Thesis (Ph. D. (Educational Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / For the past two to three decades, there has been a large influx of students with disabilities into institutions of higher education worldwide. In South Africa, in these past three decades, records of intake of students with disabilities were not recorded as services and support of this kind were not institutionalised. Within this transformation process, which involved including previously under-represented groups, institutions of higher learning are currently facing challenges of what kind of educational support to offer to students with disabilities, in order to help them to succeed academically. This study investigated the educational support offered to students with disabilities at the University of Venda (UNIVEN) as experienced by the students themselves. The study, therefore, gives an insider perspective. The study followed a qualitative research approach, and used classroom observations, document analysis and focus group interviews to collect data. Ten students with various disabilities participated in the study. The findings of this study reveal that there are some degrees of support that UNIVEN offers. However, some gaps to meet students educational needs still exist. These gaps include lack of information about the programmes that UNIVEN is offering, physical infra-structure barriers and lack of disability knowledge. This study recommends the establishment of a forum in which students with disabilities can discuss and address their educational needs on campus. Other recommendations include the following: lecturers’ training, disability awareness, the installation of an online interactive portal to increase communication between students and the university, and an online survey measuring lecturers’ attitudes and knowledge. The study suggests that future research could include factors that predict graduation rates among students with disabilities. Key words: Educational support, Disability unit, Medical Model of disability, Social model of disability.

HIV and AIDS are now being considered as a chronic disease. As people live longer the possibility of physical disability increases. This study aimed to investigate the nature of physical disability among HIV/AIDS adults cared for by the Makeni home-based carers in Lusaka, Zambia. Disability was measured based on the World Health Organisation International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. This study demonstrated that mostly mild impairments and mild to moderate activity limitations and participation restrictions exists among patients in the Makeni home-based care programme. This study concluded that physiotherapists and other health professionals will have to be more involved in the community home-based programs that are suited for people living with HIV/AIDS so that they are also provided with clinical assessments and rehabilitation services.

HIV and AIDS are now being considered as a chronic disease. As people live longer the possibility of physical disability increases. This study aimed to investigate the nature of physical disability among HIV/AIDS adults cared for by the Makeni home-based carers in Lusaka, Zambia. Disability was measured based on the World Health Organisation International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. This study demonstrated that mostly mild impairments and mild to moderate activity limitations and participation restrictions exists among patients in the Makeni home-based care programme. This study concluded that physiotherapists and other health professionals will have to be more involved in the community home-based programs that are suited for people living with HIV/AIDS so that they are also provided with clinical assessments and rehabilitation services.