The study explored how a practitioner and a teacher accommodated children living with cerebral palsy in Grade R, also referred to as the reception year, at two special schools, especially how they adapted the environment and used assistive devices. Cerebral Palsy is the most common form of a neurological disorder that appears in infancy or early childhood, permanently affecting body movement and muscle coordination. Research has illuminated that early specialist intervention such as assistive devices, augmentative and alternative commutation methods and assistive technology can make the world of difference to the future of the child. My research afforded me the opportunity to observe the children in Grade R living with cerebral palsy, with the practitioner and the teacher in their natural setting at school level. I followed the deductive paradigm, and adopted a case study design. The use of assistive devices and argumentative and alternative communication has historically been the domain of occupational-, speech- and physiotherapists. With the introduction of inclusive education and the new screening, identification, assessment and support policy to be conducted in all Grade R classes at all schools in South Africa, my research will be beneficial to mainstream and full-service schools, as well as special schools. Young children living with cerebral palsy will be included in all these schools and will need support from expert teachers and practitioners, who are knowledgeable about their requirements for an adapted environment and the use of assistive devices and augmentative and alternative communication methods. The study found that the Grade R staff at the special schools were knowledgeable, but their knowledge was superficial, their classrooms lacked adapted toys, and assistive technology was non-existent. Teachers and practitioners need practical training on the importance of movement for children living with cerebral palsy and the training should emphasize that experiencing the world through assistive devices alleviates barriers to learning and development. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

Introdução:O comprometimento de determinados grupos musculares e alterações sensório motoras são algumas das características apresentadas por crianças com paralisia cerebral, fazendo-se necessária a utilização de andadores e estabilizadores para auxiliar no ortostatismo e na marcha desses pacientes. Atualmente, existem equipamentos que favorecem estes aspectos, porém o custo ainda é bastante alto, tornando-os inacessíveis a uma grande parcela da população. Com o intuito de se apresentar uma alternativa de qualidade e custo reduzido, desenvolveu-se na UTFPR um andador/ estabilizador baseado no protocolo PediaSuit™, confeccionado em PVC. O suporte é dado através de elastômeros fixados a um cinto, permitindo assim uma marcha mais próxima do natural. Objetivo: Avaliar a marcha e a postura de crianças com Paralisia Cerebral a partir do uso de uma Unidade Terapêutica Domiciliar de baixo custo e baixa mecanização. Método: Foram realizados testes visando analisar a resistência mecânica do material utilizado e ensaios com o protótipo construído. O PVC mostrou ser um material com alta resistência nos testes de flexão e impacto. A massa máxima suportada pelo andador no teste realizado foi de aproximadamente 226 kg. Após a avaliação do equipamento, três crianças foram filmadas utilizando o andador em PVC e um andador comum. Aspectos da marcha e da postura foram avaliados por trinta fisioterapeutas através desses vídeos.Resultados: O andador em PVC apresentou melhores resultados em relação a todos os aspectos da marcha avaliados, promovendo uma deambulação mais próxima do normal. Em relação à resistência mecânica, os ensaios mostram que o PVC Ø32mm é um material adequado para a confecção de equipamentos de tecnologia assistiva, por ser capaz de suportar cargas elevadas sem se romper. A utilização desse material também proporcionou uma redução significativa no custo final do equipamento / Introduction: The involvement of certain muscle groups and sensorimotor deficits are some of the characteristics displayed by children with cerebral palsy, making necessary the use of stabilizers and gait trainers to assist posture and gait of those patients. There are assistive technology devices that promote these aspects, but the cost is still quite high, making them inaccessible to most people. In order to present an alternative with lower cost, a PVC stabilizer/ gait trainer based on PediaSuit™ protocol was developed at UTFPR and Vitória Research Center. The support is provided by elastomers fixed to a belt, thereby allowing a more natural gait pattern. Objective: To evaluate the gait and posture of children with cerebral palsy during the use of a low cost/ low mechanization Therapy Unit Homecare. Method: Some tests were carried out to determine the strength of the prototype and the material itself. PVC proved to be a material with high strength in bending and impact tests. The maximum mass supported by the walker in the test conducted was approximately 226 kg. After evaluating the equipment, images of three children using a reguar gait trainer and the PVC home care unit were taken. Aspects of gait and posture were analysed by thirty physiotherapists through these videos. Results: The PVC home care unit showed better results in regarding all aspects of gait evaluated by promoting closer to normal gait. The mechanical strength tests show that PVC Ø32mm is a suitable material for fabrication of assistive technology equipment, to be able to withstand high loads without breaking. The use of this material also provided a significant reduction in the final cost of the product.

Introdução:O comprometimento de determinados grupos musculares e alterações sensório motoras são algumas das características apresentadas por crianças com paralisia cerebral, fazendo-se necessária a utilização de andadores e estabilizadores para auxiliar no ortostatismo e na marcha desses pacientes. Atualmente, existem equipamentos que favorecem estes aspectos, porém o custo ainda é bastante alto, tornando-os inacessíveis a uma grande parcela da população. Com o intuito de se apresentar uma alternativa de qualidade e custo reduzido, desenvolveu-se na UTFPR um andador/ estabilizador baseado no protocolo PediaSuit™, confeccionado em PVC. O suporte é dado através de elastômeros fixados a um cinto, permitindo assim uma marcha mais próxima do natural. Objetivo: Avaliar a marcha e a postura de crianças com Paralisia Cerebral a partir do uso de uma Unidade Terapêutica Domiciliar de baixo custo e baixa mecanização. Método: Foram realizados testes visando analisar a resistência mecânica do material utilizado e ensaios com o protótipo construído. O PVC mostrou ser um material com alta resistência nos testes de flexão e impacto. A massa máxima suportada pelo andador no teste realizado foi de aproximadamente 226 kg. Após a avaliação do equipamento, três crianças foram filmadas utilizando o andador em PVC e um andador comum. Aspectos da marcha e da postura foram avaliados por trinta fisioterapeutas através desses vídeos.Resultados: O andador em PVC apresentou melhores resultados em relação a todos os aspectos da marcha avaliados, promovendo uma deambulação mais próxima do normal. Em relação à resistência mecânica, os ensaios mostram que o PVC Ø32mm é um material adequado para a confecção de equipamentos de tecnologia assistiva, por ser capaz de suportar cargas elevadas sem se romper. A utilização desse material também proporcionou uma redução significativa no custo final do equipamento / Introduction: The involvement of certain muscle groups and sensorimotor deficits are some of the characteristics displayed by children with cerebral palsy, making necessary the use of stabilizers and gait trainers to assist posture and gait of those patients. There are assistive technology devices that promote these aspects, but the cost is still quite high, making them inaccessible to most people. In order to present an alternative with lower cost, a PVC stabilizer/ gait trainer based on PediaSuit™ protocol was developed at UTFPR and Vitória Research Center. The support is provided by elastomers fixed to a belt, thereby allowing a more natural gait pattern. Objective: To evaluate the gait and posture of children with cerebral palsy during the use of a low cost/ low mechanization Therapy Unit Homecare. Method: Some tests were carried out to determine the strength of the prototype and the material itself. PVC proved to be a material with high strength in bending and impact tests. The maximum mass supported by the walker in the test conducted was approximately 226 kg. After evaluating the equipment, images of three children using a reguar gait trainer and the PVC home care unit were taken. Aspects of gait and posture were analysed by thirty physiotherapists through these videos. Results: The PVC home care unit showed better results in regarding all aspects of gait evaluated by promoting closer to normal gait. The mechanical strength tests show that PVC Ø32mm is a suitable material for fabrication of assistive technology equipment, to be able to withstand high loads without breaking. The use of this material also provided a significant reduction in the final cost of the product.

MPH / Department of Public Health / Cerebral palsy (CP) is the common cause of physical disability in children. The nature and severity of impairments vary, but the demands placed upon mothers are significant. It is one of the prolonged conditions which have become a serious health problem worldwide. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the challenges of mothers caring for cerebral palsy children at Thulamela Municipality, in the Vhembe District, South Africa. The objectives of this study were as follows: (1). To explore the challenges by mothers of cerebral palsy children in relation to physical, psychological and social care, (2) To explore their challenges in relation to available resources for proper referral of mothers caring for cerebral palsy children. The study used a qualitative approach using explorative and descriptive design in exploring the challenges of mothers caring for children with cerebral palsy. The study population comprised mothers of children with Cerebral Palsy living in the Vhembe District who attends the rehabilitation therapy services at Tshilidzini Hospital. A non-probability, purposive sampling technique was used to select the mothers. Five focus groups, each consisting of eight mothers were composed. Semi-structured group guide consisting of open-ended questions were used. Data was transcribed, verbatim and coded into themes and subthemes using context thematic analysis method. Themes that emerged include: a theoretical framework for the study, effects of caring on the family’s socio-economic life, challenges experienced by mothers caring for cerebral palsy children, challenges in relation to education and training and challenges experienced by mothers caring for cerebral palsy. The findings of the study might benefit the society about the challenges experienced by mothers when caring for their disabled children. The study might help government to develop and implement policies which will empower parents and the community as a whole / NRF

Text in Afrikaans. Abstracts in Afrikaans, English and Zulu / This study explored how nine adolescent learner-participants with cerebral palsy or other physical disabilities responded to an emotional support programme (EOP) of 20 intervention sessions, aimed at developing their emotional intelligence. The research study highlighted the utilisational value and importance of emotional intelligence, which is associated with problem-solving skills, career success, selfactualisation, stress management and the like. The rationale for compiling the EOP was in accordance with the rationale for the research study, being embedded in diverse learning needs, support for learners, and the design of learner opportunities. The study focused among others on the development and implementation of an EOP based on Bar-On as conceptual model (2000), together with the five core competencies of social and emotional learning (SEL), namely: responsible decision-making, emotional self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship skills. The Lions Quest SEL-programme, Skills for Adolescence, formed the basis of the EOP, although the researcher had to adapt it for her learner-participants’ special educational needs. The EOP was further extended with the knowledge obtained through the literature study regarding emotional intelligence and adolescence, and was aligned with the aims of the South African school curriculum in respect of emotional intelligence skills, as stated in the aims of the subject Life Skills. The researcher’s embedded, mixed-method research design allowed the larger qualitative component to include the smaller quantitative component, so that the specific phenomenon could be understood from different participants’ perspectives. Qualitative data was collected by means of metaphor interviews and collage activities. The quantitative research component of the study refers to the standardised Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory: Youth Version (EQ-i:YV) together with the researcher’s own structured questionnaire. The researcher did not interpret the data obtained from the quantitative data collection instruments in isolation, but used it to expand and verify the results of her qualitative generated data. The integrated data results of the learner-participants brought the answer to the research problem: most of the adolescent learner-participants with special educational needs who had participated in the EOP, did indeed benefit through their involvement, and their emotional intelligence (the phenomenon under scrutiny) had improved. / Die studie ondersoek hoe nege adolessente leerder-deelnemers met serebrale en fisieke gestremdhede op ’n emosionele ondersteuningsprogram (EOP) van 20 intervensiesessies reageer met die doel om hulle emosionele intelligensie te ontwikkel. Die benuttingswaarde en belangrikheid van emosionele intelligensie word deur die navorsingstudie uitgelig. Hoë emosionele intelligensie word geassosieer met probleemoplossingsvaardighede, werksukses, selfverwesenliking en streshantering, onder andere. Die rasionaal vir die samestelling van die EOP stem ooreen met die rasionaal vir die navorsingstudie en is gevestig in uiteenlopende leerbehoeftes, ondersteuning aan leerders, en die skep van leergeleenthede. Die studie fokus op die samestelling en implementering van ’n emosionele ondersteuningsprogram (EOP) gebaseer op Bar-On (2000) se konstruk van emosionele intelligensie as konseptuele model van die studie saam met die vyf kernbevoegdhede van sosiale en emosionele leer (SEL), naamlik: verantwoordelike besluitneming, emosionele selfbewussyn, selfbestuur, sosiale bewussyn en verhoudingsvaardighede. Die Lions Quest SEL-program, Skills for Adolescence, vorm die grondslag van die EOP, alhoewel die navorser baie aanpassings vir haar leerder-deelnemers se spesiale onderwysbehoeftes moes maak. Die EOP is verder uitgebrei deur die kennis wat die navorser tydens die literatuurstudie ingewin het ten opsigte van emosionele intelligensie en adolessensie, en sluit aan by die Suid-Afrikaanse skoolkurrikulum-doelwitte wat verband hou met emosionele intelligensie-vaardighede soos uiteengesit in die doelwitte vir die vak Lewensvaardighede. Die navorser se ingebedde, gemengdemetode-navorsingsontwerp laat toe dat die groter kwalitatiewe komponent die kleiner kwantitatiewe komponent insluit, sodat die spesifieke fenomeen vanuit verskillende deelnemers se perspektiewe verstaan kon word. Kwalitatiewe data is deur middel van die metafooronderhoud en collage-aktiwiteit ingesamel. Die kwantitatiewe navorsingskomponent van die studie verwys na die gestandaardiseerde Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory: Youth Version (EQ-i:YV) tesame met die navorser se eie gestruktureerde vraelys. Die navorser het die data wat sy uit die kwantitatiewe datainsamelingsinstrumente verkry het, nie net in isolasie geïnterpreteer nie, maar dit ook gebruik om die resultate van haar kwalitatief-gegenereerde data uit te brei en te verifieer. Die geïntegreerde data-resultate van die leerder-deelnemers bied die antwoord op die: die meerderheid van die adolessente leerderdeelnemers met spesiale onderwysbehoeftes wat aan die EOP deelgeneem het, het inderdaad gebaat by hulle deelname, en hulle emosionele intelligensie (die fenomeen wat ondersoek is) het verbeter. / Ucwaningo luhlola ukuthi ngabe ukuzibandakanya kwabafundi abangabadlalindima abayisishiyagalolunye abasesigabeni sobubhungu/sobutshitshi abakhubazeke ngokwengqondo noma ngayiphi indlela emzimbeni baphendule kanjani kuhlelo oluxhasa ngokommoya (emotional support programme) kumihlangano engama- 20 yokunceda, ehlose ekuqiniseni ubuhlakani bommoya. Isifundo socwaningo siveze ukubaluleka kokusebenzisa kanye nokubaluleka kobuhlakani bommoya, okuhambisana namakhono okuxazulula izinkinga, impumelelo yobizo lomsebenzi, ukuzibonakalisa, ukulawula ingcindezi yengqondo kanye nokunye. Isizathu sokuhlela i-ESP sasihambisana nenhloso yesifundo socwaningo, esitholakala kwizidingo zemfundo ezahlukahlukene, kanye nokuhleleka kwamathuba omfundi. Ucwaningo lubheke hlangana nokunye nokuthuthukiswa kanye nokusetshenziswa kohlelo lwe-ESP olususelwa ku-Bar-On njengemodeli yegama (2000), kanye namanye amacebo abalulekile amahlanu ohlelo lokufunda kwabantu kanye nokufunda ngokwemizwa (SEL), wona yilawa alandelayo: Ukumelana nezinqumo ozithethe, ukwazi imizwa yakho, ukuziphatha ngokwakho, ukuxwayiswa komphakathi kanye namakhono okwenza ubudlelwano. Uhlelo lwe- Lions Quest SEL, Skills for Adolescence, akha isisekelo se-ESP, yize umcwaningi kwakufanele aluguqule lolu hlelo ukwenzela ukuba luhambisane nezidingo ezikhethekile zemfundo yafundi abadlala indima. . Uhlelo lwe--ESP lwaqhubeka nokukhuliswa ngolwazi olwalutholakala ngocwaningo lombhalo wobuciko obumayelana nobuhlakani bokusebenzisa imizwa kanye nesigaba sobutshitshi/sobubhungu, kanti lolu hlelo lwaluhambisana nezinhloso zekharikhulami yezikole zaseNingizimu Afrika mayelana namakhono okusebenzisa obuhlakani bokusebenzisa imizwa, njengoba kushiwobkwizinhloso zesifundo samaKhono Empilo (Life Skills). Isakhiwo somcwaningi esequkethwe, sohlelo-oluvangene locwaningo siye savumela isigaba esikhulu socwaningo olugxile kukhwalithi (qualitative) ukuba sixube isigaba esincane esigxile kumanani (quantitative), ukuze kuzwisiseke uhlelo oluthize ngokwemiqondo yabadlalindima abehlukahlukene. Idatha yohlelo lwequalitative yaqoqwa ngokusebenzisa izinhlolombono zokungathekisa kanye nemisebenzi yokuhlanganisa imifanekiso eminingi. Isigaba socwaningo olugxile kumanani sichaza uhlelo olufanayo lwe--Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory: Youth Version (EQi:YV) kanye nemibhalo yemibuzo ehlelwe wumcwaningi. Umcwaningi akazange achaze idatha etholakele kumathuluzi okuqoqa idatha encike kumanani yodwa, kodwa le datha iye yasetshenziselwa ukukhulisa kanye nokuqinisekisa imiphumela yakhe eyakhiwe ngokwendlela yekhwalithi. Imiphumelo ehlangene yedatha yomfundi ongumdlalindima ilethe impendulo kwinkinga yocwaningo: Iningi labafundi abadlala indima abasesesigabeni sobubhungu/sobutshitshi abadinga imfundo ekhethekile abazibandakanye ohlelweni lwe-ESP, ngempela baye bazuza ngokuzibandakanya kwabo, kanti-ke izinga labo lokusebenzisa ikhono lobuhlakani bemizwa buye bathuthuka kakhulu (the phenomenon under scrutiny). / Inclusive Education / D. Ed. (Inklusiewe Onderwys)