No description available.

Please read the abstract in the section, 00front, of this document / Dissertation (MLog)--University of Pretoria, 2001. / Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) / MLog / Unrestricted

The master's thesis, "A Counselor Training Program in Massage to Increase Contact Between Counselor-Camper Pairs at Camp Koinonia," was implemented at Camp Koinonia a week during the 1983 spring academic quarter. Camp Koinonia, organized in 1977, is sponsored by the VT Recreation Program Area. The study first involved the design of a therapeutic massage training program for the counselors to administer to their multihandicapped campers. A behavioral observation instrument was designed to record the duration and frequency of intentional physical contact between counselor-camper pairs. The rationale for the study was that the training program would encourage healthy physical interaction between each pair, ·and make it easier for the counselor to initiate the physical contact necessary for tending to the camper's physical and emotional needs (i.e., especially in instances- where the counselor must shower, toilet and feed his camper). For experimental purposes there was one control group and one treatment group, the control group consisting of 5 female counselor-camper pairs, and 4 male pairs; the treatment group consisting of 5 male pairs and 5 female pairs. (The control group is short one pair due to attrition.) The experimental group received the treatment and the control group did not. An AB experimental design was used, with a pre-, mid- and post-test observation, the treatment given 3 times during the course of the week. The results were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively and although the researcher concluded that there were no significant differences between the two groups, important trends indicated that the experimental group did more in contact from pre- to posttest measurement periods. / M.S.

No description available.

For a long time the rights of disabled persons have been ignored worldwide. A major obstacle faced by disabled persons is discrimination in the workplace. Due to the development of a social approach to disability and the efforts of the Disability Rights Movement, legislation has been passed throughout the world to improve this dire situation. The thesis considers the efficacy of some of these statutes. It is concluded that stigma and negative stereotypes remain a constant hurdle in overcoming discrimination. The forthcoming UN Disability Convention is demonstrative of the recognition of the importance of the needs and rights of disabled people. The convention proposes some innovative measures to overcome stigma and stereotyping. Mental health problems constitute one of the leading causes of disability. The thesis explores how people with mental health problems fit within the concept of people with disabilities and whether they are included in anti-discrimination legislation and affirmative action measures. Special attention is given to statutory definitions of disability, the different forms of discrimination and the concept of reasonable accommodation. A comparative approach is taken to analyse how South Africa's disability law measures up against that of Britain and Australia in terms of its substantive provisions and enforcement thereof. In considering the South African position American and Canadian jurisprudence is consulted in order to aid in interpretation. It is concluded that although South Africa has a comparatively good legislative framework, it is held back by an overly restrictive and medically focused definition of disability. As a result many individuals with mental health difficulties, desirous of obtaining and retaining employment may be excluded from protection against discrimination in the workplace. It is argued that it will be necessary either to amend the Employment Equity Act or for the courts to adhere strictly to the concept of substantive equality in order to ensure that the rights and dignity of people with mental health difficulties are adequately protected.

The purpose of this project is to examine what strategies can be devised to transition those with learning disabilities into the workforce. This is accomplished by a qualitative review of the history of educational policies and programs used in England, France, Russia, China, Hong Kong, Kenya, and Nigeria. These strengths and weaknesses are compared with the history of policies implemented in the United States, to see what strategies can be used to affect policy changes that will better the chances for employment for those with learning disabilities.

Community-based Rehabilitation (CBR) emerged as a response to the failure of the conventional rehabilitation system in developing countries. CBR involves service provision to People with Disabilities (PWDs), changing community attitudes towards disability and transferring knowledge and skills to PWDs, their families and their community. The study investigated the impact of the CBR strategy on PWDs and their families within the Oniipa Constituency in Namibia. The study used a mixed methods research approach and adopted explorative and descriptive research designs. It determined that CBR has initiated positive change processes in community attitudes and increased social integration of PWDs. The study recommends reviewing the definition of CBR, providing financial incentives to CBR Volunteer Workers and reviewing the current legislations on disability in Namibia. A final recommendation is that government should formalise disability studies in the country through the provision of accredited training courses to ensure greater assistance to PWDs and their families. / Public Administration / M.P.A.

This qualitative study was interested in what needed to be heard from people who have difficulty in putting one foot in front of the other. The research aimed to expose some of the dominant discourses around mobility difficulties through exploring the relationship discourse has with power and to look for less talked about ways of resisting some of the harmful effects of dominant discourses. It also explored how participants used their spiritual beliefs to establish meaning in their mobility difficulty experiences. The exploring was done by employing discourse analysis as analysing tool to search for dominant and alternate meanings found in experiences of mobility difficulties. Theoretical frameworks included practical theology, pastoral care, narrative practices, postmodern ideas, discourse, social construction theory, deconstruction, qualitative research and action research. The researcher's own experience of mobility difficulties has been used as background where she was both an observer and participant. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology with specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Until very recent people with disabilities in South Africa were an overlooked and under-utilised pool of labour. Disabled people have been denied the chance to participate in employment opportunities by becoming economically active and hence contributing towards the economy of the country. This is because employers were seldom or never exposed to the employment of disabled people in the open labour market. The result is that employers are uninformed about the benefits of recruiting disabled candidates. Since the establishment of a new democratic order in South Africa in 1994, new legislation that protects the rights of disabled people was implemented. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (No 108 of 1996), the Labour Relations Act (No 66 of 1995) and the Employment Equity Act (No 55 of 1998) for the first time proclaimed that it is unlawful to discriminate against people with disabilities. The Employment Equity Act (No 55 of 1998) encourages employers to employ persons from designated groups. These designated groups are black people, women and people with disabilities. To enable employers to successfully recruit disabled people in the open labour market, existing recruitment and selection procedures should be reviewed to remove any discriminatory elements. It is during the recruitment and selection process that the disabled applicant are either denied access to employment or not given a fair chance to compete for a position. Currently the Employment Equity Act (No 55 of 1998) only mentions the terms "people with disabilities" and "reasonable accommodation". This Act does not provide guidelines for employers on how to go about recruiting and employing disabled candidates. Therefore the aim of the study is to present practical guidelines regarding the employment of people with disabilities. These guidelines describe in a non-discriminatory manner the recruitment and selection process, such as reviewing job descriptions, the advertisement of positions, interpreting the disabled candidates' curriculum vitae and interviewing the disabled applicant. The idea of reasonable accommodation within the workplace highlights the use and benefits of assistive devices for disabled persons so that the essential functions of a job can be performed. Exploratory-descriptive research was done with the assistance of questionnaires as an instrument for data collection. To meet the aims of this study, an availability sample of 20 businesses (small, medium and large businesses) which also included government departments in the Cape Metropolitan area was selected. The opinions and attitudes of human resources staff and business owners concerning the recruitment of physically disabled people, persons with hearing impairments, persons with visual impairments and persons suffering from epilepsy, were determined. The research findings reflected and discussed in this study indicate that employers do not have recruitment and selection guidelines available to recruit persons with different disabilities successfully. Conclusions and recommendations are made regarding the knowledge and opinions of employers recruiting people with disabilities. The use of recruitment and selection guidelines will benefit both the employer and the disabled candidate. Such guidelines will enable employers to recruit disabled persons in a fair and consistent manner. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tot onlangs was persone met gestremdhede in Suid Afrika onderbenut in die arbeidsmag. Gestremde persone is verhoed om deel te neem aan werksgeleenthede en kon dus nie aktiewe bydraes lewer tot die ekonomie van die land nie. Die rede hiervoor is omdat werkgewers selde of nooit blootgestel is aan die indiensneming van gestremde persone in die ope arbeidsmark nie. Die gevolg is dat werkgewers onkundig en oningelig is oor die voordele wat die indiensneming van persone met gestremdhede bied. Sedert die ontstaan van 'n nuwe demokratiese bedeling in 1994, is nuwe wetgewing daargestel wat die regte van persone met gestremdhede beskerm. Die Konstitusie van die Republiek van Suid Afrika (Nr 108 van 1996), die nuwe Arbeidswet (Nr 66 van 1995) en die Gelyke Indiensnemingwet (Nr 55 van 1998) het vir die eerste keer verklaar dat dit onwettig is om te diskrimineer teen gestremde persone. Die Gelyke Indiensnemingswet (Nr 55 van 1995) moedig werkgewers aan om persone van agtergeblewe groepe in diens te neem. Hierdie agtergeblewe groepe sluit in swart persone, vroue en persone met gestremdhede. Om werkgewers in staat te stel om persone met gestremdhede suksesvol te werf, behoort huidige werwings- en keuringsprosedures hersien te word ten einde diskriminerende faktore te elirnineer. Dit is tydens die keuringsproses dat persone met gestremdhede of verhoed word, of die regverdige kans gegun word om te kompeteer vir 'n betrekking. Die Gelyke Indiensnemingswet (Nr 55 van 1998) noem slegs die terme "persone met gestremdhede" en "redelike voorsorg". Hierdie wet verskaf nie riglyne aan werkgewers oor hoe om werwing en keuring van persone met gestremdhede te behartig nie. Die doelwit van die studie is dus om praktiese riglyne aangaande aanstelling van persone met gestremdhede daar te stel. Hierdie riglyne beskryf die wyse van werwing en keuring op 'n niediskriminerende wyse, soos die hersiening van posbeskrywings, advertensies van betrekkings, die interpretering van gestremde persone se curriculum vitae en die voer van onderhoude met gestremde applikante. Redelike voorsorg beklemtoon die gebruik en voordele van hulpmiddels vir persone met gestremdhede sodat die essensiele werksfunksies verrig kan word. Verkennende beskrywende navorsing is gedoen met behulp van vraelyste om inligting te bekom. Vir die doelwitte van hierdie studie is 'n beskikbaarheidsmonster van 20 besighede (klein, medium en groot besighede), wat regeringsdepartemente ingesluit het in die Kaapse Metropolitaanse gebied gekies. Die menings en opinies van menslike hulpbronne personeel, en besigheidseienaars rakende die werwing van persone met fisiese gestremdhede, persone met gehoorgestremdhede, persone met gesigsgestremdhede asook persone wat aan epilepsie Iy, is vasgestel. Die navorsingresultate van hierdie studie dui aan dat werkgewers tans nie werwings- en keuringsriglyne benut wanneer persone met gestremdhede in diens geneem word nie. Gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings oor die menings van werkgewers rakende die werwing van gestremde persone, is gemaak. Die gebruik van werwings en keuringsriglyne behoort beide die werkgewer en die gestremde kandidaat te bevoordeel. Hierdie riglyne sal werkgewers in staat stel om persone met gestremdhede op 'n regverdige en eenvormige wyse aan te stel.

This qualitative study was interested in what needed to be heard from people who have difficulty in putting one foot in front of the other. The research aimed to expose some of the dominant discourses around mobility difficulties through exploring the relationship discourse has with power and to look for less talked about ways of resisting some of the harmful effects of dominant discourses. It also explored how participants used their spiritual beliefs to establish meaning in their mobility difficulty experiences. The exploring was done by employing discourse analysis as analysing tool to search for dominant and alternate meanings found in experiences of mobility difficulties. Theoretical frameworks included practical theology, pastoral care, narrative practices, postmodern ideas, discourse, social construction theory, deconstruction, qualitative research and action research. The researcher's own experience of mobility difficulties has been used as background where she was both an observer and participant. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology with specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)