Thesis (MScMedSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / Thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medical Science. (rehabilitation) at the University of Stellenbosch / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: For physically disabled learners to achieve successful participation in sport requires the synergistic interaction of many diverse factors. The Limpopo province of South Africa produces fewer physically disabled athletes at the junior, senior and elite levels than any other province in South Africa. This study identifies and examines the key aspects that affected the development of physically disabled athletes in the Limpopo province in 2006/2007. Factors that both facilitate or inhibit the development of physically disabled athletes in the province are identified and discussed. This highlights aspects that need to be addressed in seeking to bridge the gap between current deficiencies and an optimised future for participants in disabled sport in Limpopo province. The study is descriptive, using a case-study design as part of a situational analysis. Physically disabled athletes from one school were selected using a convenience sample and key informants were selected through purposive sampling. Questionnaires were completed by ten physically disabled athletes as well as by staff involved in their athletic development. Interviews were also conducted among key informants from the sport and education sectors. The questionnaires were analysed quantitatively and the interviews underwent qualitative content analysis. The findings indicated that there are seven critical areas/key factors influencing the development of physically disabled athletes in Limpopo province. These are: 1. Support systems; 2. Sports participation; 3. Attitudinal facilitators and barriers; 4. Environmental accessibility; 5. Resources; 6. Education and training; 7. Politics. The above elements impacting on the development of physically disabled athletes in Limpopo province are compared with the five key areas of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Development Model. It was found that numerous challenges exist in Limpopo, namely: a lack of sufficient humanresource capacity, funding, sponsorships and the necessary financial resources for adequate infrastructure sustainability and support services. Therefore, in order for physically disabled athletes in Limpopo province to be successfully developed within the framework of the IPC Development Model, the challenges and key factors/critical areas identified by this study need to be addressed. The following recommendations were made following the outcomes of the study: 1. Establish a discussion forum for all stakeholders; 2. Take steps to elevate the status of sport for physically disabled athletes in Limpopo province; 3. Improve the co-operation between sports federations, government departments and disabled people’s organisations Limpopo province; 4. Educate stakeholders; 5. Improve coaching expertise and knowledge; 6. Have specialist rehabilitation expertise in the LSEN schools; 7. Monitor and evaluate sports programmes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die deelname van fisiek-gestremde leerders aan sport het verskeie aspekte wat wedersyds verband hou. Die interaksie van hierdie aspekte is noodsaaklik om ‘n suksesvolle uitkoms te verseker. Hierdie tesis identifiseer en ondersoek die sleutelaspekte wat ‘n impak het op die ontwikkeling van fisiek-gestremde atlete in die Limpopo provinsie van Suid-Afrika in 2006/2007. Dit is bekend dat hierdie provinsie heelwat minder fisiek-gestremde atlete op junior, senior en elite vlak lewer as enige ander provinsie in die land Faktore wat hierdie studiegroep se ontwikkeling bevorder, sowel as die faktore wat dit benadeel,, word in hierdie tesis geïdentifiseer en bespreek. Dié bespreking is van nut vir die identifisering van huidige probleemareas, wat spesifieke aandag sal verg om die vooruitsigte vir gestremde atlete in die provinsie te verbeter. Die tesis is beskrywend van aard en maak gebruik van ’n gevallestudieformaat en omstandigheidsontleding. ’n Gerieflikheidsteekproef van fisiek-gestremde atlete is by een skool gekies terwyl ’n versameling van sleutel inligtingsbronne doelgerig geïdentifiseer is. Vraelyste is deur tien fisiek-gestremde atlete, sowel as personeellede betrokke by hulle atletiese ontwikkeling, voltooi. Onderhoude is ook gevoer met sleutelinformante in die Sporten Onderwyssektore. Die vraelyste is kwantitatief ontleed met die hulp van Professor Nel van die Departement Statistiek aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch, terwyl transkripsies van die onderhoude kwalitatief geëvalueer is. Die bevindinge het daarop gedui dat daar sewe sleutelfaktore is wat die ontwikkeling van fisiek-gestremde atlete in hierdie provinsie beïnvloed: 1. Ondersteuningstelsels; 2. Sport deelname; 3. Omgewingstoeganglikheid; 4. Onderwys en opleiding; 5. Gesindhede en struikelblokke; 6. Bronne; en 7. Politiek. Die invloed wat hierdie aspekte op die ontwikkeling van fisiek-gestremde atlete in Limpopo provinsie uitoefen, word met die vyf sleutelgebiede van die Internasionale Paralimpiese komitee se Ontwikkelingsmodel vergelyk. Dit is bevind dat talle uitdagings Limpopo provinsie in die gesig staar, naamlik, ’n gebrek aan menslike hulpbronne, ’n tekort aan befondsing en borgskappe asook ontoereikende finansiële voorsiening om behoorlike infrastruktuur te verskaf. Dus, om fisiek-gestremde atlete in Limpopo provinsie die geleentheid te bied om binne die voorgeskrewe raamwerk van die Internasionale Paralimpiese Ontwikkelingsmodel te vorder, moet aandag geskenk word aan die sleutelfaktore en tekortkominge wat hierdie studie identifiseer. Die volgende aanbevelings word gemaak : 1. Vestig ‘n gespreksforum vir alle belanghebbendes; 2. Neem die nodige stappe vir die opheffing van die status van sport vir fisiek-gestremde atlete in die Limpopo provinsie; 3. Verbeter die samewerking tussen Sportfederasies, Staatsdepartemente en Organisasies vir Gestremde Persone in die Limpopo provinsie; 4. Lei alle belanghebbendes op; 5. Verbeter afrigtingskundigheid; 6. Sorg vir spesialis rehabilitasiekundigheid by die LSEN-skole; en 7. Moniteer en evalueer sportprogram.

PhD (Sociology) / Department of Sociology / Introduction: Physical disability encompasses a complex multi-dimensional phenomenon within the context of a person’s life childhood and adulthood. Disability covers a wide and diverse range of disabling conditions. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to explore and describe the experiences of physicaldisability acquired in adulthood. Methodology: The study adopted qualitative research approach, exploratory and descriptive design. Snowball sampling method was adopted to select seven participants who were interviewed by means of semi-structured face-to-face interviews. In order to analyse data, Tesch eight steps of analyzing qualitative data was employed. Results: It was found that experiences of physical disabled adults replete with daily difficulties marked by isolation, loneliness, social disapproval and rejection. Being physical disabled was accompanied with difficulties marked with, feeling of sadness and dejection which was their daily companions. However, the participants found strength and solace from support groups and religious structures which strengthen individuals who acquired physical disability at adulthood. Conclusion: Physical disability acquired in adulthood is accompanied with changes that bring about different difficulties in personal and social life. As a result adults with that experience are left with no choice but adopting coping strategies that assist them to continue with life positively. Recommendation: The study recommends conducting seminars/awareness where civil society and other community based stakeholders and government departments are orientated on the rights of persons with disabilities. Through dissemination of the findings of this study, the researcher hopes that strong message can be conveyed to all stakeholders in disability to ensure mainstreaming of disability in all spheres of life.

Thesis (MScPhysio)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Access to wheelchairs is considered a basic human right. Wheelchairs enhance function, improve independence, and enables persons with disabilities to successfully live in the community. An inappropriate wheelchair may however limit function rather than promote it. Achieving an ideal match between user and technology, however is challenging. A recent audit in the Eastern Cape revealed that standard folding frame type wheelchairs were predominantly being issued and waiting list for wheelchairs is long. The need for investigation into prescription practice, from the perspective of both prescribing therapists as well as wheelchair users, was identified. Aims: To describe wheelchair prescription practice in the public sector of the Eastern Cape; and to determine whether the wheelchairs being issued address the psychosocial needs of users. Study design: A descriptive mixed-method cross-sectional study design was used. Quantitative and qualitative data from questionnaires and functional wheelchair skills tests of wheelchair users (Phase 1) and from semi-structured interviews with prescribing therapists (Phase 2) was used to describe prescription practice and investigate the psychosocial needs of wheelchair users. Methods: A small sample of convenienve according to home address was obtained that included 30 users (15 from a rural; 15 from a semi-rural setting). The Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS) questionnaire, Functioning Everyday with a wheelchair (FEW/FMA) scale and a self-compiled wheelchair specifications checklist (WSC) were used to determine user functionality and level of satisfaction with the wheelchair. Purposive sampling was done to identify the therapists that had prescribed the wheelchairs for the participants in the first phase of the study. A semi- structured interview was used to determine prescription practice including perceived barriers of wheelchair prescription with ten prescribing therapists. Data analysis: Qualitative data was analysed deductively and frequency of responses tabulated. Quantitative data was summarised as means and standard deviations and subgroup analysis comparisons were done using the Chi-square test and relationships between variables investigated using Pearson/ Spearman correlation or ANOVA. A p < 0.05 was deemed significant. Results: Eighty three % of wheelchairs issued were urban wheelchairs. These are generally perceived by users as sufficient to address their psychosocial needs regarding mobility and transport, however, seem to fail users in terms of accessibility and independence within their rural/ semi- rural environment. According to the WSC scores, peri-urban wheelchairs were found to be more appropriate for the users than urban wheelchairs (p < 0.01). No significant relationships were found between wheelchair fit, use of a cushion, occurrence of pressure sores and self-perceived psychosocial needs in this sample. The users experienced most difficulty with outdoor mobility (57% needed full assistance) and transport (63% needed full assistance) within their current wheelchairs. Ten prescribing therapists participated in the study. Most valued appropriate seating, are knowledgeable regarding prescription practice, but reported several barriers to this practice including budget restraints (90%), time to delivery (100%) and lack of training (40%). The need for more appropriate wheelchair designs to suit multi- level manoeuvrability of persons in rural/ semi-rural environments was also reported (60%). Conclusion: The results of this study show that wheelchair prescription in the Western Region of the Eastern Cape (WRoEC) has various challenges. Although the wheelchair users were mostly satisfied with their wheelchairs, this study identified areas for improvement in the users’ functioning, postural support and biomechanics within their wheelchairs, especially as it relates to their home environment. There is scope for improvement of wheelchair delivery to persons in the WRoEC – from on-going training of therapists and clients to more appropriate wheelchair designs for persons in rural settings. Further research in this field is recommended. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Toegang tot rolstoele word as ‘n basiese mensereg geag. Rolstoele dra by tot verbeterde funksionaliteit, groter onafhanklikheid, en bemagtig mense met gestremdhede om suksesvol in die gemeenskap te lewe. Nietemin, ‘n onvanpaste rolstoel mag funksie beperk eerder as om dit te bevorder. Om die ideale pas tussen rolstoel gebruiker en tegnologie te vind is uitdagend.’n Onlangse oudit in die Oos- Kaap het getoon dat standaard vou-raam tipe rolstoele oorwegend uitgereik word, en dat die waglys vir rolstoele lank is. Die gaping vir verdere ondersoek rakende voorskrif praktyk, vanaf beide die perspektief van die terapeute wat voorskryf asook rolstoel gebruikers, is geidentifiseer. Doel: Om rolstoel voorskrif praktryk in die publieke sektor van die Oos- Kaap te beskryf; en om vas te stel of die rolstoele wat uitgereik word die psigososiale behoeftes van gebruikers addresseer. Studie Ontwerp: ‘n Beskrywende gemengde metode deursnee studie ontwerp is gebruik. Kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe data van vraelyste en funksionele rolstoelvaardigheids toetse van rosltoel gebruikers (Fase 1) en van semi- gestruktureerde onderhoude met voorskrywende terapeute (Fase 2) is gebruik om voorskrif praktyk te beskryf en om die psigososiale behoeftes van gebruikers te ondersoek. Metodes: Dertig rolstoel gebruikers (15 van ‘n landelike; 15 van ‘n gedeeltelik- landelike opset) het deelgeneem in die studie. Die PIADS vraelys, “Functioning Everyday with a Wheelchair” (FMA/ FEW) skaal en ‘n self-opgestelde rolstoel spesifikasie kontrolelys (WSC) is gebruik om gebruiker funksionaliteit en tevredenheid met die rolstoel vas te stel. ‘n Semi- gestruktureerde onderhoud is gebruik om rolstoel voorskrifpraktyk insluitend persepsies van beperkinge tot die voorskrifte van rolstoele vas te stel onder tien terapeute. Dataverwerking: Kwalitatiewe data is deduktief geanaliseer en getal response is getabuleer. Kwantitatiewe data is opgesom as gemiddeldes en standaardafwykings en subgroep analise vergelyking is gedoen deur middel van die Chi- square toets. Verhoudings tussen veranderlikes is ondersoek deur middel van die Pearson/ Spearman korrelasie/ ANOVA. P < 0.05 is as statisties beduidend aanskou. Resultate: Drie-en-tagtig % van die uitgereikte rolstoele was landelike rolstoele. Hierdie stoele word oor die algemeen deur gebruikers ervaar as genoegsaam om hulle psigososiale behoeftes rakende vervoer en mobilitiet te bevredig, maar skiet nietemin tekort as dit kom by toeganklikheid en onafhanklikheid binne hulle landelike-/ semi- landelike omgewing. Volgens die WSC resultate, is die semi- landelike rolstoele meer toepaslik vir die gebruikers as die stedelike rolstoele. Geen merkwaardige verhoudings is gevind tussen rolstoel pas, gebruik van kussing, druksere en persepsie van psigososiale behoeftes nie. Die gebruikers het die meeste gesukkel met buitemuurse mobiliteit (57% het volle bystand benodig) en vervoer (63% het volle bystand benodig) in hulle huidige rolstoele. Tien terapeute het aan semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude deelgeneem. Daar is bevind dat hulle korrekte “seating” waardevol ag, kundig is rakende voorskrif praktyk, maar het talle beperkinge geidentifiseer in die praktyk insluitend: begrotings beperkings (90%), tyd tot aflewering (100%) en tekort aan opleiding in dié veld (40%). Die behoefte aan meer toepaslike rolstoel ontwerpe om multi- dimensionele beweeglikheid van persone in landelike/ semi- landelike omgewings te verseker, is ook vasgestel (60%). Gevolgtrekking: Die resultate van hierdie studie toon dat die voorskryf van rolstoele in die Westelike streek van die Oos- Kaap (WSvOK) vele uitdagings het. Alhoewel die rolstoel gebruikers grotendeels tevrede was met hulle rolstoele, het hierdie studie areas vir verbetering geidentifiseer in die gebruikers se funksionaliteit, posturale ondersteuning en biomeganika in hulle rolstoele, veral soos dit van toepassing is op hulle tuis omgewing. Daar is ruimte vir verbetering vir rolstoel lewering aan persone in die WSvOK; vanaf deurlopende opleiding vir terapeute en gebruikers, tot meer toepaslike rolstoel ontwerpe vir persone in landelike gebiede. Verdere navorsing in dié veld word aanbeveel.

Thesis (MScMedSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This was an investigation into the needs of people with physical disabilities in the district of Butterworth, and their accessibility to available resources, conducted with the aim of improving service delivery in the area. As a physiotherapist the researcher has always been in close contact with people with physical disabilities, and could see the problems they had. The researcher then embarked on conducting this study with the aim of helping them. The study was conducted in three areas, a rural area called Zangwa Administrative Area, Bika, a township, and Skiti, an informal settlement. The research methodology used was qualitative research. Participants in this research included people with physical disabilities, caregivers of people with physical disabilities, and service providers dealing with people with physical disabilities in the district of Butterworth. Methods of data collection used were focus group interviews for people with physical disabilities and caregivers, and questionnaires for service providers. The reason why service providers were given questionnaires, and not interviewed in focus groups, was that they were from different government departments and it was not possible for them to be part of a focus group due to the commitments they had. Questions in the questionnaires and in the interview schedules used in the focus group interviews were similar to each other, and were open ended. A total of 24 people with physical disabilities were recruited to take part in the focus group interviews in identified locations. Nine caregivers of people with physical disabilities, drawn from two of the above locations participated in this study. Focus group interviews were tape recorded, with the informed consents of the participants. The response rate to the questionnaires was 81%: 13 of the 16 service providers returned completed forms. Data analysis was done through a process of listening to the tapes, together with other students, to ensure the trustworthiness of the data, taking detailed notes, translating the interviews from Xhosa to English, coding the data and putting them into categories, with similar categories building up into themes. In the case of the questionnaires, similar responses were grouped together, and those showing the same responses from participants were prioritised. The results of the research indicated that the primary needs of people with physical disabilities were housing, employment, skills‟ development - emphasising training in those skills which could bring them an income - assistance with income generating projects, suitable public transport, accessibility of buildings and facilities, driving schools catering for people with physical disabilities, and Primary Health Care. They needed Primary Health Care to not only address their basic health needs, but to include preventative care, the promotion of effective care, curative and rehabilitative care. At a personal level they required disability grants, caregivers, intimate relationships and marriage. While caregivers placed greater emphasis on assistive devices and Day Care Centres to give them some respite time, service providers emphasised on education for children with disabilities, which neither people with physical disabilities nor caregivers had mentioned. The service providers also said nothing about the need for caregivers and housing. These disparities in the needs mentioned by these three groups of participants showed that needs that may seem important to professionals and other service providers, may not be important to people with disabilities, therefore it is important to consult with the consumers first, before planning for service delivery. It was clear that services were not easily accessible, due to transport and financial problems, as travelling for people with physical disabilities meant additional expenses in terms of hiring special vehicles. Another barrier to accessing resources was lack of knowledge about the availability of those resources, and how they could be accessed. On the basis of this study, recommendations have been made to relevant service providers for the planning and improvement of service delivery. These include more accessible buildings, good roads, and the appointment of suitable individuals to fill vacant posts in different government departments so as to be able to reach all people with physical disabilities in the district of Butterworth. Finally, the researcher emphasizes the need for outreach programmes to raise awareness about available services. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie ondersoek ten opsigte van die behoeftes van mense met fisiese gestremdhede in die Butterworth distrik en hul toegang tot die beskikbare hulpbronne is gedoen met die oog daarop om dienslewering in die omgewing te verbeter. Die navorser het die studie in drie areas naamlik: Zangwa Administratiewe Area,`n landelike gebied, Bika, „n dorp en Skiti, „n informele nedersetting gedoen. Kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes is gebruik. Studie deelnemers het bestaan uit mense met fisiese gestremdhede, versorgers van mense met fisiese gestremdhede en diensverskaffers aan mense met fisiese gestremdhede in die Butterworth distrik. Fokus groep besprekings met mense met fisiese gestremdhede en hulle versorgers is gebruik om data in te samel. Voorts is data verkry vanaf vraelyste wat deur diensverskaffers voltooi is. Vier en twintig persone met fisiese gestremdhede, uit bogenoemde drie areas, is geselekteer om aan die fokusgroep besprekings deel te neem. Nege versorgers van persone met fisiese gestremdhede, uit twee van bogedoemde areas, het ook aan die studie deelgeneem. Fokusgroep besprekings is op band opgeneem, met die toestemming van die deelnemers. Dertien van die sestien diensverskaffers (81%) het voltooide vraelyste ingehandig. Volgens die resultate het persone met fisiese gestremdhede `n behoefte aan behuising, werk, vaardigheidsontwikkeling, projekte wat inkomste genereer, geskikte openbare vervoer, toegang tot geboue en fasiliteite, bestuurskole wat voorsiening maak vir mense met fisiese gestremdhede en primêre gesondheidsorg. Die volgende persoonlike behoeftes is geidentifiseer: ongeskiktheidstoelae, versorgers, intieme verhoudings en huwelike. Die versorgers het meer klem geplaas op hulpmiddels en dagsorgsentrums. Die behoefte aan dagsorgsentrums kan aanduidend wees daarvan dat versorgings verligting van die sorg las nodig het.. Diensverskaffers het op hulle beurt klem gelê op `n behoefgte aan onderwys vir kinders met gestremdhede. Dit is nie deur of persone met fisiese gestremdhede of versorgers genoem nie. Die diensverskaffers het niks oor versorgers gesê nie. Die verskille tussen die behoeftes wat deur die drie groepe deelnemers uitgelig is dui daarop dat behoeftes wat as belangrik voorkom vir proffesionele persone en ander diensverskaffers nie noodwendig belangrik is vir mense met gestremdhede nie. Dit is dus belangrik om eers die klient te raadpleeg voordat dienslewering beplan word. Vervoer en finansiele probleme het daartoe gelei dat dienste ontoeganklik was. Vervoer vir mense met fisiese gestremdhede bring addisionele onkostes mee omdat `n spesiale voertuig gehuur moet word. „n Verdere struikelblok met betrekking tot toegang tot hulpbronne was `n gebrek aan kennis oor die beskikbaarheid van hulpbronne in die studie area. Aanbevelings na aanleiding van die studie sluit in: groter toeganklikheid tot geboue, goeie paaie en die aanstelling van geskikte individue om vakante poste in die verskillende staatsdepartemente te vul om sodoende die mense met fisiese gestremdhede in die Butterworth distrik te bedien. Ten slotte, wil die navorser klem lê op die behoefte aan uitreikprogramme om mense bewus te maak van beskikbare dienste.

This research study aimed to explore the impact on individuals of becoming physically disabled through being victims of crimes of violence. The study begins with a literature review related to issues of disability and to victims of crime. The main focus of the research, however, was to gather information regarding the experiences and needs of persons disabled through being victims of crime and to establish the rehabilitation and trauma counselling services that they have had access to. An exploratory, descriptive, research design guided the study. A purposive sampling procedure was used to identify twenty persons known to the Durban branch of the Association for the Physically Challenged, which provides services to physically disabled persons. Individual, face-to-face interviews were held with the respondents, using a semi-structured interview schedule. Interviewer observations were also undertaken in the process. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used in analysing the results, from which conclusions and recommendations were drawn. The study findings indicate that the majority of persons had become severely disabled through being victims of crimes of violence. The majority of respondents were young when they became disabled, and were mostly single persons who experienced a high degree of dependence on others for various types of assistance, particularly their families and friends. The respondents also experienced a variety of unmet needs as both disabled persons and as victims of crimes of violence, through a lack of and/or inaccessibility to services. Disability, as seen within the context of the "social model", emphasises the role of a disabling environment in contributing to the meaning of disability. Resulting from the findings, it is proposed that social workers are ideally placed to foster empowerment initiatives of disabled persons and victims of crime through facilitating their active involvement in directing services that are both accessible and relevant to their needs. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

The dissertation argues that police officers are not trained in handling mentally ill persons. Purpose The study explored police officers‟ knowledge of mental illness and skills necessary for handling mentally ill people. Research methods The descriptive quantitative investigation has been used as a research strategy to identify the knowledge and skills of police officers in handling mentally ill persons. Forty five police officers were randomly selected from a population of 136 police officers. A self administered questionnaire was used for collecting data. Data analysis was done manually and frequency distributions, cross-tabulations and correlations were carried out. Results The findings revealed that police officers do not have knowledge and skills to handle mentally ill people. Recommendations It is recommended that mental health care practitioners should engage the police in discussions on training in handling mentally ill people. iv Limitations Due to time and budgetary limitations, the study had to settle for a more modest investigation

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)

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.

Submitted for the degree of Masters of Arts in the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. / Andrew Chakane 2019

No abstract provided / GR 2016