Inclusive education policies in South Africa aim to reduce the barriers to learning of learners with learning disabilities (LDs).(1) Occupational therapists play an important role in identifying these barriers and collaborating with the educators to implement environmental modifications (EMs) in the classroom to enhance the academic performance of learners. This study aims to explore the use of as well as the effectiveness of EMs in grade two classrooms of learners with special education needs (LSEN) schools in the greater Johannesburg area. Eight semi structured interviews were conducted. The qualitative data was analysed using priori categories based on a framework provided by Mulligan(2). A wide variety of EMs were identified by the participants, indicating the effectiveness of the modifications used. In conclusion the EMs were more concisely divided into three categories, namely behavioural modifications, physical modifications and modifications to the delivery of the curriculum, demonstrating a diverse interrelationships between the categories. Keywords: Occupational therapy, learning disabilities, environmental modifications, classroom environment, LSEN schools.

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om die wesentfike behoefte aan alternatiewe tugmaatreels vir die leergeremde adolessent na te vors en riglyne vir altematiewe tugmaatreels op te stel. Die sensitiewe aangeleentheid van disstplinering en tug word nou grootliks aan die onderwysers se inisiatief oorgelaat, en dit terwyl onderwysers nie altyd voldoende onderle is in die nuwe benadering tot alternatiewe dissiplineringsmetodes nie. 'n Teoretiese ondersoek wat uitgevoer is, het die belangriKheid van die inagneming van die leergeremde .adolessent se unieke persoonlikheidstrekke by die toepassing van dissipline beklemtoon. 'n Ernpiriese ondersoek is met behulp van vraelyste uitgevoer by ses spesiale skole in die Gauteng..provinsie. Die empiriese navorsing het bevestig dat onderwysers by hierdie skole 'n behoefte het aan altematiewe tugmaatreels vir die leergeremde adolessent. Op grond van die literatuurstudie en die resultate van die empiriese ondersoek, is riglyne verskaf vir die opstel van alternatiewe tugmaatreels. / The aim of the study was to identify the need for alternative disciplinary measures for the learning disabled adolescent, and to formulate guidelines for the implementation thereof. At present, the sensitive issue of discipline and punishment is left to the discretion of the individual teacher, who may not always be fully conversant with the new approach to alternative disciplinary measures. A theoretical investigation emphasised the importance of the unique personatity traits of the learning diSabled adolescent that should be considered when disciplinary measures are applied. An empirical investigation was carried out by means of a questionnaire at six special schools in the Gauteng Province. The empirical study confirmed that teachers at these schools do need alternative disciplinary measures for the learning disabled adolescent Based on the literature study and the results of the empirical investigation, guidelines were formulated for alternative disciplinary measures for the learning disabled adolescent. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Spesialisering in Voorligting)

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om die wesentfike behoefte aan alternatiewe tugmaatreels vir die leergeremde adolessent na te vors en riglyne vir altematiewe tugmaatreels op te stel. Die sensitiewe aangeleentheid van disstplinering en tug word nou grootliks aan die onderwysers se inisiatief oorgelaat, en dit terwyl onderwysers nie altyd voldoende onderle is in die nuwe benadering tot alternatiewe dissiplineringsmetodes nie. 'n Teoretiese ondersoek wat uitgevoer is, het die belangriKheid van die inagneming van die leergeremde .adolessent se unieke persoonlikheidstrekke by die toepassing van dissipline beklemtoon. 'n Ernpiriese ondersoek is met behulp van vraelyste uitgevoer by ses spesiale skole in die Gauteng..provinsie. Die empiriese navorsing het bevestig dat onderwysers by hierdie skole 'n behoefte het aan altematiewe tugmaatreels vir die leergeremde adolessent. Op grond van die literatuurstudie en die resultate van die empiriese ondersoek, is riglyne verskaf vir die opstel van alternatiewe tugmaatreels. / The aim of the study was to identify the need for alternative disciplinary measures for the learning disabled adolescent, and to formulate guidelines for the implementation thereof. At present, the sensitive issue of discipline and punishment is left to the discretion of the individual teacher, who may not always be fully conversant with the new approach to alternative disciplinary measures. A theoretical investigation emphasised the importance of the unique personatity traits of the learning diSabled adolescent that should be considered when disciplinary measures are applied. An empirical investigation was carried out by means of a questionnaire at six special schools in the Gauteng Province. The empirical study confirmed that teachers at these schools do need alternative disciplinary measures for the learning disabled adolescent Based on the literature study and the results of the empirical investigation, guidelines were formulated for alternative disciplinary measures for the learning disabled adolescent. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Spesialisering in Voorligting)