Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT : It has been suggested that the complex needs of children with neurodevelopmental disorders are best addressed with a family-centred approach. As this approach has been increasingly incorporated into healthcare systems over recent years, most children with disabilities are now able to remain at home as opposed to living in institutions or group homes. Many parents have thus been forced to adopt the role of a primary caregiver for their child that has been diagnosed with a disability or chronic condition. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of caregivers for children with cerebral palsy in rural communities of the Western Cape, with a specific focus on the barriers and facilitators that they encounter. An exploratory qualitative design was employed and 15 individuals (aged 27-62), who were identified as caregivers for a child with cerebral palsy through purposive sampling were interviewed. Thematic analysis was used to analyse and generate themes from the semi-structured interviews that were conducted with participants. A number of barriers to caring emerged including the personal consequences of caregiving, difficulty adjusting to caregiving duties, environmental conditions, lack of access to healthcare services, lack of respite services, and negative perceptions towards disability. Various facilitators to caring were also identified, namely personal coping methods, personal transformation, social support, relationship with one’s child, community resources, child’s crèche, and financial assistance. The five levels of the Social Ecological Model were used to conceptualise the discussion of these findings and links were made to the existing literature on the caregiver experience in the developing context. In this process it was found that participants often encountered similar barriers and facilitators to caregivers for individuals with other types of conditions, such as HIV/AIDS, autism, mental illness, cancer, and neurological disorders. This could suggest that caregivers residing in developing countries share similar experiences, regardless of the condition of the care receiver. Although participants received support from a number of sources that aided them with their caregiving duties, it is evident that they still encountered gaps in the provision of a number of important services, including lack of information from healthcare professionals, lack of community programs to reduce stress and promote empowerment, and lack of disability-friendly facilities. It is vital that caregivers have access to these services to ensure their child’s well-being as well as their own. There is thus a need to explore how these services can be made more accessible to caregivers in rural communities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Daar word voorgestel dat die komplekse behoeftes van kinders met neuro-ontwikkelingsversteurings die beste aangespreek word deur ‘n familie-gefokusde benadering. Aangesien hierdie benadering meer geredelik geïnkorporeer is in die gesondheidsorg sisteem oor die afgelope paar jaar is meeste kinders met gestremdhede nou in staat om by die huis te kan bly in plaas daarvan om in inrigtings of groepshuise te woon. Baie ouers is dus geforseer om die rol as primêre versorger aan te neem vir hulle kind wat gediagnoseer is met ‘n gestremdheid of kroniese toestand. Hierdie studie se doel was om die ervarings van versorgers van kinders met serebrale gestremdheid in landelike gemeenskappe van die Wes-Kaap, te ondersoek, met ‘n spesifieke fokus op die hindernisse en fasiliteerders wat hulle ondervind. ‘n Ondersoekende kwalitatiewe ontwerp is gebruik en onderhoude is gevoer met 15 individue (ouderdomme 27-62) wat deur doelgerigte steekproefneming geïdentifiseer is as versorgers van ‘n kind met serebrale gestremdheid. Tematiese analise is gebruik om die semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude wat met die deelnemers gevoer is te analiseer en temas te genereer. ‘n Aantal van die hindernisse tot versorging het na vore gekom en sluit die persoonlike gevolge van versorging, probleme om aan te pas by die versorgingspligte, omgewingstoestande, tekort aan toegang tot gesondheidsorg dienste, tekort aan verligting dienste en negatiewe persepsies teenoor gestremdhede in. Verskeie fasiliteerders tot versorging is ook geïdentifiseer, naamlik persoonlike hanteringsmetodes, persoonlike transformasie, sosiale ondersteuning, verhouding met hulle kind, gemeenskapsfasiliteerders, kind se speelskool en finansiële hulp. Die vyf vlakke van die Sosiale Ekologiese Model is gebruik om die bespreking van hierdie bevindinge te konseptualiseer en verbintenisse is gemaak met bestaande literatuur wat handel oor die versorger se ervaring in die ontwikkellende konteks. In hierdie proses is gevind dat deelnemers dikwels dieselfde hindernisse en fasiliteerders ondervind as versorgers van individue met ander tipe toestande, soos MIV/VIGS, outisme, geestesiektes, kanker en neurologiese versteurings. Dit kan moontlik beteken dat versorgers wat in ontwikkellende lande woord dieselfde ervarings deel, ten spyte van die toestand van die persoon wat die versorging ontvang. Alhoewel deelnemers ondersteuning van ʼn aantal bronne ontvang het wat hulle help met hulle versorgingspligte, is dit duidelik dat hulle steeds gapings ervaar in die voorsiening van ʼn aantal belangrike dienste, insluitende ʼn tekort aan inligting van gesondheidsorg werkers, ʼn tekort aan gemeenskapsprogramme om stres verligting en bemagtiging te bevorder en ʼn tekort aan gestremdheid-vriendelike fasiliteite. Dit is baie belangrik dat versorgers toegang het tot hierdie dienste om die welstand van hulle kind en hulself te verseker. Daar is dus ʼn behoefte om te ondersoek hoe hierdie dienste meer toegangklik gemaak kan word vir versorgers in landelike gemeenskappe.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT : The present research set out to explore parents‟ perceptions of therapeutic horseback riding as an activity for their children with multiple disabilities. It was designed to explore their vicarious experiences of the activity as well as their perceptions of their children‟s experiences of the activity. In order to achieve this, a semi-structured interview was set up with 12 parents whose children participate in therapeutic horseback riding at the South African Riding for the Disabled Association (SARDA) in Constantia, Cape Town. The children ranged in age from 6-17 years and had a range of disabilities including physical and intellectual disabilities. Upon completion of the interviews, the data was transcribed by the researcher and analysed using thematic analysis. Following thematic analysis, three themes emerged: the effects of therapeutic horseback riding on the children, parents‟ personal experiences of therapeutic horseback riding and SARDA, and parents‟ perceived reasons for the improvements in their children. These results are supported by results in existing literature. The results however also address a gap in the existing literature regarding parents‟ perceptions of therapeutic horseback riding and their children‟s experiences of the activity. Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Die huidige navorsing het ten doel om ouers se persepsie ten opsigte van terapeutiese perdry as aktiwiteit vir hul kinders met verskillende vorms van gestremdheid te ondersoek. Daar is gepoog om sowel die ouers as die kinders se ondervinding van die aktiwiteit te bepaal. Ten einde die doelwit te bereik is semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude gereël met twaalf ouers wie se kinders aan die terapeutiese perdry by die South African Riding for the Disabled Association (SARDA) in Constantia, Kaapstad deelneem. Die kinders se ouderdomme het gewissel tussen 6 en 17 jaar en hulle het 'n verskeidenheid van gestremdhede gehad wat beide fisiese en intellektuele gestremdhede ingesluit het. Na afhandeling van die onderhoude, is die data opgeteken deur die navorser en verwerk deur gebruik te maak van tematiese analise. Uit die tematiese analise het die volgende drie patrone duidelik geword: Die effek van terapeutiese perdry op die kinders, ouers se persoonlike ondervinding van terapeutiese perdry en SARDA en ouers se persepsie van die redes vir verbetering in hul kinders. Hierdie resultate word ondersteun deur bestaande literatuur. Die resultate vul ook „n gaping in bestaande literatuur aan ten opsigte van die ouers se persepsie van terapeutiese perdry en ook ouers en hul kinders se ervaring van die aktiwiteit.

This qualitative study explored the experiences of individuals living with a sibling diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and how these individuals make meaning of this experience. The data for this study was collected from five (5) individuals between the ages of 12 and 19, who shared their experience of living with siblings diagnosed with ASD. The data was analysed using the interpretative phenomenological analysis method (IPA). I conclude that although living with a sibling diagnosed with ASD is a challenging experience, the way one makes meaning from the experience contributes greatly to their interpretation of their experience thereof; and therefore, making it a positive experience. The participants in this study showed great maturity and resilience. The findings of this study will be useful to parents, professionals and those who engage with individuals living with a sibling diagnosed with ASD. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology in Research Consultation)

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Apr. 13, 2010). Directed by Diane Borders; submitted to the Dept. of Counseling and Educational Development. Includes bibliographical references (p. 168-176).

The family is a miniature society, where a child is afforded the opportunity to develop, form relationships and create his/her own identity. The child's development does not always take place without certain challenges. Different internal and external factors influence a child's development. Certain external factors, for instance a child with disabilities, can have a negative or positive influence on the child. The aim of this study is to determine the influence of the child with Cerebral Palsy on the social and emotional development of siblings. The research will be done using the idiographic method. The results show that the child with Cerebral Palsy does have an influence on the emotional and social development of siblings. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Inclusive Education)

Expanding interests may be a behavioral cusp, resulting in widespread changes across skills, and therefore is particularly relevant in intervention programs for children with autism. Little research has addressed directly increasing the diversity of activities and interests for this population. This study describes a program developed to increase activities and interests in a girl dually-diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD-NOS) and Downs syndrome (DS). A multiple-baseline design across stimuli was employed to evaluate the program. The results show that the program increased number of total and different toy interactions. No effects were observed for overall duration of toy interactions. Results are discussed in relation to play skill instruction and preference assessment literature, the cusp, and autism intervention programs.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Using Heideggerian interpretive phenomenology, this study illuminates the lived experience of an adapted dance program for individuals with Down syndrome and their family members. The overall pattern from both dancers and family members was adapted dance: connecting mind, body and soul. The primary theme from dancer interpretations was expressing a mosaic of positive experiences, and the primary theme from family member interpretations was experiencing pride in their loved ones. The dance program provided dancers an opportunity to express their authentic self while experiencing moments of full embodiment in the connection of their mind, body and soul. While dancers experienced the connection of mind-body-soul, family members recognized the importance of this connection in their loved one. This research is instrumental in advocating for opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome to experience dance as a social, physical and intellectual activity that results in learning and increasing social interactions. The research findings from this study can support future initiatives for dance programs that may influence a population that has limited access to physical activity and dance. The study’s teaching strategies, dance activities, class procedures and sequences, and feedback techniques can be used by other professionals who teach individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Past research has shown that one of the most traumatic emotional experiences parents face is the diagnosis of having a child with barriers to learning. For various reasons they do not always receive the necessary follow-up professional support after diagnosis. This study was undertaken with the specific aims of identifying various coping skills that enable these parents to raise their children to their full potential, to determine the value of these coping skills for parents, to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in such households and to make recommendations on appropriate approaches and strategies. The study revealed that parents are able to make changes in their approach and behaviour to adapt to the new stressful environment. Restraining factors having a negative impact on the functioning of parents or families have been identified, together with identification of various opportunities and driving forces that serve as the foundation for mitigating, accepting and dealing with the problem. Based on these findings, recommendations are made to provide guidelines to advise and support parents in raising children with barriers to learning. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Past research has shown that one of the most traumatic emotional experiences parents face is the diagnosis of having a child with barriers to learning. For various reasons they do not always receive the necessary follow-up professional support after diagnosis. This study was undertaken with the specific aims of identifying various coping skills that enable these parents to raise their children to their full potential, to determine the value of these coping skills for parents, to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in such households and to make recommendations on appropriate approaches and strategies. The study revealed that parents are able to make changes in their approach and behaviour to adapt to the new stressful environment. Restraining factors having a negative impact on the functioning of parents or families have been identified, together with identification of various opportunities and driving forces that serve as the foundation for mitigating, accepting and dealing with the problem. Based on these findings, recommendations are made to provide guidelines to advise and support parents in raising children with barriers to learning. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

The National Commission of Special Needs in Education and Training (NCSNET) Document (1997) which portrays the new Education Policy in South Africa. clearly states that one of the crucial outcomes is that all possible barriers to learning must be eliminated so that all learners are able to actualise their full potential. Inclusive education, as embedded within the Education Policy, is regarded as an approach which will allow learners to actualise their full potential. This study is a critical reflection on whether inclusive education is practised in primary schools in the Thohoyandou area. The research findings indicated that inclusive education is not practised in the Thohoyandou area. A major factor or barrier in this regard is that teachers and principals are not empowered in terms ofknowledge to practise inclusive education. Other factors acting as barriers to the implementation of inclusive education are that the school buildings do not cater for physically and visually impaired learners as well as the attitudes of teachers, parents and peers are inclined to be negative towards learners experiencing barriers to learning. The community should also be educated and empowered to assist and understand these learners, who will become the future members of the community, more effectively, As inclusive education is one of the means whereby all learners are given the opportunity to actualise their full potential, these barriers must be addressed so that inclusive education can be practised in all primary schools in the Thohoyandou area. A few strategies to implement inclusive education in the Thohoyandou area are suggested by the researcher. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Special Needs Education)