There is little literature that explains the relationship between intellectual disability (ID) and physical and sensory disabilities. A review conducted in 1987 indicated increased prevalence of physical health problems amongst people with ID (McLaren & Bryson, 1987). The current classification system used by the International Federation for Para Athletes with Intellectual Disability (INAS) does not take into account any relationship between ID and physical or sensory disabilities . The present study aimed to provide evidence to enable INAS to address the potential inequalities in the classification system and to add to understanding of the relationship between ID and physical and sensory disability. Participants (N=111) were recruited from regional and international sporting events for people with ID. IQ measurements were gained either from records or by administration of an assessment. All participants, with a trusted adult, were administered a semi-structured health interview. Findings indicated a weak negative correlation between IQ and additional physical disability. The data also suggested that level of additional physical disability negatively predicts athletic performance and there is some limited support for the suggestion that IQ positively predicts performance. The findings have implications for INAS and health/social care services.

There is a need for appropriate screening tools for the assessment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in those with learning disabilities (LD) given the co-occurrence of the two conditions. The AQ-10 is the screening tool recommended by NICE (2012) for the case identification of ASD in adults with a borderline or mild learning disability. However, the AQ-10 was not developed with this population in mind. A mixed-methods approach was used to investigate the utility of the AQ-10 in its original form as a case identification tool. The AQ-10 was then redesigned and piloted. Qualitative results revealed individuals found the AQ-10 too inaccessible in its current format. Following revision, the diagnostic validity of the revised measure (AQ-10-R) showed good sensitivity (0.85) and specificity (0.77), whereas the diagnostic validity of the original AQ-10 was poor. The internal consistency for the AQ-10-R was 0.67 and 0.30 for the AQ-10. These findings indicate that simple formatting and administration changes may be needed to the AQ-10 before clinicians consider using it when helping to make decisions regarding referral for diagnostic assessment in those with borderline or mild learning disabilities.

This thesis examines the potentially restorative power of adaptive sport, based upon the experiences of traumatically injured British military personnel. It investigates how participation in adaptive sport may contribute to personnel’s adaptation of identity and the re-establishment of their meaning of life post-traumatic injury. Through a series of in-depth interviews, I attempted to gain a greater understanding of the experience of and recovery from life-changing injuries, seeking to comprehend the impact of adaptive sport in this process. In line with current research in the field of disability studies, this research adopted a social construction approach. The results of the analysis are set within the social model of disability in order to try to highlight the impacts of the perceptions of disability, embedded in the dominant medical model discourse, on the participant’s lives. Key findings highlighted by this research are i; the influence that the medical model discourse has on the British military mentality and their approach to injury, ii; the process of identity adaptation and the importance of adaptive-sport-participation to provide focus and help individuals realise their potential, iii; the experience of adaptive sport as a tool to bring back meaning of life and iv; the process of ‘normalisation’ and the way individuals are self-determined to restore some sense of normality by participating in adaptive sport and positive adaptation to trauma, whereby adaptive sport acts as a tool to set the right conditions for individuals to experience positive phenomena. Throughout this thesis, I have attempted to provide an open and reflexive account of the whole research process in order to make the reader aware of the possible effects of my own background on the research outcomes.

Thesis (MOccTher)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Despite the existence of many guidelines for rehabilitation services both internationally and in South Africa, there is a need for a uniform format for the measurement and reporting of outcomes reached by clients utilising these services. Traditionally, statistics on client numbers fail to report actual outcomes attained by clients. Aim: This aim of the study was to describe the outcomes achieved by clients after participating in rehabilitation at the Bishop Lavis Rehabilitation Centre (BLRC) over a three month period. It was done by describing clients’ function according to the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Function (ICF) model, and included both the environmental and personal factors impacting on an individual’s function. Method: The study employed a descriptive design and used six measuring instruments which exceeded acceptable test-retest requirements to gather data from within the framework of the ICF Model. A field worker was trained to administer the majority of instruments which were pilot-tested for pre and post-test purposes. A sample of 78 clients who met the inclusion criteria was selected from the five main diagnostic categories seen at the BLRC. All clients were evaluated on referral, and again after receiving rehabilitation services for three months. An open-ended questionnaire was also administered as part of the post-test to obtain clients’ personal perspective on outcomes reached, as well as their subjective opinion of the rehabilitation experience. Data on the impact of various demographic and environmental factors on function was also gathered and statistically analysed in conjunction with the qualitative data obtained from the interviews in order to identify the rehabilitation outcomes achieved by the clients included in this study. Results: Clients reported a statistically significant decrease in the impact of disability on their function, with ‘mobility’ emerging as the aspect of function which improved the most after rehabilitation. The effect of most demographic and environmental factors investigated were perceived as facilitating rather than debilitating to rehabilitative outcomes, with ‘faith’ reported to be most facilitating and ‘monthly income’ the most debilitating of all factors. Subjectively, clients perceived their participation in rehabilitation to be a contributing factor to the improvement in their function, and generally expressed a positive attitude toward the rehabilitation experience. Recommendations based on the results of this study are presented to inform governing bodies involved in rehabilitation in South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ten spyte van die bestaan van veelvuldige riglyne vir rehabilitasie dienste, beide internasionaal en in Suid-Afrika, is daar steeds ‘n behoefte vir uniforme riglyne vir die meting en rapportering van die uitkomste wat kliënte bereik met deelname aan hierdie dienste. Tradisionele statistiek rakende kliëntegetalle rapporteer nie die werklike uitkomste wat kliënte bereik het nie. Doel: Die doel van die studie was om die uitkomste te beskryf wat kliënte bereik na hul deelname aan rehabilitasie by Bishop Lavis Rehabilitasiesentrum (BLRS) oor ‘n drie maande periode. Dit is gedoen deur kliënte se funksionering te beskryf volgens die Wêreld Gesondheidsorganisasie se Internasionale Klassifikasie van Funksie (IKF) model, insluitend beide die omgewings- en persoonlike faktore wat ‘n impak op ‘n individu se funksionering kon hê. Metode: Die studie het gebruik gemaak van ‘n beskrywende studiestruktuur. Dit het ses meetinstrumente gebruik wat beter as aanvaarbare vereistes vir toets-hertoets-betroubaarheid getoon het om data binne die raamwerk van die IKF-model in te samel. ‘n Veldwerker is opgelei vir die administrasie van die meerderheid van die meetinstrumente wat vir voor- en na-toets doeleindes in ‘n loodstudie getoets is. ‘n Steekproef van 78 kliënte wat aan die insluitingskriteria voldoen het, is geselekteer uit die vyf hoof diagnostiese groepe gesien by BLRS. Alle kliënte is geevalueer met verwysing en weer na hulle drie maande se rehabilitasie dienste ontvang het. Administrasie van ‘n oop-einde vraelys is ook as deel van na-toetsing gedoen om kliënte se persoonlike perspektief van die uitkomste wat hulle bereik het in te samel, sowel as hulle subjektiewe opinie van die rehabilitasieproses. Data oor die impak wat verskeie demografiese en omgewingsfaktore op funksionering kon hê is ingesamel, statisties ontleed en gebruik saam met die kwalitatiewe data wat met onderhoudsvoering ingesamel is om sodoende die rehabilitasieuitkomste te identifiseer wat behaal is deur kliënte wat ingesluit was in die studie. Resultate: Kliënte rapporteer ‘n statisties beduidende vermindering in die impak van gestremdheid op hulle funksionering, met ‘mobiliteit’ wat uitstaan as die area van funksionering wat die meeste verbeter het na rehabilitasie. Die effek van die meeste demografiese en omgewingsfaktore wat ondersoek was, is as fassiliterend eerder as inhiberend tot rehabilitasieuitkomste ervaar, met ‘geloof’ gerapporteer as die mees fassiliterende en ‘maandelikse inkomste’ as die die mees inhiberende faktor. Op 'n subjektiewe vlak het kliënte hul deelname aan rehabilitasie as ‘n bydraende faktor tot hul verbetering in funksionering ervaar, en het hulle oor die algemeen ‘n positiewe houding teenoor rehabilitasie gerapporteer.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Technology and disability are both terms laden with associations, values, meanings and even myths. This becomes clear in this research when both terms are described in the first part, and the various understandings of the terms are explained. When the two terms are considered in relation to each other, the result is a series of questions and ethical problems. In this assignment the focus is specifically on these questions and ethical problems that arise out of the relationship between technology and disability. The research is not done from a natural science perspective (with regard to technology) and lor a medical perspective (with regards to disability), but from a philosophical-ethical perspective. The main aim of this research is to think about what the role of technology is in the life of the disabled in general and what ethical questions arise from it. To form a philosophical-ethical perspective the question is asked: should technology be accepted unequivocally as something that always contributes to the humanization of the disabled? More specifically the assignment focuses on the issue: does cochlear implants contribute to the humanization of the deaf? The potential problematic relationship between the concepts is clear from the separate discussions. The limitations and problems of cochlear implants as an example of technology is shown when it is placed within the framework of a humanizing relationship. It is clear that technology can not be accepted unequivocally as something that always contributes to the humanization of the disabled. The research emphasizes that disability is much more than physical limitations and that compensating for the limitations through technology does not always address all the aspects of a disabled person's life - and can consequently have a dehumanizing effect. A more holistic approach is considered - one in which all the aspects of being human is addressed. The unique challenges of the South African context is discussed shortly and in conclusion the necessity of an "ethics of responsibility" is shown. Reflection on technology and disability is in the end reflection on life and the mysteries of life. Disability that reminds us of our limitations and shortcomings, also reminds us that life is not in our control and that a big part of living is an unsolvable riddle, a mystery. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tegnologie en gestremdheid is twee gelade terme. Beide verwys na 'n omvangryke wêreld en potensiële probleme. Dit word duidelik in hierdie ondersoek wanneer beide terme omskryf word in die eerste afdeling, en die verskillende verstaansmoontlikhede van die terme uitgewys word. Waar die twee terme in verband met mekaar gebring word, ontstaan daar uiteindelik 'n hele string vrae en etiese probleme. In hierdie skripsie word daar spesifiek op hierdie vrae en etiese probleme, wat ontstaan uit die verhouding tussen tegnologie en gestremdheid, gefokus. Die ondersoek vind nie plaas vanuit 'n suiwer natuurwetenskaplike perspektief (mbt tegnologie) en/of mediese perspektief (mbt gestremdheid) nie, maar vanuit 'n filosofies-etiese perspektief. Om 'n filosofies-etiese perspektief te vorm, word die vraag gevra: moet tegnologie ongekwalifiseerd aanvaar word as iets wat altyd bydra tot die humanisering van die gestremdes? Meer spesifiek word dan ondersoek ingestel na die vraag: dra kogleêre inplantings by tot die humanisering van die dowe? Die vernaamste doel met hierdie ondersoek is dus om na te dink oor wat die rol van tegnologie in die lewe van gestremdes in die algemeen is en watter etiese kwessies dit oproep. Die problematiek rondom dowes en kogleêre inplantings gaan as 'n spesifieke voorbeeld bekyk word. Die begrippe tegnologie en gestremdheid word eers omskryf in die ondersoek. Die potensiële problematiek tussen die verhouding tussen die twee terme (en wêrelde) blyk reeds uit die afsonderlike bespreking van die terme. Die verhouding waarin tegnologie en gestremdheid tot mekaar staan word uitgelig deur sekere voorbeelde te noem, en dan word daar spesifiek op kogleêre inplantings gefokus. Die beperkings en problematiek van kogleêre inplantings as spesifieke tegnologie word duidelik wanneer dit binne die raamwerk van die vraag gestel word of dit 'n humaniserende verhouding is. Dit is duidelik dat tegnologie nie ongekwalifiseerd aanvaar kan word as iets wat altyd bydra tot die humanisering van die gestremdes nie. Die ondersoek beklemtoon uiteindelik dat gestremdheid veel meer behels as blote liggaamlike gebreke en dat die kompensasie daarvoor deur tegnologie nie altyd as humaniserend ervaar word nie. 'n Meer holistiese benadering word bepleit - een waarin alle fasette van die mens (gestremde) se behoeftes aangespreek word. Die unieke uitdagings wat dit inhou vir ons Suid-Afrikaanse konteks word kortliks bespreek en ten slotte word daar gewys op die noodsaaklikheid van 'n letiek van verantwoordelikheid'. Nadenke oor tegnologie en gestremdheid is uiteindelik nadenke oor die lewe en oor die geheimenisse daarvan. Gestremdheid wat ons herinner aan ons tekortkominge en beperkinge, herinner ons ook daaraan dat die lewe 'n misterie is.

Thesis (PhD (Sport Science))—University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Sport performance management has emerged as a specialization in sport science that is focused on providing the athlete and coach with optimal information about training programmes and the support services needed in order to pursue excellence. As a more professional approach to disability sport has grown with the international status of the Paralympics, sport performance management dealing specifically with athletes with disabilities requires development. The purpose of this study was to focus on documenting the delivery of sport science support for three cyclists with cerebral palsy training for the Athens Paralympics. A case study approach was taken in this research that provided sport science support to three cyclists. Documentation of the training experience of each cyclist over 18 months of training leading up to the Games, was accomplished by quantification of daily training as well as periodic laboratory testing. A comprehensive picture was drawn of training intensities, modalities and frequencies for each cyclist during each macro-cycle, with special attention to the following three variables. Power output and lactate Power output and VO2 max Peak and mean sprint power output (Wingate test) Two of the three cyclists perceived the support they received to have been critical to the success of their preparation. The investigator concluded that sport management has an important role to play in the development of disability sport at the elite level, and that a lot more hard training is possible for cyclists with cerebral palsy, than some coaches may have previously believed, especially in terms of intensity and duration.

On t.p.: Master of Arts (Clinical Psychology) / Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Progress has been made in the approach to combating the spread of HIV/AIDS with regards to the Department of Health's presentation of the HIV/AIDS/STD Strategic Plan for South Africa. However, deep concem exists with regards to specific marginalized groups such as disabled persons within the South African sector threatened by the spread of HIV/AIDS. The aim of this paper was to review published academic papers on the specific ways in which disabled people are at risk for contracting HIV/AIDS, and the existence of primary prevention programmes designed and specifically aimed at the disability sector. The roles of non-governmental and other organisations were also looked at. The first section of the review focused on high-risk behaviour among disabled persons for contracting HIV/AIDS. Existing literature covered mainly areas of intellectual disability and psychiatric disability. Disabled persons struggle with the same issues of good education, workers' rights, gender equality, health care and social support and well-being as the general population. These issues are however exacerbated by struggles unique to those living with a disability. Inadequate public and social support increase disabled people's vulnerability to issues such as poverty, lack of resources, and inadequate education, heightening their risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. The second section of the review discusses the area of primary prevention, explaining why prevention programmes should be tailormade for specific needs such as those of disabled persons. Examples of prevention programmes from the literature are looked at, as well as a prevention initiative launched in South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vooruitgang is gemaak op die gebied van die voorkoming van die verspreiding van MIVNIGS met die bekendstelling van die Departement van Gesondheid se MIVNIGS/STD Strategiese Plan vir Suid-Afrika. Daar is wel steeds kommer oor spesifieke gemarginaliseerde groepe, soos gestremde persone, binne die Suid- Afrikaanse sektor wat bedreig word deur die verspreiding van MIVNIGS. Die doel van die studie was om 'n oorsig te kry van akademiese materiaal wat gepubliseer is oor die spesifieke wyses waarop mense met 'n gestremdheid in gevaar verkeer om MIVNIGS op te doen, asook primêre voorkomingsprogramme wat spesifiek ontwerp en gemik is op die gestremde sektor. Daar is ook gekyk na die rol van nie-regerings- en ander organisasies. Die eerste deel van die studie fokus op hoë risiko gedrag van gestremde persone wat hulle in gevaar mag stel vir die opdoen van MIVNIGS. Bestaande literatuur handel meestaloor die areas van intellektuele gestremdheid en psigiatriese siektes. Gestremde persone moet dieselfde uitdagings oorkom as diegene in die algemene populasie, soos byvoorbeeld die gebrek aan goeie onderwys, arbeidsregte, diskriminasie op grond van geslag, gesondheidssorg, asook sosiale steun en algemene welsyn. Gestremde persone se kwessies word egter vererger deur sekere uitdagings wat uniek is aan 'n lewe met 'n gestremdheid. Gestremde persone ontvang meestalonvoldoende publieke en sosiale steun wat dikwels armoede, gebrek aan hulpbronne en onvoldoende opvoeding tot gevolg het. Laasgenoemde verhoog gestremde persone se kanse om MIVNIGS op te doen. Die tweede deel van die studie bespreek primêre voorkomingsprogramme en waarom dit noodsaaklik is om voorkomingsprogramme te ontwerp wat uitsluitlik gemik is op spesifieke populasies. Daar word dan ook gekyk na voorbeelde van primêre voorkomingsprogramme in die literatuur, asook 'n voorkomingsinisiatief wat in Suid-Afrika geloods is.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Several legislative documents that promote the inclusion and economic integration of persons with disabilities have been introduced over the previous two decades in South Africa. However, it is still estimated that as many as 99% of persons with disabilities are unemployed (Dube, 2005). Employment equity quotas for persons with disabilities have not been met in either the public or the private sector (CEE Report, 2007).The reasons for this remain largely unexplored in many sectors including the hospitality sector. The hospitality sector - the focus of this study - makes a significant economic contribution to the country and is the largest most diverse labour force sector in South Africa (THETA, 2009). The aim of the study is to examine the employment of persons with disabilities in three hotels in the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town. A descriptive, qualitative case study methodology was implemented for the study. Three purposively sampled hotels in Cape Town`s Victoria and Alfred Waterfront provided the study setting. Participants included managers from these hotels as well as employees with and without disabilities from each of the hotels. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and content analysis was conducted to identify emerging issues according to themes. Findings indicate a medically oriented perception of disability with a focus on physical impairments. A lack of knowledge and guidance in policy documents and from the Department of Labour perpetuate these perceptions. Participants were aware of employment equity policy, but saw it as being orientated to race and gender and did not apply it to persons with disabilities. Application was also not enforced through monitoring by the Department of Labour. Barriers to employment include discrimination and stereotyping, the physical nature and type of jobs, physical access barriers, a lack of education and skills as well as a lack of applications from persons with disabilities. Facilitators included improved Black Economic Empowerment scoring, a motivational aspect, the variety of jobs available and guests and employees with disabilities. Findings on the provision of reasonable accommodation focused mainly on the accommodation of guests and examined physical and structural aspects of the environment. One of the conclusions of the study was that legislation governing the employment of persons with disabilities was poorly implemented in the hotels examined by this study. It is recommended that hotels contract a disability consultant to run disability awareness campaigns within the hotels. In addition, the Department of Labour must monitor policy implementation with regard to persons with disabilities. Disabled people`s organisations should create a platform for communication with government departments responsible for social policy and legislation in an effort to promote and encourage the debate on disability definitions and to act as a watchdog over the implementation of policy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wetgewing met die doel om ekonomiese integrasie van persone met gestremdhede te bevorder is in die laaste twee dekades in Suid Afrika aanvaar. Ten spyte daarvan word daar beraam dat soveel soos 99% van persone met gestremdhede in Suid Afrika werkloos is (Dube, 2005). Nie die staat of die privaatsektor kon nog daarin slaag om die twee present kwota te bereik nie (CEE Verslag, 2007). Die redes daarvoor is tot `n groot mate onbekend in veskeie sektore, insluitende die gasvryheidheidsektor, waar hierdie studie gedoen is. Die gasvryheidsektor maak `n beduidende bydrae tot die Suid Afrikaanse ekonomie en het van die grootste en mees diverse arbeidsmagte in Suid Afrika (THETA, 2009). Die doel van die studie was om die situasie aangaande werk en persone met gestremdhede in drie hotelle in die Victoria en Alfred Waterfront, Kaapstad, te beskryf. `n Beskrywende, kwalitatiewe, geval studie metodologie is geimplimenteer. Drie studie hotelle is doelbewus geselekteer. Bestuurders sowel as werknemers met en sonder gestremdhede uit die drie hotelle het aan die studie deelgeneem. Data is ingesamel deur middel van semi gestruktureerde onderhoude. Ontluikende temas is geidentifiseer tydens analise van data. Deelnemers se persepsies van gestremdheid het gefokes op fisiese en mediese probleme. `n Gebrek aan kennis en te min leiding uit beleidsdokumente en van die Department van Arbeid het die persepsie versterk. Deelnemers was bekend met gelyke indiensnemingsbeleid, maar dit is net ten opsigte van ras en geslag in die studie hotelle toegepas. Toepassing van beleid is nie gemonitor deur die Department van Arbeid nie. Aanstelling van persone met gestremdhede is bemoeilik deur diskriminasie, stereotipering, die fisiese aard van die werk, die tipe werk, `n ontoeganklike fisiese omgewing, `n tekort aan opleiding en onderrig by persone met gestremdhede en geen aansoeke van persone met gestremdhede. Fasiliteerders het Swart Ekonomiese Bemagtigings punte, die verskeidenheid van werk, die motiverings aspek sowel as gaste en bestaande werknemers met gestremdhede ingesluit. Redelike Akkommodasie het meestal op gaste gefokus and was beperk tot fisiese en strukturele omgewings aspekte. Daar is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat wetgewing met betrekking tot aanstelling van persone met gestremdhede swak geimplimenteer was in die studie hotelle. Daar word aanbeveel dat die hotelle `n konsultant aanstel om `n interne bewustheidsveldtog van stapel te stuur. Die Department van Arbeid moet implementering van beleid met betrekking tot persone met gestremdhede monitor. Organisasies vir mense met gestremdhede moet `n platform skep vir kommunikasie met die regering ten opsigte van beleids implimentering en om die debat rondom sosiale insluiting en definisies van gestremheid te bevorder.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work