This empirical and theological project researches physical and emotional weakness in the context of spiritual leadership, in order to discover what consequences these impediments have on church development. Selected representatives (national leaders - or at least regional leaders - of Swiss state and free churches) have therefore been interviewed. It was possible to describe four contrasting typologies which describe the different effects of handicapped leaders and to deduce various consequences for the understanding of church leadership and development. This research is an attempt to contribute to a differentiated practice of dealing with physically and emotionally suffering leaders in the field of church development. It can be seen as a first explorative study of the evaluation of institutional practice. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology)

Thesis (DPhil (Psychology))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / HIV/AIDS has emerged as one of the biggest epidemics in modern human history, and is perhaps the most researched and written about epidemic. Southern Africa is at the epicentre of the global HIV/AIDS epidemic, with almost one third of the world’s HIVpositive population living here. HIV is known to affect predominantly vulnerable populations; thus it is surprising that persons with disabilities have been largely overlooked. Little is known about how HIV/AIDS affects persons with disabilities in South Africa. This dissertation, therefore, aims to explore the extent to which organizations and schools working with persons with disabilities are dealing with HIV/AIDS, and how they are dealing with it. The study made use of an integration of quantitative and qualitative research methods. An existing survey questionnaire used in the World Bank/Yale University Global Survey on HIV/AIDS and Disability was used, with permission, as the survey instrument in a national survey of disability organizations and special needs (LSEN) schools in South Africa. The survey was distributed by post and email to 601 organizations and schools across the country, in all nine provinces. Various contacts and postings of the survey were made to organizations and schools, in an attempt to improve response rates. The response rate from national disability organizations was 57%, while the response rate for regional and local organizations and schools was very poor, with an overall response rate of 18%. The sample, however, was representative of the population. The results of the survey indicate a high level of concern about HIV/AIDS as a risk for persons with disabilities. The majority of organizations and schools were involved in providing HIV prevention education. However, most organizations and schools felt that persons with disabilities were excluded from general HIV prevention campaigns, and were thus receiving less information. A second study, using qualitative research methods, used case studies of three organizations/schools to explore more in-depth staff difficulties, challenges and particularly anxieties related to dealing with sex, sexuality and HIV among persons with disabilities. The case studies were analysed from a psychosocial framework, using social constructionist theory with psychoanalytic theory, to explore how social discourses about HIV and disabilities are internalized by staff. It is theorized that people draw on particular social discourses, in this case about HIV and disability, as a defence against threats to the self. Texts were analysed using discourse analysis to identify social discourses. A further analytic layer used psychoanalytic theory to identify unconscious communication of emotions and defence mechanisms. The case studies found that staff have considerable anxiety with regards raising issues of sex, sexuality and HIV with persons with disabilities. Staff from all three organizations were varyingly anxious about needing to protect the people they work with from harm. Disabled people were constructed as innocent, vulnerable, and needing protection. In other cases disabled people were constructed as deviant and their behaviour needing to be controlled. The use of an integration of qualitative and quantitative methods is useful, in allowing to explore more in-depth the lived experience of research participants. While the survey indicated that organizations were providing HIV prevention education, the case studies revealed much anxiety about this, and in some cases education was partly avoided. The results also suggest that HIV prevention education may be used in a way to control and restrict disabled people’s sexual expression, using a demonizing discourse about sex as dangerous and in some circumstances immoral. This may be done in an absence of a discourse of pleasure, where disabled people may be empowered to have fulfilling sexual lives. The study also highlights sexual abuse and rape of persons with disabilities as a serious issue. The dissertation ends with recommendations for further research, including exploring the experience of disabled people themselves, and the need to address the silence around sexual abuse and rape of persons with disabilities.

Thesis (DPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Disabled adolescents are vulnerable to HIV infection particularly in countries like South Africa which has one of the largest HIV epidemics in the world. Like able-bodied adolescents, adolescents with disabilities are at a critical stage of their psychosocial and sexual development. They may be at risk of sexual abuse as perpetrators may believe that they are incapable of defending themselves or reporting the crime to the authorities. Deaf or hard of hearing adolescents are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS due to similar risk factors to other disabled adolescents. They also face difficulties in communicating with hearing people and receiving information in sign language, and they share characteristics with minority ethnic groups, which make them hard to reach for HIV prevention campaigns. There is a paucity of research in South Africa investigating the role of schools for Deaf and hard of hearing adolescents in delivering appropriate HIV and sexuality education to their learners. This thesis is an exploratory study and investigates HIV prevention issues for Deaf or hard of hearing adolescents in South Africa. More specifically, I aim to determine the ways in which participants believe schools, health systems and other organizations contribute or fail to contribute to the HIV/AIDS prevention needs of Deaf and hard of hearing adolescents. The study includes qualitative interviews with employees of Deaf organizations, educators of Deaf and hard of hearing adolescents, parents of Deaf and hard of hearing adolescents and Deaf and hard of hearing adolescents themselves in relation to sexuality and HIV related issues. Results indicate that Deaf organizations have an interest in the HIV prevention needs of the Deaf community and in Deaf schools. However they have experienced obstacles in delivering HIV education to learners. These obstacles include communication barriers as well as the fact that religious environments in some of the schools may not always be experienced as conducive to HIV education. Although all educators of Deaf and hard of hearing adolescents interviewed in the previous phase of the study were aware that their learners are at risk of HIV/AIDS, some educators of Deaf and hard of hearing adolescents were constrained by the same issues of morality and religious conviction discussed in the first phase. Some participants had made efforts to produce appropriate HIV and sexuality materials for Deaf learners. Parents of Deaf and hard of hearing adolescents were affected by communication barriers with their children but seemed unaware of the religious ethos of many of the schools their children attended. The Deaf and hard of hearing adolescents knew they could be at risk of HIV/AIDS. Some displayed poor knowledge of HIV transmission. There are a number of issues to be addressed if schools for Deaf and hard of hearing learners are to provide adequate HIV/AIDS prevention information to their learners. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gestremde adolessente is kwesbaar vir MIV-infeksie veral in lande soos Suid-Afrika wat een van die grootste MIV-epidemies ter wêreld het. Soos nie-gestremde adolessente is gestremde adolessente in 'n kritieke stadium van hul psigososiale en seksuele ontwikkeling. Oortreders van seksuele misbruik mag gestermde adolessente beskou as sagte teikens aangesien daar die persepsie is dat hulle minder in staat is om hulself te verdedig of minder geneig is om `n misdaad by die owerhede te rapporteer. Dowe of hardhorende adolessente is kwesbaar vir MIV / VIGS vir redes war soortgelyk is aan die van ander gestremde adolessente. Dowe of hardhorende adolessente vind dit problematies om met horende (nie-gestremde) mense te komminikeer, inligting in gebaretaal te ontvang, en deel eienskappe met etniese minderheidsgroepe wat dit moeilik maak om hulle deur middel van MIV voorkomingsveldtogte te bereik. Daar is 'n gebrek aan navorsing in Suid-Afrika oor die rol wat skole vir dowe en hardhorende adolessente speel in die lewering van geskikte MIV en seksualiteitsopvoeding. Hierdie proefskrif verken en ondersoek kwessies met betrekking tot MIV-voorkoming onder dowe en hardhorende adolessente in Suid-Afrika. Meer spesifiek was die doel van hierdie studie om vas te stel wat deelnemers se persepsies is oor die bydrae of gebrek aan bydrae van skole, gesondheids-en ander organisasies tot die behoeftes van dowe en hardhorende adolessente wanneer dit kom by die voorkoming van MIV/ VIGS. Gedurende die studie is kwalitatiewe onderhoude met die volgende deelnemers gevoer: die werknemers van organisasies vir dowes; die onderwysers van dowes, ouers van dowe en hardhorende adolessente. Die onderhoude het hoofsaaklik gehandel oor seksualiteit en MIV-verwante kwessies onder gehoor gestremde adolessente. Die studie het bevind dat organisasies vir dowes `n belangstelling toon in die behoeftes van dowe gemeenskappe en skole vir dowes wanneer dit kom by MIV-voorkomming. Hulle het dit egter met tye problematies gevind om leerders op te voed oor MIV weens verskeie hindernisse. Hierdie hindernisse sluit in kommunikasie-hindernisse sowel as die godsdienstige etos wat wat in sommige skole teenwoordig is en wat nie altyd bevorderlik is tot MIV-onderrig nie. Alhoewel al die opvoeders van dowe en hardhorende adolessente gedurende die vorige fase van die studie aangedui het dat hul wel bewus is van leerders se risiko vir MIV/VIGS word sommige van hulle beperk deur bogenoemde kwessies van moraliteit en godsdienstige oortuiging. Sommige deelnemers het daarop gedui dat hul pogings aangewend het om geskikte materiaal te produseer wat spreek tot MIV en seksualiteit onder dowe leerders. Ouers van dowe en hardhorende adolessente was bewus van en word beïnvloed deur kommunikasie-hindernisse, maar was nie bewus van die godsdienstige etos van die skole wat hul kinders bywoon nie. Dowe en hardhorende adolessente was bewus daarvan dat hulle die risiko loop om MIV / vigs op te doen, maar dit blyk dat sommige min kennis dra oor MIV-oordrag. Daar is 'n aantal kwessies wat aangespreek moet word voordat skole vir dowes en hardhorendes instaat sal wees om geskikte MIV/VIGS voorkomingsprogramme aanbied te bied wat voldoen aan die behoeftes van leerders.

German text / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

Sibling relationships are dynamic within any family context and disabilities add a different and even more complex dimension to a family context. In addition, inclusion is a relatively new concept in South Africa, especially as an inclusive society. This means that it is challenging for a family that has children with disabilities to live and function in the greater society as children with disabilities have specialised needs and expectations. However, siblings of children with disabilities have their own needs and expectations as participating individuals within a family context and within society; therefore it is of relevance to be fully aware of their personal views, perceptions, understanding and challenges they are confronted with. The primary aim of this study was to gain a rich and in-depth understanding of how the disabilities of a child could impact on a non-disabled sibling. With the above mentioned taken into account, siblings of children with disabilities are faced with an array of unique challenges that may change as the siblings develop, therefore, this study focused on siblings who are in their middle childhood phase (six to twelve years old). Qualitative research methods were applied to gain an in-depth understanding of the children‘s experiences and views. The review of the literature provided the theoretical framework against which the qualitative research was conducted. Semi-structured interviews were constructed from the comprehensive literature review. Observations and documents were also used as research instruments to collect descriptive and supportive data. Interpretations were made from the data collected. The literature review exposed and recognised variances regarding sibling experiences about living with children with disabilities. Five information rich participants were interviewed. The findings of this empirical investigation revealed that not all the siblings identified the same experiences as shared experiences of being siblings to children with disabilities. Therefore, it is recommended that the challenges these siblings are faced with should be taken into account since it has been revealed that there seems to be a need to support these siblings and their families. The whole family is a nested system interacting with each other, within the family system and with other systems beyond the family system, including the wider community and society. Thus, siblings need regular, understandable and updated information as they grow up, regarding the challenges the families are faced with, pertaining to the disabilities experienced, within this nested system. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counseling)

As a result of a complex range of cultural, economic and social factors, contributions by learning disabled people to the production of knowledge have been at best marginalised and at worst rendered silent. This study seeks to break that silence by engaging learning disabled people as co-producers of disability and media research discourses. It does this in two main ways: by addressing the manner in which they are positioned in the research process, and by identifying the ways in which they are (mis)represented or not in newspapers. This research not only investigates but it also presents new ways of giving learning disabled people a say in the knowledge production process. y the adoption of a mixed method approach in which learning disabled people are placed at the centre of the research process, this study aims to identify and critically analyse the significance and meanings of representations of learning disabled adults by the contemporary, print version of English national newspapers. Drawing from both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, it uniquely incorporates distinct but interrelated data collection stages, including a research advisory group and two focus groups with learning disabled people and their supporters, alongside a content analysis of five hundred and forty six learning disability news stories. This study offers new insights into the application and development of inclusive research principles, highlighting the contributions of supporters to the research process and the roles of a nondisabled inclusive researcher. It reveals the predominant ways by which learning disabled adults are represented by newspapers and how they are not generally engaged as sources of these news stories, while presenting the views of focus group members, throughout these discussions of the content analysis. This thesis concludes with a consideration of the implications of the findings for the future direction of inclusive research practices and media discourses that engage learning disabled people as co-producers of knowledge.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research assignment is a detailed descriptive investigation of the lobbying role played by the Disabled People South Africa (DPSA) in the post-apartheid era in South Africa. The period under investigation is 1994-2001. The focus is on the DPSA as a lobbyist attempting to influence policy in favour of the disabled people in South Africa. In doing this, the study gives an overview of the three important concepts in this study, namely policy-making, disability and lobbying. The three concepts are analysed and looked at particularly from a South Africa perspective. The study utilises different methods of data collection. Disabled people have a history of being exposed to discrimination. After 1994 South Africa had a Constitution that outlawed such a practice against disabled people. South Africa in its democracy has new policies that are different from the ones that were governing the country during the apartheid era. The DPSA, as an umbrella body representing the disabled, now has to play a more effective role regarding the advocating for its members. Hence this study is conducted during the 1994-2001 period. The study mainly focuses on what and how the DPSA has tried to influence lobbying policy-making in favour of the disabled. The conclusion of the study is that the DPSA has achieved success directly and indirectly. The DPSA has managed to playa significant role in the improvement of the lives of disabled people in South Africa. However, it is recommended that the DPSA should make more efforts in addition to what has been done up to this far. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingsopdrag is 'n gedetailleerde beskrywende studie van die rol wat die werwing van steun deur die Gestremde Mense van Suid Afrika (DPSA) in die postapartheid era 1994-2001 in Suid-Afrika speel. Die fokus is op die DPSA as 'n steunwerwer om die beleid te beïnvloed ten gunste van gestremde mense in Suid-Afrika. Deur dit te doen gee hierdie studie 'n oorsig van drie belangrike konsepte, naamlik beleidvorming, gestremdheid en steunwerwing. Hierdie drie konsepte is spesifiek vanuit 'n Suid-Afrikaanse perspektief ontleed. Die studie gebruik verskillende metodes om data te versamel. Gestremde mense het 'n geskiedenis van blootstelling aan diskriminasie. Na 1994 het Suid-Afrika 'n grondwet wat diskriminasie teen gestremde mense onwettig verklaar het. 'n Demokratiese Suid-Afrika het nuwe beleide wat verskillend is van dié wat die land tydens die apartheid era gehad het. Die DPSA, as 'n sambreelorganisasie, verteenwoordigend van gestremdes, moes nou 'n meer effektiewe rol speel in die verdediging van sy lede. Die studie fokus hoofsaaklik op die voordele wat die DPSA gekry het ten gunste van die gestremdes. Die gevolgtrekking van die studie is dat die DPSA direkte en indirekte suksesse behaal het. Die DPSA het dit reggekry om 'n belangrike rol te speel in die verbetering van die lewe van gestremdes in Suid-Afrika. Daar is nietemin voorgestel dat die DPSA meer pogings moet aanwend, addisioneel tot dit wat reeds gedoen is.

Thesis (MPhil (Rehabilitation))--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African National Census (1996) reports a disability prevalence of 6,6% in South Africa. In November 1999 the government paid out 635 881 temporary or permanent disability grants. Legislation is in place to allow the Department of Social Services to administer the grants. For this study demographic information of disability grant recipients in a semi-rural area was sought in order to improve understanding of disability and to assist in service delivery. The study was executed in Kleinmond, a coastal town in the Western Cape with a population of 3 918, where 189 people reported a disability during the 1996 census. Objective The objective of this study was to determine the disability profile, caregiver utilization and needs of disability grant recipients in Kleinmond, Western Cape, South Africa. METHODS A descriptive survey was the study design of choice. The study population consisted of recipients of a permanent disability grant who collected their grants at the Kleinmond Post Office in June 1999. In order to capture the necessary information, a questionnaire was developed based on the disability catalogue of the International Classification of Impairment, Disability and Handicap (ICIDH) of the World Health Organisation. Pilot studies were conducted and the researcher interviewed 29 grantees during the main study in Kleinmond in June/July 1999. Repeatability of the questionnaire was tested. Ninety six percent of the responses were the same on the second visit to four randomly selected grantees. Data was analysed with the statistical software package STATISTICA. RESULTS The response rate was 90% (29/32). The mean age of the mainly male grantees was 42 years (range: 18 - 64). Most grantees were single, but the majority stayed with someone else. Ninety three percent (27/29) were unemployed while 69% (20/29) felt they were able to work. Most grantees took regular medication and the majority accessed health services at the primary level local clinic. Twenty five grantees (86%or 25/29) reported multiple disabilities, while one person did not fit into any of the categories. The most common disability category was situational disability (82% or 24/29). Nineteen persons with disabilities (66% or 19/29) relied on help which was mainly given by the parents. Assistance was needed with activities such as collecting the disability grant, shopping and managing money. With regard to needs of grantees, most found it important to have the clinic closer to their homes (52% or 15/29), to increase the amount of the disability grant (76% or 22/29) and to raise awareness of disability in the community (69% or 20/29). CONCLUSION Most disability grant recipients in this study reported problems in many of the seven disability categories of the ICIDH, i.e. multiple disabilities. This is consistent with the assumption that only severely disabled people qualify for a permanent disability grant in South Africa. This might explain why the majority of the grantees utilized a caregiver for some tasks. Needs with regard to health and social services of this defined group of persons with disabilities in Kleinmond will be brought to the attention of the authorities, who are planning a new community centre and clinic. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Volgens die Nasionale Sensus opname van 1996 is die prevalensie van ongeskiktheid in Suid- Afrika 6.6%. Bevindinge dui aan dat 635881 individue 'n ongskiktheidstoelaag ontvang. Hierdie toelae word volgens wetgewing deur die Departement van Maatskaplike Dienste ge-administreer. In hierdie studie is demografiese inligting van individue wat 'n ongeskiktheidstoelaag ontvang ingesamel in 'n poging om insig in gestremdheid en dienslewering aan gestremdes te verbeter. Die studiepopulasie het bestaan uit individue wat 'n ongeskiktheidstoelaag in die Wes-Kaapse kusdorp Kleinmond ontvang. Kleinmond het 'n populasie van 3 918 waarvan 189 individue ongeskik is volgens die 1996 sensus. DOEL Die doel van die studie was om 'n ongesiktheidsprofiel van individue in Kleinmond te bepaal, asook te evalueer of hulle versorgers benodig het en om hulle behoeftes te bepaal. METODOLOGIE Daar is gebruik gemaak van 'n beskrywende studie. Die studiepopulasie het bestaan uit aile individue woonagtig in Kleinmond wat 'n permanente ongeskiktheidstoelaag ontvang het en dit by die poskantoor afgehaal het. Data is deur middel van 'n vraelys ingesamel. Die vraelys is gebaseer op die ongeskiktheids katalogus van die Internasionale Klassifikasie van Gebrek, Ongeskiktheid en Gestremdheid (ICIDH) van die Wereld Gesondheidsorganisasie. Die vraelys is getoets deur middel van loodsstudies. Die betroubaarheid van die vraelys is ook getoets deur tydens die navorsing dieselfde vrae tydens 'n tweede besoek aan vier kandidate te stel. Hierdie vier individue is ewekansig geselekteer en 96% van die response het ooreen gestem met die van die eerste besoek. Data is verkry van 29 individue gedurende Junie/Julie 1999. Data analise is met behulp van STATISTICA, 'n statistiese sagteware pakket, gedoen.RESULTATE Die responskoers was 90% (29/32). Die meerderheid van die studiepopulasie was manlik met 'n gemiddelde ouderdom van 42 jaar (rykwydte: 18 - 64). Individue was meerendeels ongetroud en het wonings met ander persone gedeel. Uit die studiepopulasie was 93% (27/29) individue werkloos. Van hierdie groep het 69% (20/29) egter gevoel dat hulle wei een of ander vorm van arbeid kan verrig. Bykans aile individue uit die studiepopulasie het gereeld medikasie gebruik. Die plaaslike prirnere gesondheids kliniek is deur die meeste individue benut vir gesondheidssorg. Meeste individue (86% of 25/29) het meer as een ongeskiktheid gehad en een persoon het nie in enige van die kateqoriee ingepas nie. Die ongeskiktheid wat die mees algemeenste voorgekom het was situasie-gebonde ongeskiktheid (82% of 24/29). Hulp is hoofsaaklik deur ouers verskaf en 66% individue (19/29) het van hulp gebruik gemaak. Hierdie hulp was meestal nodig met aktiwiteite soos die afhaal van die ongeskiktheidtoelaag, die doen van inkopies en die bestuur van persoonlike finansies. Die studiepopulasie het 3 groot behoeftes uitgespreek naamlik 'n kliniek nader aan hulle wonings (52% of 15/29), 'n verhoging in die ongeskiktheidstoelaag (76% of 22/29) en .n groter bewustheid van ongeskiktheid in die gemeenskap (69% of 20/29). Samevatting Baie van die individue uit die studiepopulasie het ongeskikthede in meer as een van die ongeskiktheidskategoriee aangedui. Hierdie bevinding is in ooreenstemming met die aanname dat in Suid-Afrika slegs individue met erge ongeskiktheid n ongeskiktheidstoelaag ontvang. Dit kan moontlik ook verklaar waarom die meerderheid van die populasie versorgers benodig het vir die uitvoer van sekere take. Die behoeftes van hierdie studiepopulasie sal onder die aandag van die plaaslike owerheid, wat tans besig is met die beplanning van 'n nuwe gemeensskapssentrum en kliniek, gebring word.

Thesis (MPhil (Rehabilitation))-- University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The needs and rights of people with disabilities are often not adequately featured in national development strategies. Furthermore, their aspirations to participate in community activities are denied by socio-economic and cultural barriers in societies. Against this background, the aim of this study was to explore the involvement of people with disabilities in poverty-reduction strategies in Malawi. In particular, the study investigated the factors that promoted or hindered their participation in development strategies and showed how the contributions of people with disabilities were reflected in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS). This study could be a useful resource in bringing about an understanding of disability inclusion in the context of the MGDS in Malawi. The study was conducted in three main cities of Malawi, namely; Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu. Qualitative research methods were used employing an exploratory study design. Data was collected using two data collection methods, namely; key informant interviews and focus group discussions. A purposive sample of 15 people was selected to participate in key informant interviews. Using these key informants, a snowballing technique was used to identify 30 respondents that participated in three focus group discussions, each comprising 10 participants. Interviews were conducted until saturation point was reached and no new information was elicited. Interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A thematic content analysis was conducted following a systematic process of coding data and grouping codes into categories from which themes were generated. This study has shown that there was minimal participation of people with disabilities in consultation meetings of the MGDS formation process. Overall, the study found that people with disabilities have limited education and knowledge to effectively participate at policy-making level. The study also found that the process of including disability in all spheres of life is very slow because of societal stereotypes and negative attitudes towards disability. Although there are several disability legal frameworks, there is no Disability Act that is enforceable by law. Therefore, people with disabilities are not protected by law. This trend should be reversed to improve self-representation of people with disabilities throughout policy formation processes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die behoeftes en regte van gestremde mense word dikwels nie voldoende ingesluit by nasionale ontwikkelingstrategieë nie. Meer nog, hierdie mense se strewe om deel te wees van aktiwiteite in die gemeenskap word deur sosio-ekonomiese en kulturele grense in gemeenskappe verhinder. In die lig hiervan is die doelwit van hierdie studie om die betrokkenheid van gestremde mense by armoedeverligtingstrategieë in Malawi te ondersoek. Dié studie fokus in die besonder op dié faktore wat gestremde mense se deelname aan ontwikkelingstrategieë bevorder of verhinder, en toon aan hoe die bydraes van gestremde mense in die Malawi Groei- en Ontwikkelingstrategie (MGOS) weerspieël word. Hierdie studie kan 'n nuttige instrument wees om begrip te vestig vir gestremde mense in die konteks van die MGOS. Die studie is uitgevoer in drie hoofstede van Malawi, naamlik Blantyre, Lilongwe en Mzuzu. Kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes is met behulp van 'n proefstudieontwerp gebruik. Inligting is verkry deur twee data-insamelingsmetodes te gebruik, naamlik onderhoude met segspersone en fokusgroepbesprekings. 'n Doelgerigte steekproef van 15 mense is gekies om aan die onderhoude met die belangrikste segspersone deel te neem. Tydens hierdie onderhoude is 'n sneeubaltegniek gebruik om 30 respondente te identifiseer, wat toe deelgeneem het aan 3 fokusgroepbesprekings wat elk uit 10 deelnemers bestaan het. Onderhoude is gevoer totdat 'n versadigingspunt bereik is en geen nuwe inligting ingewin kon word nie. Onderhoude is opgeneem en verbatim getranskribeer. 'n Tematiese inhoudsontleding is gedoen deur 'n sistematiese proses om inligting te kodeer en kodes in kategorieë te groepeer, waaruit temas dan geïdentifiseer is. Hierdie studie toon aan dat gestremde mense minimaal betrokke was by konsultasievergaderings oor die MGOS se vormingsproses. Oor die algemeen het die studie bevind dat gestremde mense te min opleiding en kennis het om op beleidsvormende vlak doeltreffend te kan deelneem. Die studie het ook bevind dat die proses om gestremde mense by alle sfere van die lewe in te sluit, baie stadig verloop weens die samelewing se stereotipes en negatiewe ingesteldheid teenoor gestremde mense. Al is daar verskeie regsplanne vir gestremde mense in plek, is daar geen Wet op Ongeskiktheid wat afgedwing kan word nie. Daarom word gestremde mense nie deur die wet beskerm nie. Hierdie neiging behoort omgekeer te word om selfverteenwoordiging van gestremde mense in al die beleidsvormingsprosesse te bevorder.

Thesis (MPhil (Rehabilitation))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Despite the ever increasing number of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Ethiopia and the resulting conditions of abject poverty, efforts made to curb the existing situation, thereby improving the lives and citizenry contributions of PWDs, has been minimal. Consequently, poverty and insufficient participation of PWDs continue to be the distinctive features characterizing the disability sector and movement in Ethiopia. This research was aimed at investigating the role, involvement and impact of PWDs and the Disability Rights Movement (DRM) in Ethiopia in realizing the effective inclusion of disability in the country‟s development agenda, with a specific focus on Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs). A qualitative research paradigm, using a case study design, was employed as a research method in this study. Data were collected using two data collection methods; namely, key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs). Purposive sampling and snowballing techniques were used to select 44 people who participated in ten key informant interviews and three focus group discussions (each FGD attended by 8 to 10 participants). The researcher was flexible enough to conduct additional KIIs and FGDs until the data saturation point was reached. Semi-Structured Interview Guides were employed as data collection tools. A thematic content analysis was conducted following a systematic process of coding data and grouping codes into categories and emerging themes. The study was conducted in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, in collaboration with the Federation of Ethiopian National Associations for People with Disabilities (FENAPD) – the umbrella Disabled People Organization (DPO) in Ethiopia. The results of the study revealed that the disability movement in Ethiopia has not been active enough in ensuring the involvement of PWDs in the country‟s development endeavours. It was also reiterated that, even if the Ethiopian government was one of the first signatories of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the practical recognition that it has so far conferred to disability and PWDs in its development plans has been less than satisfactory. The study also underlined the fact that some recent progresses, such as the mentioning of disability in the currently under-review third PRSP document of Ethiopia, should be strengthened in order to pave the way for a more comprehensive inclusion of disability. Imminent challenges and opportunities facing the Ethiopian disability movement have also been explored in the study. It is hoped that the results of this study will provide the pertinent disability stakeholders in Ethiopia, including the government, with useful, timely and concrete research evidence, especially as Ethiopia is now engaged in a process of launching its latest PRSP documents. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ten spyte van die immer toenemende getal mense met gestremdhede (MMG's) in Etiopië en die gevolglike volslae armoede, is daar uiters min pogings aangewend om die bestaande situasie te bedwing en só die lewensgehalte en burgerskapbydraes van MMG's te verhoog. Gevolglik bly armoede en die ontoereikende deelname van MMG's eienskappe wat die gestremdheidsektor en -beweging in Etiopië kenmerk. Hierdie navorsing was daarop gemik om ‟n ondersoek te doen na die rol, betrokkenheid en invloed van MMG's en die Beweging vir die Regte van Gestremde Mense (BRGM) in Etiopië om gestremde mense doeltreffend by die land se ontwikkelingsagenda in te sluit, met spesifieke klem op Armoedeverligtingstrategieë (AVS'e). 'n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsparadigma, waartydens 'n gevallestudie gebruik is, was die navorsingsmetode van hierdie studie. Inligting is verkry deur twee data-insamelingsmetodes, naamlik onderhoude met belangrike segspersone (OBS'e) en fokusgroepbesprekings (FGB's). Doelgerigte seleksie en sneeubaltegnieke is gebruik om 44 mense te kies, wat toe aan 10 onderhoude met belangrike segspersone en 3 fokusgroepbesprekings deelgeneem het. (Elke FGB het uit 8 tot 10 deelnemers bestaan.) Die navorser was buigsaam genoeg om meer onderhoude en groepbesprekings te hou totdat die inligting 'n versadigingspunt bereik het. Semigestruktureerde onderhoudsriglyne is gebruik as instrument om die inligting in te samel. 'n Tematiese inhoudsontleding is gedoen ná 'n sistematiese proses om inligting te kodeer en kodes in kategorieë en duidelike temas te groepeer. Die studie is uitgevoer in Addis Abeba, die hoofstad van Etiopië, in samewerking met die Federasie van Etiopiese Nasionale Verenigings vir Mense met Gestremdhede (FENVMG) – die oorkoepelende organisasie vir gestremde mense in Etiopië. Die bevinding van hierdie studie is dat die gestremdheidsbeweging in Etiopië nie aktief genoeg is om die betrokkenheid van MMG's in die land se ontwikkelingsondernemings te verseker nie. Daar is ook bevestig dat, selfs al was die regering van Etiopië een van die eerste ondertekenaars van die Verenigde Nasies (VN) se Kongres oor die Regte van Mense met Gestremdhede (KRMG), die praktiese erkenning wat tot dusver aan gestremde mense in dié land se ontwikkelingsplanne gegee is, geensins bevredigend is nie. Die studie lê ook klem daarop dat onlangse vordering, soos dat gestremde mense genoem word in die derde AVS-dokument van Etiopië, wat tans hersien word, versterk behoort te word. Só kan die weg gebaan word vir 'n meer omvattende insluiting van gestremde mense. Naderende uitdagings en geleenthede wat die gestremdheidsbeweging in Etiopië sal moet aanpak, word ook in hierdie studie ondersoek.