The study population was children with physical disabilities who were not attending school and their parents. A sample of 19 participants was purposefully selected. A qualitative approach was used to explore the participants" attitudes, cultural beliefs, and challenges related to school attendance of children with physical disabilities. A content analysis approach was used for data analysis after translating and transcribing raw data from Tonga into English. The data were coded, categorized and themes of the content identified. Ethical procedures included, obtaining permission from the University of Western Cape, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services in Zambia and Rural Health Centre. Signed consent from parents, consent from parents stating that their children can participate and assent from children was obtained. Anonymity and confidentiality of participants was emphasized and participants were reminded that their participation was voluntary. Participants had the freedom to withdraw without any prejudice. The results indicated positive attitudes of children and their parents towards school attendance of children with disabilities. The traditional and religious beliefs of parents did not influence or contribute to children with disabilities not attending school. The main reason why most children with physical disabilities were not attending school in Mazabuka district was due to physical and social barriers.

The study population was children with physical disabilities who were not attending school and their parents. A sample of 19 participants was purposefully selected. A qualitative approach was used to explore the participants" attitudes, cultural beliefs, and challenges related to school attendance of children with physical disabilities. A content analysis approach was used for data analysis after translating and transcribing raw data from Tonga into English. The data were coded, categorized and themes of the content identified. Ethical procedures included, obtaining permission from the University of Western Cape, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services in Zambia and Rural Health Centre. Signed consent from parents, consent from parents stating that their children can participate and assent from children was obtained. Anonymity and confidentiality of participants was emphasized and participants were reminded that their participation was voluntary. Participants had the freedom to withdraw without any prejudice. The results indicated positive attitudes of children and their parents towards school attendance of children with disabilities. The traditional and religious beliefs of parents did not influence or contribute to children with disabilities not attending school. The main reason why most children with physical disabilities were not attending school in Mazabuka district was due to physical and social barriers.

Master of Science / A number of children with physical disabilities are not attending school in Zambia, despite the endorsement of the 1996 by UNESCO “Education Our Future” that provides children with disabilities the right to be educated with their peers in public schools. The aim of the study was to explore the views and experiences of children with physical disabilities and their parents towards school attendance of children with disabilities. The study setting was in Mazabuka, Zambia. The study population was children with physical disabilities who were not attending school and their parents. A sample of 19 participants was purposefully selected. A qualitative approach was used to explore the participants‟ attitudes, cultural beliefs, and challenges related to school attendance of children with physical disabilities. A content analysis approach was used for data analysis after translating and transcribing raw data from Tonga into English. The data were coded, categorized and themes of the content identified. Ethical procedures included, obtaining permission from the University of Western Cape, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services in Zambia and Rural Health Centre. Signed consent from parents, consent from parents stating that their children can participate and assent from children was obtained. Anonymity and confidentiality of participants was emphasized and participants were reminded that their participation was voluntary. Participants had the freedom to withdraw without any prejudice. The results indicated positive attitudes of children and their parents towards school attendance of children with disabilities. The traditional and religious beliefs of parents did not influence or contribute to children with disabilities not attending school. The main reason why most children with physical disabilities were not attending school in Mazabuka district was due to physical and social barriers. / South Africa

Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att beskriva föräldrars erfarenheter om social delaktighet på lekplatser för barn med fysiska funktionsnedsättningar. Metod: Studien genomfördes som en kvalitativ intervjustudie med semistrukturerade intervjuer, där 12 föräldrar till barn med fysiska funktionsnedsättning intervjuades. Vid analysen av intervjuerna använde författarna en kvalitativ innehållsanalys, vilket resulterade i 2 kategorier. Resultat: Utifrån föräldrarnas erfarenheter visade resultaten att otillgängliga lekplatser begränsade eller hindrade deras barn att vara socialt delaktiga. Det framkom också att tillgängliga lekplatser kunde möjliggöra barn med fysiska funktionsnedsättningars sociala delaktighet om de tillgängliga delarna inte separerades från resterande lekredskap. Föräldrarnas erfarenheter var att framkomligheten på lekplatserna var av stor vikt för att möjliggöra deras barns lek med andra. Resultatet visade även att föräldrarna hade erfarenhet att bemötas av negativa attityder, oförståelse och bristande kunskap från hemkommuner och lekplatsskapare. Barnens beroende av föräldrarnas stöd för att ta sig runt på lekplatser fick föräldrarna att känna sig som ett hinder för deras barn att leka och umgås med andra barn. Slutsats: Slutsatser från studien är att involvera föräldrar till barn med fysiska funktionsnedsättningar och deras barn i skapandet av lekplatsmiljöer för att främja social delaktighet. Vidare diskuteras behovet av arbetsterapeutisk kompetens om meningsfulla aktiviteter samt kunskap om att anpassa miljöer utifrån barns behov kan utgöra ett bra stöd till skaparna av lekplatser för att möjliggöra social delaktighet genom att utforma tillgängliga lekplatser för alla oavsett förmåga. / Aim: The aim of this study was to describe parents experiences of social participation in playgrounds for children with physical disabilities. Method: The study was conducted as a qualitative interview study with semi-structured interviews, where 12 parents of children with physical disabilities were interviewed. When analyzing the interviews, the authors used a qualitative content analysis, which resulted in 2 categories. Results: Based on parents experiences, the results showed that inaccessible playgrounds limited or prevented their children from being socially involved. It also emerged that accessible playgrounds could enable children's social participation if the accessible parts were not separated from the rest of the play equipment. Parents experiences were that the accessibility of playgrounds was of great importance to enable their children to play with others. The results also showed that parents experienced negative attitudes, incomprehension, and lack of knowledge from local authorities and playground designers. Children's dependence on parental support to get around playgrounds made parents feel like a barrier to their children being able to play and socialize with other children. Conclusion: Conclusions from the study is to involve parents of children with physical disabilities and their children in the creation of playground environments to promote social inclusion. It further discusses the need for occupational therapy skills on meaningful activities and knowledge on adapting environments based on children's needs can provide good support to playground designers to enable social inclusion by designing accessible playgrounds for everyone regardless of ability.

This diploma thesis deals with the topic of education of pupils with autism spectrum disorders at an elementary school for pupils with physical disabilities. It focuses on the methodological conditions for education that the school offers to pupils with autism spectrum disorders. The thesis is divided into the theoretical and practical part. The first chapter of the theoretical part describes autism spectrum disorders - from terminology and classification to typical manifestations of this diagnosis. The second chapter is dedicated to education of pupils with autism spectrum disorders, it presents options for their education and support measures. The third chapter of the theoretical part presents teaching methods and interventions for people with autism spectrum disorders. The practical part of the thesis includes a qualitative research survey which was carried out through semi-structured interviews with class teachers of pupils with autism spectrum disorders at the elementary school for pupils with physical disabilities. Using analysis of interviews and school documentation, I came to the conclusion that the environment of this school offers pupils with autism spectrum disorders education provided by special education teachers, and also comprehensive care, the benefit of small group, and individual...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of negative influences facing children with physical disabilities living in rural areas. Children with physical disabilities living in rural areas of South Africa have to deal with many negative influences in addition to their disability. The main theme is that all children in rural areas face negative influences, but these are far worse for the children with physical disabilities. Societal and educational exclusion and poverty continue to place these children at a disadvantage despite South Africa’s policies that promote inclusion and equality. These rights are central to a meaningful democracy yet; research indicates that children with physical disabilities remain in a hopeless situation in the rural areas. To escape their plight inclusive education is pivotal. It is argued that the government’s capacity to deal with all the negative influences is limited and this therefore necessitates community involvement. Bronfenbrenner’s Bio-ecological approach was used both to investigate the impact of the negative influences facing children with physical disabilities as well as providing a framework that tackles the barriers that prevent this marginalised group of children having an equal opportunity to education. A qualitative and ethnographic study was undertaken to investigate these issues. This entailed the researcher living in four rural areas in KwaZulu-Natal, and collecting data through community participation, observations, questionnaires and interviews as well as photographs and drawings collected from the children. Data was analysed and poverty and exclusion clearly impacted not only on the children with physical disabilities, but their parents/caregivers. It became clear to the researcher that unless this group of children received early intervention to prepare them for education they would not be able to be included in formal education from Grade 1 but would need to begin their schooling in a specialised and exclusive environment. A framework for intervention based on Bronfenbrenner’s model was formulated that involved community involvement on the micro and mesosystemic levels. This framework is unique in that it will provide intensive early intervention for children with physical disabilities with the explicit aim of preparing them for inclusion and at the same time giving their parents/caregivers an opportunity to escape their plight of poverty.Every child in South Africa according to our Constitution and other policies is guaranteed equality. This equality needs to be provided to children with physical disabilities before they attend formal schooling and end up floundering never having had the opportunity to lift themselves out of the cycle of poverty that they face. Contemporary models for understanding these negative impacts and exclusion suggest that an important outcome of rehabilitation services is to optimise children with physical disabilities participation in the home, school and community life. Bronfenbrenner’s Model is based on the premise that disability involves an interaction between features of the child and features of the environment that can be adapted to promote educational inclusion and thus reduce the cycle of poverty. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of negative influences facing children with physical disabilities living in rural areas. Children with physical disabilities living in rural areas of South Africa have to deal with many negative influences in addition to their disability. The main theme is that all children in rural areas face negative influences, but these are far worse for the children with physical disabilities. Societal and educational exclusion and poverty continue to place these children at a disadvantage despite South Africa’s policies that promote inclusion and equality. These rights are central to a meaningful democracy yet; research indicates that children with physical disabilities remain in a hopeless situation in the rural areas. To escape their plight inclusive education is pivotal. It is argued that the government’s capacity to deal with all the negative influences is limited and this therefore necessitates community involvement. Bronfenbrenner’s Bio-ecological approach was used both to investigate the impact of the negative influences facing children with physical disabilities as well as providing a framework that tackles the barriers that prevent this marginalised group of children having an equal opportunity to education. A qualitative and ethnographic study was undertaken to investigate these issues. This entailed the researcher living in four rural areas in KwaZulu-Natal, and collecting data through community participation, observations, questionnaires and interviews as well as photographs and drawings collected from the children. Data was analysed and poverty and exclusion clearly impacted not only on the children with physical disabilities, but their parents/caregivers. It became clear to the researcher that unless this group of children received early intervention to prepare them for education they would not be able to be included in formal education from Grade 1 but would need to begin their schooling in a specialised and exclusive environment. A framework for intervention based on Bronfenbrenner’s model was formulated that involved community involvement on the micro and mesosystemic levels. This framework is unique in that it will provide intensive early intervention for children with physical disabilities with the explicit aim of preparing them for inclusion and at the same time giving their parents/caregivers an opportunity to escape their plight of poverty.Every child in South Africa according to our Constitution and other policies is guaranteed equality. This equality needs to be provided to children with physical disabilities before they attend formal schooling and end up floundering never having had the opportunity to lift themselves out of the cycle of poverty that they face. Contemporary models for understanding these negative impacts and exclusion suggest that an important outcome of rehabilitation services is to optimise children with physical disabilities participation in the home, school and community life. Bronfenbrenner’s Model is based on the premise that disability involves an interaction between features of the child and features of the environment that can be adapted to promote educational inclusion and thus reduce the cycle of poverty. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Inclusive Education)