Thesis (M.A. )--Miami University, Dept. of Educational Psychology, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 35-37).

Thesis (M. Log.)--Universiteit van Pretoria, 2000. / Summary in English and Afrikaans. Includes bibliographical references.

Introdução: A osteoartrite é uma doença incapacitante que pode afetar de 6% a 12% da população adulta e mais de um terço das pessoas com mais de 65 anos de idade. Objetivo: Verificar o efeito funcional e analgésico de técnicas como orientações de proteção articular e conservação de energia, tecnologia assistiva (órteses e adaptações) e exercícios no tratamento de pacientes com osteoartrite das mãos, quando comparados a um grupo que recebeu apenas as orientações de proteção articular e conservação de energia. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo e experimental de caso controle não randomizado. Orientações de proteção articular e conservação de energia foram organizadas em 8 grupos diferentes, com aulas teóricas e práticas. Os participantes foram acompanhados por dois anos, avaliados com os questionários Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), força de preensão palmar mensurada com dinamômetro Jamar, força de pinça chave, força de pinça trípode e força de pinça da polpa a polpa mensurada com o dinamômetro B & L Pinch-gauge. Os grupos foram divididos entre 1 e 2, o grupo 1 foi composto por pacientes que realizaram apenas as orientações das aulas teóricas e práticas, enquanto o grupo 2, além das orientações, recebeu órteses com modelos órtese de posicionamento de punho e dedos volar, abdutores curtos de polegar e dedeiras de apoio volar para uso noturno, visando o alívio da dor, a estabilização das articulações afetadas e a prevenção do surgimento/agravamento de deformidades. Este estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética da Faculdade de Medicina sob o número 1.816.207 e foi submetido ao Clinical Trials com o número de identificação NTC03173989. Resultados: Após a aplicação dos questionários observamos que os pacientes apresentaram os seguintes valores, em média, respectivamente nos três momentos de avaliação (inicial/ 1 ano/ 2 anos): HAQ, DASH (sem diferenças entre os momentos de avaliação em ambos os grupos), força preensão manual direita/esquerda (22,4/ 22,0/ 22,8 kg) / (22,3/ 17,/ 20,6 kg), força de pinça bipolpar direita/esquerda (4,2/ 4,0/ 4,5 kg) / (3,9/ 3,6/ 4,2 kg), força de pinça chave direita/ esquerda(6,5/ 5,7/ 6,5 kg) / (6,0/ 5,6/ 6,4 kg) e força de pinça trípode direita/ esquerda (5,5/4,2/ 5,1 kg) / (5,2/ 3,9/ 5,0). Nota-se uma diminuição da força do primeiro para o segundo momento que coincide com o uso das órteses e uma melhora do segundo para o terceiro momento que coincide com a realização dos exercícios, com discreto aumento em relação a algumas avaliações iniciais. Não houve diferença entre momentos no grupo em que a intervenção foi apenas a proteção articular e em ambos os grupos para os questionários de avaliação funcional. Conclusão: Na comparação entre os momentos de avaliação em cada grupo isoladamente, há uma diminuição na força do primeiro para o segundo momento, que coincide com o uso das órteses, do segundo para o terceiro momento há uma melhora da força que coincide com a realização de exercícios. O uso de órteses juntamente com a realização de exercícios aparenta ser um tratamento mais efetivo, ao menos para manutenção da força (manter) sem dor, sem diminuição da capacidade funcional. A proteção articular aparenta ser mais efetiva como tratamento preventivo / Introduction: Osteoarthritis is a disabling disease that can affect 6% to 12% of the adult population and more than a third of people over 65 years of age. Objective: To verify the functional and analgesic effect of joint protection and fatigue management techniques, assistive technology (orthoses and adaptations) and exercises in the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis of the hands, when compared to the group that received only the joint protection and fatigue management guidelines. Methods: Retrospective and experimental study of a non-randomized control case. The guideline classes were organized in 8 different groups with theoretical and practical classes. Participants will be followed up for two years, evaluated with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (DASH), Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), palmar grip strength measured with Jamar dynamometer, key pinch strength, three-point pinch strength and pulp pinch strength measured with B & L Pinch-gauge dynamometer. The groups will be divided between 1 and 2, the group 1 will be composed of patients who will only perform the orientations informed in the theoretical and practical classes, while the group 2, besides the orientations will receive orthoses with models such as volar hand rest splints, short thumb stabilization splints, and volar finger splints with nocturnal support, aiming at the relief of the pain, stabilization of the affected joints and the prevention of the appearance/aggravation of deformities. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine under the number 1,816,207 and was submitted to Clinical Trials with the identification number NTC03173989. Results: After the application of the questionnaires, we observed that the patients presented the following values, in average, at the three evaluation moments (initial / 1 year / 2 years): HAQ, DASH (no difference between the moments of evaluation in both groups), right / left hand grip strength (22.4 / 22.0 / 22.8 kg) / (22.3 / 17, / 20.6 kg), right / left bipolar pinch (4.2 / 4.0 / 4.5 kg) / (3.9 / 3.6 / 4.2 kg), right / left key pinch (6.5 / 5.7 / 6.5 kg) / (6.0 / 5 , 6 / 6.4 kg) and right / left tripod pinch (5.5 / 4.2 / 5.1 kg) / (5.2 / 3.9 / 5.0). A decrease in the strength of the first to the second moment coincides with the use of the orthoses and an improvement from the second to the third moment that coincides with the performance of the exercises, with a slight increase in relation to some initial evaluations. There was no difference between moments in the group where the intervention was only the joint protection and in both groups for the functional evaluation questionnaires. Conclusion: In the comparison between the moments of evaluation in each group alone, there is a decrease in the force from the first to the second moment, which coincides with the use of the orthoses, from the second to the third moment there is an improvement of the force which coincides with the performance of exercises. The use of orthotics along with performing exercises appears to be a more effective treatment, at least for maintenance of strength (maintain) without pain, without decrease in functional capacity, in addition, joint protection appears to be more effective as preventive treatment

Introdução: Os sistemas de adequação postural ou as adaptações em cadeiras de rodas proporcionam ao seu usuário o controle postural necessário para a realização de atividades cotidianas, manutenção da independência e interação com o ambiente. Alem disso, evitam complicações respiratórias e o surgimento de deformidades nos indivíduos. A indicação do melhor sistema de adequação postural é uma das tarefas mais desafiadoras aos profissionais de saúde especializados na sua prescrição pois pode ser difícil avaliar quais componentes melhor atendem às necessidades de um indivíduo. Dessa forma, observa-se a preocupação com o desenvolvimento de evidências nessa área, e, portanto, a coleta de informações sobre prescrição de cadeiras de rodas e dos seus componentes de adequação postural são essenciais para a construção de séries históricas, avaliação de seu uso e possibilidade de novas ações e políticas nesse sentido. Objetivo: Caracterizar e quantificar as adaptações em cadeiras de rodas prescritas e dispensadas por um serviço de terapia ocupacional de hospital ortopédico especializado em relação as necessidades oriundas dos diagnósticos atendidos, dos anos 2005 a 2013. Métodos: Estudo observacional descritivo transversal e retrospectivo, realizado no serviço de terapia ocupacional do Instituto de Ortopedia e Traumatologia do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, a partir dos prontuários de todos os indivíduos usuários de cadeiras de rodas, atendidos pelo grupo de prescrição de cadeiras de rodas e sistemas de adequação postural do campo de estudo. Foram coletadas informações sociodemográficas (gênero e idade), diagnóstico, recebimento ou não de cadeira de rodas nova, recebimento ou não de adaptações em cadeiras de rodas e as adaptações prescritas. Resultados: Um total de 1480 prontuários de usuários foram investigados, a maioria do sexo masculino (62,1%) e a idade média da amostra foi de 24,1 anos (DP = 17,2). Destes, (30,9%) apresentava o diagnóstico de paralisia cerebral, seguido pela lesão medular (22,6%), distrofia muscular de Duchenne (13,8%), amputação decorrentes de traumas e outras patologias (8,3%) e mielomeningocele (4,2%). Dos 1480 usuários, 69,3% receberam CR novas e ainda 30,7% já possuíam CR doadas por outros serviços e/ou compradas pelo próprio paciente. Quase todas as cadeiras necessitaram de adaptações em sua estrutura (96,1%). Apenas 57 cadeiras de rodas (3,9%) não necessitaram de um SAP conjunto. A adaptação mais frequente é o cinto pélvico (96,1%), seguida do assento e encosto de base rígida (95,1% e 94,5% respectivamente). Conclusões: Nota-se que a amostra estudada necessitou de muitos itens de adequação postural junto de suas cadeiras de rodas. Apesar da grande demanda por esses recursos de tecnologia assistiva, as investigações nessa área são escassas. Diante disso, a investigação proposta por este estudo produziu importantes evidências para a prática clínica de terapeutas ocupacionais que atuam na prescrição de cadeiras de rodas e de sistemas de adequação postural para pessoas com deficiência, apresentando dados que contribuem para uma melhor indicação desses equipamentos / Introduction: The positioning system or adaptations in wheelchair provide the user with the postural control necessary for daily activities, the maintenance of independence, and interaction with the environment. In addition, they avoid respiratory complications and the appearance of deformities in individuals. Indicating the best positioning system is one of the most challenging tasks for healthcare professionals specializing in its prescription because it can be difficult to assess which components best meet the needs of an individual. Thus, we are concerned with the development of evidence in this area, and therefore the collection of information about wheelchair prescription and its components of postural adequacy are essential for the construction of historical series, evaluation of their use, and the possibility of new actions and policies in this regard. Objective: To characterize and quantify wheelchair adaptations prescribed and dispensed by an occupational therapy service of a specialized orthopedic hospital in relation to the needs arising from the diagnoses attended from 2005 to 2013. Methods: A cross-sectional and retrospective descriptive observational study performed at the Occupational Therapy Service of the Orthopedics and Traumatology Institute of the Clinics Hospital of the Medical School of the University of São Paulo using the patient records of all wheelchair users, attended by the wheelchair prescription group and positioning system of the field of study. Were collected sociodemographic information (gender and age), diagnosis, whether a new wheelchair was received, whether wheelchair adaptations were received, and the adaptations prescribed. Results: A total of 1480 patient records were investigated, the majority of which were male (62.1%); the mean age of the sample was 24.1 years (SD = 17.2). Of these, 30.9% had a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, followed by spinal cord injury (22.6%), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (13.8%), amputation due to trauma and other pathologies (8.3%). and myelomeningocele (4.2%). Of the 1480 users, 69.3% received a new wheelchair and 30.7% already had one donated by other services and / or purchased by the patient. Almost all the chairs needed adaptations in their structure (96.1%), and only 57 wheelchairs (3.9%) did not require any. The most frequent adaptation was the pelvic belt (96.1%), followed by the rigid base seat, and backrest (95.1% and 94.5%, respectively). Conclusions: It is noted that the sample studied required many positioning items for their wheelchairs. Despite the high demand for these assistive technological resources, research in this area is scarce. Therefore, the research proposed by this study has produced important evidences for the clinical practice of occupational therapists that act on the prescription of wheelchairs and systems of postural adequacy for people with disabilities, presenting data that contribute to a better indication of these equipment\'s

This thesis has the general objective to investigate the role of the Speech, Language and Hearing Science Therapist in Augmentative and Alternative Communication with children with cerebral palsy and the conversational standard l in Speech, Language and Hearing Science in dyad sessions. It also aims at developing a conversational evaluation Speech, Language and Hearing protocol to guide evaluation and Speech, Language and Hearing intervention in Augmentative and Alternative Communication directed to this population. For these objectives, three studies were developed with different methods. All the Speech, Language and Hearing Science professionals of study one had the initiative to compensate for the lack of training in their undergraduate Augmentative and Alternative Communication course in different ways. Regarding the inclusion of different conversational partners all Speech, Language and Hearing Science professionals are in favor of this practice. However, they report the family, school and other therapists as resistant to that. Study two shows communicative means used by children and partners, namely oral means, oral assisted, gestural, vocal and pictographic ones. The speech acts of the speaker were predominantly the directive type ones and the children´s speech acts came in the form of adjacent pairs. The conversational analysis Speech, Language and Hearing Science protocol developed from the previous study of the final version of this present study is made up of fifty-four items and it is divided into three parts: (a) communicative means, acts of speech, theme maintenance and dialogue turns common to the dyads; (b) acts of child speech, the Augmentative and Alternative Communication resource use, thematic maintenance and dialogue turn and (c) speech acts of the speaker. There is a need to insert theoretical subjects, clinical observation and practical classes with the intervention in language with Augmentative and Alternative Communication theme in the pedagogical political projects of Speech, Language and Hearing Science courses. Speech, Language and Hearing therapists insert different interlocutors in intervention with Augmentative and Alternative Communication and guide themselves in implicit or explicit linguistic principles according to their written speech, in theoretical reference specific to Augmentative and Alternative Communication area, in global neuromotor elements and, finally, on functionality principles and general well being. Regarding the communicative means used by children and partners, the verbal means, assisted verbal, gestural, vocal, assisted non-verbal one with loose figures were produced. However, they are asymmetrical in use hampering a multimodal communication system. The speech acts of children are more effective and functional in the form of adjacent pairs (protest, inquiries and requests) because they are more dependent linguistically on conversational partners. The conversational clinical assessment protocol for children with cerebral palsy and their partners developed in study three can be used to evaluate the means, the communicative acts and adjacentpairs observed in conversational context, leading the initial language evaluation process to the introduction, maintenance and generalization of Augmentative and Alternative Communication use with different interlocutors and environments. This way, there might be a more delineated evaluative criterion of linguistic competence by considering the language in use with different interlocutors, encouraging the creation of programs that enhance the communication skills and, consequently, the quality of life of children with cerebral palsy and thus, their families. / Esta tese teve o objetivo geral de investigar a formação e a atuação do fonoaudiólogo em Comunicação Suplementar e Alternativa com crianças com encefalopatia crônica não evolutiva e o padrão conversacional em sessões fonoaudiológicas das díades, bem como desenvolver um protocolo fonoaudiológico de avaliação conversacional direcionado a essa população. Para isso, foram desenvolvidos três estudos com distintas metodologias. Todas as fonoaudiólogas do estudo um apresentaram a iniciativa de suprir a ausência da formação na graduação da disciplina de linguagem com Comunicação Suplementar e Alternativa de diferentes formas. Em relação à inclusão de diferentes parceiros conversacionais todos os fonoaudiólogos são favoráveis a esta prática, entretanto relatam conforme a experiência resistência da família, da escola e de outros terapeutas. O estudo dois evidencia os meios comunicativos utilizados pelas crianças e interlocutores, a saber: meios verbal, verbal assistido, gestual, vocal e não verbal assistido com figuras avulsas. Os atos de fala do interlocutor foram predominantemente os do tipo diretivos e a das crianças deu-se em forma de pares adjacentes. O protocolo fonoaudiológico de análise conversacional desenvolvido, a partir, do estudo anterior a versão final deste é composta por 54 itens e é dividida em três partes: (a) meios comunicativos, atos de falas, manutenção temática e turno de diálogo comuns às díades; (b) atos de fala da criança, uso do recurso da Comunicação Suplementar Alternativa, manutenção temática e turno de diálogo e (c) atos de fala do interlocutor. Há necessidade de inserir nos projetos políticos pedagógicos dos cursos de Fonoaudiologia a previsão de disciplinas teóricas, de observação clínica e disciplinas práticas com a temática intervenção em linguagem com Comunicação Suplementar e Alternativa. Os fonoaudiólogos inserem diferentes interlocutores na intervenção com Comunicação Suplementar Alternativa e guiam-se em princípios linguísticos implícitos ou explícitos, conforme seu discurso escrito, em referenciais teóricos específicos à área do conhecimento Comunicação Suplementar e Alternativa, em elementos neuromotores globais e, por fim, em princípios de funcionalidade e bem-estar geral. Em relação aos meios comunicativos utilizados pelas crianças e interlocutores foram produzidos os meios oral, oral assistido, gestual, vocal e pictórico, entretanto são assimétricos no uso, dificultando um sistema comunicativo multimodal. Os atos de fala das crianças são mais efetivos e funcionais na forma de pares adjacentes (protesto, indagação e solicitações), pois são mais dependentes linguisticamente dos parceiros conversacional. O protocolo de avaliação fonoaudiológica da conversação para crianças com encefalopatia crônica não evolutiva e seus interlocutores desenvolvido no estudo três poderá ser utilizado para avaliar os meios, os atos comunicativos e os pares adjacentes observados em contexto conversacional, conduzindo o processo de avaliação fonoaudiológica inicial da linguagem para a introdução, manutenção e generalização do uso da comunicação Suplementar e alternativa com diferentes interlocutores e ambientes. Desta forma poderá ter um critério avaliativo mais delineado da competência linguística, por considerar a linguagem em uso com diferentes interlocutores, favorecendo a criação de programas que ampliem as habilidades comunicativas e, por consequência, da qualidade de vida das crianças com encefalopatia crônica não evolutiva e suas famílias.

Orientador: Lígia Maria Presumido Braccialli / Banca: Rita de Cássia Tibério Araújo / Banca: Manoel Osmar Seabra Júnior / Banca: Adriana Garcia Gonçalves / Banca: Jáima Pinheiro de Oliveira / Resumo: Imaginar aplicativos para dispositivos móveis que contemplem simultaneamente requisitos de grandes áreas do conhecimento como Educação e Saúde, e tenham a Tecnologia Assistiva como elemento de integração que aponta caminhos para aderência a projetos voltados à Educação Especial, representam um grande desafio para a sociedade acadêmica interessada neste assunto. O objetivo da presente pesquisa foi avaliar o aplicativo WebSonora, sob aspectos da ergonomia e da usabilidade, que é executado em dispositivos móveis (celulares e tablets) e interage com a pessoa com deficiência visual pelo tato e por comandos de voz. O aplicativo foi projetado inicialmente para ser utilizado sob a plataforma Android e o acesso ao mesmo é feito por meio de comandos hápticos e sonoros que levam o usuário a interagir com três vertentes distintas: a) uma enciclopédia colaborativa que possibilita a pesquisa de termos e artigos desejados; b) uma rede de sites sonoros que possibilita a publicação e a pesquisa de conteúdo exclusivo administrado pelos usuários da aplicação; c) acesso à uma rede social que permite ao usuário a realização de postagens e recepção das mensagens por áudio. A pesquisa contou com a participação de dez pessoas cegas, sendo três pessoas com deficiência visual congênita e sete pessoas com deficiência visual adquirida. Para alcançar o objetivo proposto, foram realizados três estudos. O primeiro deles intitulado: "Análise de percurso de tarefas do aplicativo realizado pelas pessoas com... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Thinking about APPS for mobile gadgets that includes simultaneously requirements of important areas of knowledge such as Education and Health and also have Assistive Technology as an element of integration that suggest ways to adherence to projects aimed to Special Education, represent a profound challenge to the academy society interested in that issue. The aim of this present research was to evaluate the APP WebSonora under aspects of ergonomy and the usability that are performed in mobile gadgets (cell phones and tablets) and interact with the vision impaired person by touch and by voice command. The APP was initially designed to be used under the Android platform and its access is done by touch and sound commands that take the user to interact with three distinct aspects: a) a collaborative encyclopedia that enables the research of terms and articles searched; b) a network of sound sites that enables the publishing and researching of the exclusive content managed by the APP user; c) access to a network the allows the user to perform postages and receive messages by audio. The research had the participation of ten blind people, three who were congenital vision impaired and seven people who were acquired vision impaired. To achieve the suggested objective, three studies were carried. The first one called " Route Analyses of the Task Paths of the APP performed by the visual impaired people based in the Think Aloud method", it raised information about the difficulties found ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

OF MASTER DEGREE Name: Bc. Andrea Gebauerová Supervisor: Mgr. Anna Kuželková Consultant: PhDr. Milan Pešák Oponent: Title: Alternative communication for clients with pervasive developmental disorder Abstract: The main purpose of this thesis was to find out and describe options and meaning of accupational therapy intervention in the area of alternative communication for clients with pervasive developmental disorder. These clients always show specific disrupted areas, which are social interactions, game and communication. The areas are interconnected and restrict these individuals in their self-sufficiency and daily life. Most of these clients need a compensation tool for communication. The theoretical part deals with most used methods and tools in alternative communication. It describes the simplest communication systems to the latest assistive technologies, which are used mostly abroad. An important part for the clients is an interprofessional team of proffesionals, who together determine therapeutic purpose and problematic parts of clientś life. The practical part describes the most common interprofessional cooperation at the clients. Based on jointly stated purpose for six clients with pervasive developmental disorder was design ergotherapeutic intervention and were suggested optimal tools for...

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / There are children in this world who are silenced by disability. The struggles of these children as they attempt to find a voice are difficult and often considered insurmountable. With advances in computer technology, devices are available to assist the child to have a voice. This voice is not found easily or acquired without difficulty. Even after finding and acquiring the necessary device, the child requires education and support to learn to use the device effectively. Challenges may be specific to the child’s disability, the support systems involved with the child, or even the technology itself. It is the adults in the child’s life, and the child’s family in particular, who provide needed support and assistance in helping him/her find an effective way of expressing his/her ideas. Families are an essential component in assisting their children to learn to use the device. My pilot study examined parents’ likes and dislikes of their child’s communication device. The preliminary data from that study illuminated several factors that increased the struggles of these children and their families as they work together to learn the device. These factors include financial, emotional, and developmental costs; as well as the lack of appropriately trained professionals; and excessive time lapses from evaluation to receipt of the device. The purpose of this study was to give a voice to the experiences of families around a child’s use of one type of augmentative and alternative (AAC), a speech generating device (SGD), by analyzing family’s experiences of the child’s use of a SGD as seen through the lens of the child’s primary caregiver. Interpretive phenomenologic methods for data collection and interpretation were used to elucidate the experience of families who have a child who is currently using or who has previously used a SGD as a method of communication. One cannot learn about the lived experience of the family without first listening to their story and allowing the family to share how their child’s use of a SGD affected the life of their family.

While a lot of efforts have been on outdoor intelligent systems, internal living environment system that suits the occupancy’s behaviour has not received much attention. The intelligent living environment designed in this study has three components; the physical world (environment), the database and the decision maker. The study sought to design a model that senses ever changing home conditions such as lights, doors and windows. Other variables that were looked at include, but not limited to the number of people in the room and inside thermodynamics and human activity. Global information such as temperature, gas or electricity usage and time of the day will also be received by the system through various sensing facilities. The information will be sent to a rules engine for a decision on an appropriate action to be taken. The action may include just turning off the lights, in the case of a mild abnormality or a high alert to an emergency response unit in a most severe case. The study proposes a context aware and proactive neural networks control system to control a living environment with a main focus on the aged citizens living alone. The proposed living environment was not developed to an actual or “mock” building containing a representation of subset of sensors, actuators and controllers as used in the actual systems due to lack of funding. However, the study will report on the modelling and simulation of the home system variables based on the chosen Artificial Intelligent technique using MATLAB/SIMULINK. These results indicate a possibility of implementing the designed living environment to increase the resident’s security. / Electrical and Mining Engineering / M. Tech. (Engineering: Electrical)

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Computer-based virtual worlds are increasingly used for activities which previously required physical environments. However, in its mainstream form, such a virtual world provides output on a graphical display and is thus inaccessible to a blind user. To achieve accessibility for blind users, an alternative to graphical output must be used. Audio and text are two output methods that can be considered. However, when using audio, care must be taken not to overload the audio channel. Channel overloading is possible with audio since it is not a selective output medium like the visual channel, that is, the user cannot choose what he/she wants to hear. Text should also be treated as audio, since a blind user consumes textual information as synthesized speech. In this research we discuss one possible solution to the problem of channel overloading, by the use of multiple exploration and navigation tools. These tools should allow the user to shape the information provided as audio output. Specially, we discuss the development of a virtual world client called Perspective, enabling non-visual access to virtual worlds by the use of multiple navigation and exploration tools. Perspective also serves as a framework for tool implementation and evaluation. Finally we give recommendations for improvements to current virtual world building practices and protocols, as to work toward an accessibility standard. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Rekenaargebaseerde virtuele wêrelde word toenemend gebruik vir aktiwiteite wat voorheen fiesiese omgewings benodig het. Tog verskaf so 'n virtuele wêreld, in sy standaard vorm, afvoer as 'n grafiese beeld en is dus ontoeganklik vir 'n blinde gebruiker. Om toeganklikheid vir blinde gebruikers te bewerkstellig, moet 'n alternatief vir die grafiese beeld gebruik word. Klank en teks is twee alternatiewe wat beskou kan word. Tog moet klank versigtig gebruik word, aangesien die klankkanaal oorlaai kan word. Die klankkanaal kan oorlaai word aangesien dit nie 'n selektiewe kanaal soos die visuele kanaal is nie, met ander woorde, die gebruiker kan nie kies wat hy/sy wil hoor nie. Teks moet ook as klank beskou word, aangesien 'n blinde gebruiker teks in die vorm van gesintetiseerde spraak inneem. Met hierdie navorsing bespreek ons een oplossing vir die probleem van kanaaloorlading, deur die gebruik van verskeie navigasie- en verkenningsgereedskapstukke. Hierdie gereedskapstukke behoort die gebruiker in staat te stel om die inligting wat as klank oorgedra word, te bepaal. Ons bespreek spesi ek die ontwikkeling van 'n virtuele wêreld-kliënt genaamd Perspective, wat nie-visuele toegang tot virtuele wêrelde bewerkstellig deur die gebruik van meervoudige navigasie- en verkenningsgereedskapstukke. Perspective dien ook as 'n raamwerk vir die ontwikkeling en evaluering van gereedskapstukke. Laastens verskaf ons voorstelle vir verbeteringe van die boutegnieke en protokolle van huidige virtuele wêrelde, as eerste stap na 'n toeganklikheidsstandaard vir virtuele wêrelde.