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It has been well documented that our physical characteristics exert a strong influence on the way others react to us. The purpose of this study was to investigate college students' attitudes and behavior toward the physically disabled. It was hypothesized that although initial verbal reactions

The Zimbabwean society views persons with disabilities (PWDs) ‘as useless liabilities that have no role to play in society.’ The Zimbabwean Government has also forgotten PWDs since they are not mentioned in all the country’s national budgets. This has led to uncountable barriers faced by PWDs in their bid to be included as equal members of the society. Some of the barriers are constant discrimination, sheer poverty, lack of access to mainstream public services and stigma. Hundreds to thousands of PWDs beg for alms in the streets of every town and city. Zimbabwe then has to be reminded that all PWDs have: a right to enjoy a decent life, as normal and full as possible, a right which lies at the heart of the right to human dignity. This right should be jealously guarded and forcefully protected by all states party to the African Charter in accordance with the well established principle that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Thus, the era of silence when it comes to the realisation of the rights of PWDs in Zimbabwe has to come to an end. All PWDs in Zimbabwe should know that it is by right and not by privilege to be guaranteed full and effective participation, and inclusion in society. It is time for Zimbabwe to embrace all the rights for PWDs without any hesitation. It is time for humanity to celebrate the inherent dignity, individual autonomy, independence and the right not to be discriminated against for all PWDs. Every lawmaker in Zimbabwe has to be reminded to delete from the statute books all laws which view disability as a medical problem and instead, pass laws which are in line with the human rights-based approach which is a more enlightened, realistic and people-centred approach to disability. No time to play but plenty of time to work…! / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2011. / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/ / nf2012 / Centre for Human Rights / LLM

This thesis explores representations of Paralympians within media and advertising. Scholarly research on disability is extremely limited, with current research focusing on print media, and few studies going as far as to perform a discourse analysis. Media representations play a prevalent role in constructing “disability” and have the power to define what it means to be a disabled person. Using a poststructural theoretical framework, I undertake a critical discourse analysis of television advertisements produced by Nike and Visa to uncover what narratives regarding disability are circulating with regularity. I find these advertisements featuring Paralympians serve to reproduce the myth of the “supercrip”, failing to acknowledge the complexity of individual experiences of those living with disabilities. Further, the simultaneous celebration and marginalization of Paralympians, a key dialectic found within these advertisements is indicative of a larger polemics circulating with regularity regarding people with disabilities within our increasingly neoliberal society. / v, 117 leaves ; 29 cm

M.A. (Social Science) / The aim of this study was to gain specific and further knowledge of disability so that people living with disability can be empowered and barriers can be challenged and removed. This would enable the researcher to understand the different barriers of disability and how people with disability cope. Barriers of disability are still a problem affecting people worldwide. People with disability suffer environmental barriers, economic barriers, political barriers, educational barriers, social barriers, cultural barriers and sports barriers, which all have a significant impact on them. They suffer barriers on a daily basis. For people with disability to become central and more functional, there is a need to remove these barriers. The orientation to the study in Chapter 1 gives an introductory overview of the background to the study, the aims and objectives, research methods and design, limitations, operational definitions of concepts and division of the study. Chapter 2 outlines the literature review and theoretical explanation, which is tabled to give an understanding of the different types of barriers and how to rise above these challenges, l.e. labelling, stereotypes and stigmatisation. Research design and methodology in Chapter 3 describes the population and location of the study, the sampling methods applied and the manner in which data was collected and analysed, ethical consideration and limitations. Chapter 4 outlines and evaluates the data collected. Results and interpretations are provided. The presentation includes the participants' biographic barriers they experience, the consequences people with disability suffer and how they cope with them. Chapter 5 highlights the conclusions drawn, as well as recommendations for people with disability, their families, societies, future researchers and social work as a profession and policy.

Historically, people with developmental disabilities were denied the right to live in and integrate with the society of individuals without disabilities. Landmark legislation and a societal shift over the past two decades, however, have made it possible for people with developmental disabilities to live and work in the communities in which they live.