende reproduksie moet beperk word tot intervensies waar (i) kinders ernstige skade berokken word en (ii) die beskerming van persone wat onbevoeg is om toestemming tot seksuele interaksies met ander te verleen, benodig word. Afgesien hiervan, is die intellektuele gestremde persoon geregtig op dieselfde reproduktiewe regte as alle ander landsburgers.

Dans le domaine de la déficience intellectuelle, des relations de nature partenariale entre les parents et les intervenants sont maintenant souhaitées. D’ailleurs, les avantages d’établir un partenariat dans les relations entre les parents et les intervenants ne sont plus à démontrer. Pourtant, les écrits portant sur ce sujet dressent un portrait où le partenariat est plutôt absent des relations entre les intervenants et les parents. En situation d’hébergement, le partenariat entre les parents et les intervenants est encore plus pertinent puisqu’il constitue un facteur influençant positivement l’implication des parents auprès de leur enfant ayant une déficience intellectuelle. Par contre, le sujet spécifique des relations entre les intervenants et les parents de personnes ayant une déficience intellectuelle en contexte d’hébergement a été peu exploré dans les écrits. Dans le cadre du présent mémoire, une recherche qualitative a été menée afin de connaître la perception de parents d’adultes ayant une déficience intellectuelle de leurs relations avec les intervenants dans un contexte d’hébergement. Dix parents ont donc été rencontrés en entrevue. Les objectifs de cette recherche étaient de qualifier, à partir de la perception de parents, la nature des relations qu’ils entretiennent avec les intervenants et de cibler les facteurs qui influencent leurs relations. / In the mental retardation field, partnership relationships between parents and caregivers are now a must. In fact, the advantages of a partnership in the relationships between parents and caregivers no longer need to be validated. Still, written documents on this subject usually depict a picture of a partnership that is somewhat lacking in the relationships between the caregivers and the parents. This partnership between caregivers and parents is even more important in foster homes settings as it strongly influences the parents’ involvement in the life of their child with learning disabilities. However, the actual subject of relationships between caregivers and parents of adult children with mental retardation in foster homes settings has been seldom documented. This thesis required a qualitative research be made to better understand the perception of parents of adult children with mental retardation with respect to their relationship with the caregivers in a foster home setting. Ten parents were interviewed. The purpose of this research was to better qualify, according to the parents’ perception, the type of relationships they have with the caregivers and to identify the factors that influence these relationships. The results showed that most parents are satisfied with their relationships with their adult child’s caregivers. The description they give of their relationships brings us to conclude that there is in fact a partnership. From an ecological analysis, we have grouped these factors according to different systems. The familial systemic model also enabled us to analyze the factors at a deeper level. Amongst the identified factors, some are more important than others. First, there is the factor that caregivers recognize the importance of the parents’ contribution. Then, there is the factor that the parents notice a sense of well-being in their child. Finally, there is the factor that the parents are able to voice their point of view and their expectations.