This diploma thesis is focused on issues of dance in relation to blind people. The goal of the thesis is to find out how to compensate for a blind person's lack of visual perception through dance. A secondary goal is to explore what dance means to blind people. The research is based on theoretical solutions obtained by analysis of available sources and based on research using qualitative strategies. To fulfill the research task, techniques of participant observation and interviews were used. From the data obtained through semi-structured interviews and observation of blind respondents in the framework of dance events, it has been found that dance is an effective form of stimulation and development of the compensatory senses of blind people. Most significantly dance influenced the participants' perception of their bodies, developing their capabilities and ability to respond to internal and external stimuli. The results of other interviews show that all blind participants have experience with dance. This experience is overwhelmingly positive. The survey confirms the importance of dance for blind people in the planes of their physical, mental and social faculties. KEY WORDS blindness, dance, compensation, perception, senses, movements, neuroplasticity

La plupart des méthodes projectives (Didier ANZIEU, Catherine CHABERT, 1961) ont comme support de travail la vue. Le processus haptique est-il suffisamment discriminatif pour valider la fiabilité de ce test sous ce mode ? Un étalonnage différencié respecte-t-il la valeur donnée à ce test par H. Rorschach ? Le sujet, en perdant la vue, va devoir mobiliser ou trouver des nouvelles ressources physiques et psychiques pour devenir autonome et poursuivre sa vie. Tout en lui est effracté : sa construction narcissique, sa représentation du monde et son altérité dans le regard de l’autre. Le Rorschach permet d’aborder la richesse psychique d’un sujet. Il nous donne à voir les potentialités psychiques du sujet dans sa relation à lui-même et aux autres. Or, il fait appel à une activité visuelle qui organise un matériel informel. C’est une activité imageante qui fait passer du perceptif au projectif, du perçu au vécu…Le toucher, dans certaines situations, peut être un relais de perception, de projection et donner à voir les représentations du sujet. Cette recherche peut permettre d’envisager une autre manière d’étalonner ce test afin de pouvoir le quantifier, le qualifier en changeant par exemple l’item « couleur » par l’item texture…Dans cette étude, il nous faut vérifier que cela n’enlève pas la valeur que donnait H. Rorschach à ce test, à cet item mais au contraire l’ouvre à une autre dimension clinique, celle d’une clinique spécifique du sujet mal ou non-voyant. En respectant un protocole spécifique, une telle passation permettrait une médiation pour le sujet en situation de handicap visuel vers une « meilleure » ré-élaboration de son projet de vie. Par ailleurs, cette étude pourrait ouvrir d’autres approches sur le dessin en relief et permettre notamment à toute une partie de la population vieillissante d’utiliser cette modalité dans la vie quotidienne, pour de nouveaux repères. / This research follows a study already begun in Master 1; it deals with the haptic process adapted to 3-dimensional Rorschach-plates. Is the haptic process sufficiently discriminating to validate the reliability of this test under this mode ? Does differentiated calibration respect the values given to this test by H. Rorschach ? After loss of sight, a subject is going to have to mobilize or find new physical and psychic resources to become autonomous and go on living. Everything in that person is broken: their narcissistic construction, their representation of the world and their differences in the eye of others. The Rorschach test allows us to approach a subject’s psychic wealth. It shows us the psychic potential of a subject in relation to himself and to others. Yet the Rorschach test calls on visual activity to organize an informal material. It is an activity based on images which leads one from the perceptive to the projective, from perceived to experienced. In certain situations, touch can be an intermediary for perception, for projection and can show how the subject is represented. Through this research, we can consider calibrating this test in another way in order to measure quantity and quality by changing “colour” for ‘texture’, for example. In this study, it is essential to verify that this does not remove the value given by H. Rorschach to this item in this test, but on the contrary opens it to other clinical dimensions, that specific of the blind or partially-sighted.Moreover, this study could open up new approaches to 3-dimensional drawings and allow a great part of the ageing population to use this method in daily life, to find new bearings. For instance, using certain textures to find one’s way around the flat by 3-dimensional pictograms.

Magister Public Health - MPH

Magister Public Health - MPH / BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE: The Cape Town Metro District Health Service (MDHS) has introduced a Diabetic RetinopathyScreening (DRS) programme incorporating retinal fundal photography in diabetic services at primary health care (PHC) facilities. Hitherto, coverage of the DRS programme has been less than optimal in part due to volumes of diabetic patients attending PHC facilities. The aim of this study was to identify possible sub-groups of patients, attending the Cape Town DRS Programme, who are at most risk of diabetic retinopathy and might be prioritised for early diabetic retinopathy detection and subsequent sight-saving treatment. METHODOLOGY: A case-control study of risk factors for treatment-requiring diabetic retinopathy was conducted. This research sampled participants from the DRS programme provided by the MDHS eye care team to Type II diabetics attending public PHC facilities within the Klipfontein and Mitchells Plain Sub-Districts. Based on fundal images, cases were selected as those requiring ophthalmological treatment; and controls (three matched per case by area of residence) as those judged as not requiring ophthalmological treatment for diabetic retinopathy. Data on possible risk factors (clinical, laboratory) were extracted from the patients' folders. RESULT: The study included 453 participants, of whom 113 (24.9%) were cases and 340 (75.1%) were controls. Three factors were significantly associated with treatment-requiring diabetic retinopathy on multivariate analysis: Insulin dependency (OR of 2.96, 95% CI: 1.75 – 5.00); duration of diabetes of more than 10 years (OR of 3.44, 95% CI: 2.06 – 5.74) and sustained hyperglycaemia over the past six months (OR of 3.73, 95% CI: 1.69 – 8.22). A screening algorithm combining these criteria had a sensitivity of 61.2% (95% CI: 51.9 – 70.5). CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that a sub-set of patients attending the DRS programme in the Klipfontein and Mitchells Plain Sub-Districts have a greater likelihood of presenting with treatment-requiring diabetic retinopathy. Further research is required to develop a tool that is sufficiently sensitive to safely prioritise patients for fundal screening. / National Research Foundation (NRF)

This research is based on a case study of a former all-white Afrikaans secondary school situated in Pretoria in the Gauteng province of South Africa. The aim of this case study was to investigate and report on the complex and dynamic communicative interactions that were apparent in the events, human relationships and other elements as they unfolded and revealed themselves in desegregated classrooms in this school. I utilised an interpretive qualitative research design as my guiding methodology. This incorporated the use of semi-structured interviews, observation, video recordings, and narrative inquiry as sources of rich and layered data. My object of research was the patterns of communicative interaction that occurred between teachers and learners and between learners. My goal was to obtain a clear analytical view of the ways in which teachers and learners from diverse racial, cultural and ethnic backgrounds interacted with one another in the classroom. For this purpose I made use of multiple methods of data collection and included a variety of techniques that enabled me to triangulate the findings so as to ensure the credibility and trustworthiness of the empirical investigation. An analysis of the findings revealed that the school in which the study was conducted was beset by challenges that created communication barriers between teachers and learners and between learners and learners. Such barriers to communication became evident in the use of language, in the school’s failure to accommodate cultural differences, in the dynamics of class participation, in the use of both verbal and nonverbal forms of communication and in the prevalence of racism. However, some of the teachers and learners were conscious of these challenges and attitudes and strove to create a non-racist environment in their school that would negate the effects of the racist paradigm wherever possible. The study suggests that there is a need for the South African government to take the initiative to support all desegregated schools in various practical ways if the effects of racism are not to be passed onto the next generation of adults in our country. Copyright / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

Countless articles and monographs have been published which have paid attention to the various themes in Mark’s Gospel. However, to date there is no publication that attempts to understand the theme ‘unbelief’ in Mark’s Gospel. This study attempts to investigate the literary-theological functions of unbelief as a theme in Mark. This approach is based on the exegetical perspective of several passages (2:1-12; 3:1-6; 4:35-41; 6:1-6; 8:14-21; 9:14-29; 11:27-33; 15:27-32) in which the theme of unbelief appears. Given this approach, it becomes clear that, although at different points of his Gospel, Mark applies the term ‘unbelief’ used to depict Jesus’ opponents to the disciples as well, he distinguishes between the two groups. This applies also to his description of the unbelief of both the groups. The opponents’ unbelief does not mean primarily a lack of insight, but rather a conscious refusal to believe Jesus’ claims and demands. Throughout Mark’s Gospel the opponents, due to their hardened hearts, they are ever seeing and hearing but never understanding (3:5; 4:12). Similar to 1QS 3:18-21, in Mark 4:15 the fundamental source of the opponents’ rejection is the result of Satan-inspired opposition (1QS 3:18-21; Mark 4:15) Since Satan prevents the opponents from listening to Jesus’ message, they do not understand it and reject him and eventually bring about his death (3:6). Thus, to the opponents, Jesus’ salient teachings and miracles have only produced rejecting questions, rather than belief (cf. 3:6, 21, 22-29, 30-31; 6:1-6). Therefore, their obstinate rejection necessarily excludes them from obtaining forgiveness of God. However, if they repent of their sins and accept His prophetic message, they will gain God’s forgiveness as a benefit in the Kingdom (cf. 12:34). On the other hand, the disciples’ unbelief, unlike the opponents’ unbelief, does not consist in the wilful rejection of Jesus. But, the disciples’ unbelief implies their failure to believe in Jesus’ identity (4:35-41; 6:45-52; 8:14-21; 9:14-29 etc.) shown in his teachings and actions. The disciples are in danger of being the outsiders whose hearts were hardened, having eyes but not seeing, and ears but not hearing (8:17-18; cf. 3:5; 4:11-12). Although the hardness of heart, which is associated with Jesus’ opponents, is also attributed to the disciples, the use of this term is not meant to suggest that the disciples have sided with the opponent of Jesus. Rather, it is indicative of an attempt by Jesus, by bombarding them with a series of rhetorical questions, to warn his disciples who are in mortal danger of succumbing to the same unbelief that has afflicted the opponents. Thus, unlike a direct statement regarding the opponents’ hardness of heart in 3:5 and 4:12, the disciples’ hardness of heart is obliquely described through rhetorical questions in 8:17-18. The theological perspective that is presented in the theme of unbelief in Mark is that an attempt is made to emphasize faith, which stands literally in contrast to unbelief. Through speech acts concerning unbelief, Mark emphasizes the fact that those who are the true disciples must follow Jesus with faith under difficult circumstance. For this purpose, he uses specific individuals as examples (the woman with a haemorrhage, Jairus, the paralytic, and the Syrophoenician woman) who respond to Jesus’ demand with faith and spiritual insight, in order to move Christians toward faith or trust in him along with a perceptiveness of his identity. / Thesis (PhD (New Testament Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / New Testament Studies / unrestricted

In recent years, concern about a new epidemic of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) has focused attention on the increasing incidence of the disease and the factors responsible for its most severe consequences. Two studies designed to address these issues were done using data from three sources: the B.C. Health Surveillance Registry (Registry), Physicians's Notices of Livebirth (PNOB), and the Vancouver General Hospital (VGH). In the first study, Registry and PNOB records were used to determine crude annual birth weight-specific incidence rates for ROP in infants liveborn in the Province of British Columbia (B.C.) in the period 1952-1983. These rates showed that, in B.C., the original epidemic of the disease ended in 1954. Linear regression lines fitted for each of four birth weight categories showed that, in the 29 year period after 1954, there was a significant increase in the incidence of ROP-induced blindness in infants weighing less than 1000 grams at birth. To refine this observation, the data were sub-divided: the 29 year period, to two smaller periods, 1955-1964 and 1965-1983; the less than 1000 gram birth weight category to two sub-categories, 500-749 and 750-999 grams. Since the inter-period incidence should have been similar if the birth weight-specific incidence had not changed since the end of the original epidemic, the crude weight-specific rates for ROP-induced blindness in the early period were used to calculate the expected number of cases in the later period. When weight-standardized incidence ratios (SIR's) and 95% confidence limits were calculated, the results showed that, in the 750-999 gram sub-category, the SIR was significantly increased. Infants born in the period 1965-1983 were 3.07 times more likely to be ROP: blind than their equal weight counterparts in the earlier period. In infants weighing 500-749 and 1000 grams or more, there was no evidence to suggest an increase in incidence after 1954. The second study was done to determine the cofactors that differentiate infants who are blinded by ROP from those who are not. Infants were included if (i) they were born in B.C. between 1955 and 1983, (ii) they were known to the Registry as being ROP: blind (cases) or not blind (controls), and (iii) they were born in or admitted to the VGH within 28 days of birth. When the data from all three data sources were dichotomized and analyzed using univariate techniques, two variables, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and neonatal weight loss, showed a significantly protective effect. The effect of RDS disappeared when the data were stratified by birth interval indicating that the observed association was confounded by time. When the variables were reanalyzed in continuous form, none were significantly associated with visual outcome. However, since the power of the cofactor study was extremely low, none of the variables that were included can be eliminated as potential cofactors for the induction of blindness in infants with ROP. / Medicine, Faculty of / Population and Public Health (SPPH), School of / Graduate

No description available.

Orientador: Eder Pires de Camargo / Resumo: O objetivo geral desta pesquisa foi compreender quais elementos estão presentes no discurso das Pessoas Cegas percebem o Universo e os seus fenômenos. Especificamente buscou-se identificar as formas de percepção sobre o Universo e analisar essas percepções. O referencial teórico que conduziu a pesquisa, assentou-se na Análise de Discurso de linha francesa, sustentada por três pilares epistemológicos: a) a linguística; b) o materialismo dialético; c) a psicanálise. Neste sentido, não cabe ao investigador interpretar, mas sim compreender os discursos dos sujeitos e a sua formação discursiva. Logo a pesquisa teve finalidade descritiva, não tentando explicar como os sujeitos Cegos formulam suas representações sobre o Universo, mas sim descrever essas percepções. Assim, optou-se pela arquegenealogia foucaultiana como mecanismo de pesquisa, com abordagem indutiva, a partir de entrevistas narrativas com duas pessoas cegas desde o nascimento, mas já na fase adulta, sujeitos cegos adultos, por possuírem um referencial mais extenso. A pesquisa verificou que o repertório sensorial tátil foi insignificante para a constituição da cosmopercepção das pessoas invisuais, visto que as discursividades dos dois sujeitos participantes da pesquisa, a epistemologia da pessoa cega está fundamentalmente relacionada à linguagem. Isso revela que não formulamos conceitos in natura, pois estamos todos interdependentes do que os outros nos dizem para nos constituir como realmente somos. Conclui-se ainda q... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The general objective of this research was to understand how Blind People perceive the Universe and its phenomena. Specifically sought to identify the forms of perception about the universe and analyze these perceptions. The theoretical framework that conducted the research was based on the French Discourse Analysis, which is supported by three epistemological pillars: a) linguistics; b) dialectical materialism; c) psychoanalysis. In this sense, it is not for the researcher to interpret, but to understand the discourses of the subjects and their discursive formation. Therefore the research had a descriptive purpose, not trying to explain how the blind subjects formulate their representations about the universe, but rather to describe these perceptions. Thus, Foucault's archegenealogy was chosen as a research mechanism, with an inductive approach, based on narrative interviews with two blind people from birth, but already in adulthood, blind adult subjects, because they have a more extensive reference. Research has shown that the tactile sensory repertoire was insignificant for the constitution of the cosmoperception of blind people, since analyzing the discursivities of the two subjects participating in the research, the epistemology of the blind person is fundamentally related to language. This reveals that we do not formulate concepts in natura, for we are all interdependent on what others tell us to constitute us as we really are. It is also concluded that, even in the fac... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

In this research we introduce a novel reading system that enables Individuals with Blindness<br />or Severe Visual Impairment (IBSVI) to have equivalent spatial reading experience to their<br />sighted counterparts, in terms of being able to engage in different reading strategies e.g.<br />scanning, skimming, and active reading. IBSVI are enabled to read in a self-paced manner<br />with spatial access to the original layout of any electronic text document. This system<br />renders text on iPad-type devices, and reads aloud each word touched by the user\'s finger.<br />The user could move her finger smoothly along the lines to read continuously with the<br />support of tactile landmarks. A tactile overlay on the iPad screen helps IBSVI to navigate<br />a page, furnishing a framework of tactile landmarks to give IBSVI a sense of place on the<br />page. As the user moves her finger along the tangible pattern of the overlay, the text on the<br />screen that is touched is rendered audibly to speech. The system supports IBSVI to develop<br />and maintain a cognitive map of the structure and the layout of the page. IBSVI are enabled<br />to fuse audio, tactile landmarks, and spatial information in order to read.<br />The system\'s initial design is founded on a theoretical hypothesis. A participatory design<br />approach with IBSVI consultants was then applied to refine the initial design. The re"fined<br />design was tested in a usability study, which revealed two major issues with the tested<br />design. These issues are related to the lack of instant feedback from the system (psycho-<br />motorical problem), and the lack of conveying the semantic level of the page structure.<br />We adapted the reader design to solve the usability problems. The improved design was<br />tested in an experience sampling study. The results showed a leap in the system usability.<br />IBSVI participants successfully self-paced read spatial text. Further reading support was<br />then added to the system to improve the user experience while reading and interacting with<br />the system. We tested the latest design of the reader system with respect to its featured<br />function of enabling self-paced reading and re-finding information. A decomposition study<br />was conducted to evaluate the main components of the system; the tactile overlay, and the<br />intelligent active reading support. The results showed that both components are required<br />to achieve the best performance in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, and spatial perception.<br />We conducted an evaluation study to compare our reader system to the state-of-the-art<br />iBook with VoiceOver. The results show that our reader system is more effective than iBook<br />with VoiceOver in finding previously read information and in estimating the layout of the<br />page, implying that IBSVI were able to construct a cognitive map for the pages they read,<br />and perform advanced reading strategies. Our goal is to to enable IBSVI to access digital<br />reading materials effectively, so that they may have equal learning opportunities as their<br />sighted counterparts. / Ph. D.