Masculinity is considered to be a fundamental aspect of a male identity while living with a disability has a negative impact on the construction of this identity. The notion of masculinity has been highly influenced by Connell’s idea of hegemonic masculinity which claims that masculinity is not fixed but is fluid and hierarchical in nature (Connell, 1995; 2000). The construction of masculinity introduces the notion of “masculinities” rather than a “single” universal masculinity. The idea of masculinities contends that one masculinity tends to dominate other masculinities within a particular social context. For men living with disabilities this has resulted in the subjugation of their masculine identity because of the negative attitudes and assumptions attached to living with a disability. As a result of masculinity being constructed differently with each social context as well as the construction of a disabled identity, there is a need to explore this occurrence within the university environment. This study explores how blind male students construct and negotiate their masculinity within the university environment. To evaluate how blind male students construct their masculinity, the construction and experiences of their masculinity and their sexuality was explored. The barriers and enablers experienced by blind male students in the process of performing an acceptable masculinity and sexuality were explored. This study used a sample of 7 blind male students. All participants were recruited from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College campus. A qualitative research design was used as a method of investigation. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and it was analysed thematically. The participants brought forward the negative attitudes and assumptions held by sighted male students that are contiguous to blindness. These attitudes and assumptions were directed mainly to their sexuality and sexual relationships. To mitigate the subordination of these important aspects of their masculinity, the findings put forward that blind male students take on different positions in opposition to hegemonic masculinity. Ordinary position, reformulation of the standards of masculinity, rebellious position, reliance and subordination of masculinity emerged as different positions that used by blind male students in the process of negotiation their masculinity. Therefore this study gives evidence that blind male students position themselves inconsistently in relation to hegemonic standards masculinity. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

Thesis (M. Div.)--St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-101).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2006. / "August, 2006." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 17-18). Online version available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2004. / Supervisor: Keith Turner. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-115).

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston University / The purpose of the writer is to create public understanding about the social, educational and economic needs of the blind in India; to build up a program for the quick amelioration of their sad condition and to provide for free and compulsory basic education and vocational training of blind children and young adults along with the sighted, in accordance with their individual talents and aptitude.

An experimental reading machine for the blind has been built to test a proposed multidimensional audible code. This device, patterned after the popular Optophone reader, can generate either the multidimensional code or a simulated version of the Optophone code. The results of tests carried out with two blind subjects show that multidimensionally-encoded letters and words can be learned and "read" with reasonable accuracy, even when entirely different dimensions of the code are utilized. A comparative evaluation of the multidimensional and Optophone codes, based on the performance of 52 sighted persons, suggests that the multidimensional code provides a better basis for letter discrimination. A detailed study of the discrete print signals produced by this machine is presented. The results of this study suggest that this particular print scanning system does not lend itself to automatic letter recognition, but that, with some pre-processing of the print information, some optimization of the audible code can be achieved. It is also demonstrated that the information produced by this machine is highly redundant, and that the discrete nature of the print translation process may psychologically limit the maximum reading speed, regardless of the audible code employed. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of / Graduate

A compact reading machine ("Lexiphone") has been designed and constructed to convert printed letters into a pattern of sounds. The machine reads by direct translation of vertical sections of the letters, according to a recently developed code. In this code, the "melody" produced is independent of the vertical position of the reading head ; however the user is given an indication (mean pitch) of the vertical position to-facilitate tracking along a line of print. The discrete nature of the direct translation process limits the theoretically possible reading rates. Tests with artificially generated codes were performed to investigate this limit, and it is expected that the limit will be above that for Morse Code-- 60 to 70 words per minute. This would be adequate for practical use. Tests performed at Haskins Laboratories predicted similar performance for other machines, such as the optophone⁽⁴⁾. However, practical users of the "Battelle Optophone", the most refined version of the optophone, attained only 25 words per minute (on Grade I reading material) after an extensive course⁽⁸⁾ . It is suggested that this was due to the difficulty in the earlier machines of producing repeatable versions of the code. Code sounds from the present Lexiphone prototype were found to be very consistent and repeatable, and should allow the predicted reading rates to be approached. Practical reading results with the machine are presented. At the time of writing, a subject training with the machine is reading two-page passages of Grade III material at 30 words per minute, and her performance is still improving. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of / Graduate

This investigation studied the degree of spatial data that could be perceived by subjects, through the use of echolocation, who were led through an indoor environment and verbally reported their spatial perceptions. The experimental group was composed of 5 totally blind and severely visually impaired subjects and the control group had 11 sighted subjects who were under blindfold. Each subject was led through the space, using the sighted guide technique, and the subject would click a clicker and attempt to perceive spatial data through echolocation. The space had 25 preselected reference points in it, and the experimental subjects averaged 20.2 correct responses and the control subjects 7.727 for an overall mean of 11.3125. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

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