At the most general level, this project seeks to engage the question, "What is disability?" The conceptual exploration is undertaken against the background of the philosophical literature addressing the nature of disease, illness, and disability. This work contends that much of the literature bearing on the nature of disability fails to distinguish sufficiently between different domains of philosophical explanation and concern--ontological, non-moral normative, and moral normative, respectively. Specifically, this involves a failure to distinguish among (a) disputes regarding the proper ontological characterization of disability, particularly as expressed in medical-scientific explanations of the phenomenon; (b) disputes regarding the role of non-moral (aesthetic, epistemic, cultural) values or norms in the constitution of those explanations (i.e., non-moral normative concerns); and (c) disputes regarding moral and political considerations that shape the character of the social reality within which persons with disabilities live (i.e., moral normative concerns). This work advances the thesis that disabilities, like diseases, are "natural," in the sense that they are not mere social constructions, but that values of various sorts nevertheless do enter into the identification of states of affairs as disability, and that the "disability" designation has important socio-cultural implications that are inevitably the subject of ongoing political negotiation. Specifically, this work argues that "disability" involves a complex interplay of ontological realities, non-moral normative, and moral normative considerations or values. This interplay is captured well by a "biopsychosocial" (BPS) approach to disability, one which incorporates these various considerations into a single account, involving an integration of different levels of explanation (biological, psychological, social) of the disability phenomenon. This work first develops the theoretical underpinnings and rationale for a BPS approach to disability (Chs. 1-3), then explores in detail some of the relevant ontological (Ch. 4), non-moral and moral normative (Ch. 5), and sociological and political (Ch. 6) considerations that enter into the identification of states of affairs as "disability," concluding (in Ch. 7) with a brief consideration of some of the study's implications for understanding the nature of disability, the future of disability studies and the disability rights movement, and the relationship between the disabled and the broader society.

The declaration of the International Year of Disabled Persons in 1981 and the international activism of persons with disabilities resulted in the globalization of disability, which involved a new framework for the treatment of PWDs. Although disability activism was being played out globally, it has been about PWDs gaining equality and full participation in their local societies. Therefore, at the heart of an international movement was the strategic organization of PWDs, most of who live in the developing world. This dissertation is based on a case study of activism for disability rights in one particular developing society, Jamaica. The Jamaican movement is spearheaded by the Combined Disabilities Association (CDA), which has been at the forefront of disability rights activism locally and regionally. The primary research question: how does CDA organize strategically to meet the needs of the broader disabled population of Jamaica is broken down into the following four sub-questions: 1) how is "disability" constructed in the context of Jamaican culture, 2) how did CDA members negotiate their original involvement and level of participation with the organization, 3) what is the nature of the linkage between the CDA and Disabled People International, and how does this relationship affect CDA's policies and procedures, and 4) what strategies does CDA employ to mobilize PWDs in Jamaica to participate in advocacy activities? These questions are explored using participant observation, semi-structured interviews, survey, and document review. Findings reveal a complex construction of disability as Jamaicans negotiate between various beliefs and ideas to understand the meaning of disability. Furthermore, the negotiation of movement involvement by PWDs is based their connections have with fellow members as well as the personal benefits that they receive. Although the CDA has been influenced by the international disability movement, it has also contributed to the global activism, especially in the Caribbean. In a local environment overwhelmed by limited financial resources and social inequalities the CDA by default addresses some social welfare of PWDS, while pursuing its primary commitment to advocacy, resulting in numerous challenges.

Informed by the disciplines of disability studies and interpretive sociology, and using the social model of disability and the collective identity model, this dissertation pursues an investigation of underemployment. Underemployment, conceptualized as the underutilized skills and knowledge of the employed and unemployed, occurs at higher levels amongst disabled persons than among non-disabled people (Canada, 2009). Semi-structured interviews with 14 underemployed disabled people conducted, to investigate the experiences of disabled persons who worked in the fields of education, computer, healthcare, fitness, environment, travel, social work, government and non-government agencies. In addition, Canadian social policies were analyzed to address the research questions: 1) How do disabled workers understand and address experiences of underemployment? 2) How do organizations and social policies account for underemployment amongst disabled persons? 3) How can practices which acknowledge and enhance collective identity be used to address underemployment and advance the disability movement? 4) How can underemployment amongst disabled persons be addressed at the organizational level? The texts of these narratives and Canadian social policies were analyzed using a critical interpretative textual analysis approach. The analysis demonstrates the depths of the negative consequences of high levels of underemployment resulting from structural, environmental and attitudinal barriers. Such consequences include lack of opportunities for recognition, compensation, promotion, accommodations, and career fulfillment, as well as poor mental, physical, emotional and social health. This research study is unique as it reveals the struggles that disabled persons experienced in work contexts, their narratives of resistance, and their recommendations for socio-political change to build more inclusive work environments

Informed by the disciplines of disability studies and interpretive sociology, and using the social model of disability and the collective identity model, this dissertation pursues an investigation of underemployment. Underemployment, conceptualized as the underutilized skills and knowledge of the employed and unemployed, occurs at higher levels amongst disabled persons than among non-disabled people (Canada, 2009). Semi-structured interviews with 14 underemployed disabled people conducted, to investigate the experiences of disabled persons who worked in the fields of education, computer, healthcare, fitness, environment, travel, social work, government and non-government agencies. In addition, Canadian social policies were analyzed to address the research questions: 1) How do disabled workers understand and address experiences of underemployment? 2) How do organizations and social policies account for underemployment amongst disabled persons? 3) How can practices which acknowledge and enhance collective identity be used to address underemployment and advance the disability movement? 4) How can underemployment amongst disabled persons be addressed at the organizational level? The texts of these narratives and Canadian social policies were analyzed using a critical interpretative textual analysis approach. The analysis demonstrates the depths of the negative consequences of high levels of underemployment resulting from structural, environmental and attitudinal barriers. Such consequences include lack of opportunities for recognition, compensation, promotion, accommodations, and career fulfillment, as well as poor mental, physical, emotional and social health. This research study is unique as it reveals the struggles that disabled persons experienced in work contexts, their narratives of resistance, and their recommendations for socio-political change to build more inclusive work environments

The Group Mentoring Programme which is the subject of this evaluative research was developed and implemented under the auspices of the Australian Library and Information Association by the author and a colleague. The main aim of the Programme was to facilitate the transition of new graduates in librarianship into the profession. The objectives of the research were: (1) to conduct an impact evaluation of the Programme; (2) to explore and develop the conceptual and theoretical bases of mentoring; and (3) to identify sources of stress anticipated and experienced by new graduates in their transition into the profession. This evaluative research represents the first report in the research literature to date in which a group mentoring programme of this kind has been evaluated using a quasi-experimental research design. The population comprised all graduates in librarianship from the two Western Australian universities offering these courses in 1996. Subjects in the experimental group were self-selected, and the remainder of the population made up the comparison group. (This was divided into two groups - those who did not have a current mentor, and those who had a current mentor.) Data were collected by means of pre- and post-test questionnaires, and analysed by multiple regression analysis. The main outcome variable was measured by Hall's Professionalism Scale, a validated measuring instrument. Results indicated that the Group Mentoring Programme was effective in only one of the five domains of professionalism as measured by this scale (that is, in having a sense of 'calling' to the field). This suggested that a group mentoring programme, by itself, is not a sufficient strategy for new graduates to attain a professional identity. A four-stage model of mentoring as continuing professional development is suggested as a strategy for teaching professionalism in a more formal, ++ / structured way. Results also showed that career-development outcomes were significantly higher in the Group Mentoring participants than in the two comparison groups, indicating that group mentoring is an effective career development strategy in the first year of such a programme. The concept of mentoring is extended to include group mentoring, which incorporates the essential characteristics of mentoring; it is also suggested that group mentoring includes the potential for practising three forms of mentoring relationships: individual, peer and co-mentoring. Two broad areas for future research are suggested: longitudinal studies examining the outcomes of group mentoring, and studies extending the theoretical and conceptual bases of group mentoring.

This thesis deals with question of Scandinavian social model's transferability on Baltic countries and Iceland. The aim of the thesis is to establish whether and to what extent Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Iceland are ready to adopt the system. Three main methods are used in the thesis, namely: analysis of macroeconomic indicators and competitiveness indices, synthesis using the magic pentagon and comparison via coefficient of variation. The thesis comprises three main parts. The first one deals with theory and methodology. The second part applies information gained from databases of world organisations and follows their development. The last part then compares these figures.

The overall purpose of the study was to study and elucidate the phenomenon of discrimination in relation to individuals who have a visible disability. The main empiricism has been based on qualitative interviews and completed influential knowledge. The main result of this has been exposed to be an context-based discrimination, in the form of social structures and physically mismatched public environments. Discrimination has been shown to be a common occurrence and expresses unequal conditions, in the form of inclusion in social situations. However, have the results shown general causal explanations of this problem - which are based on lack of knowledge, and in turn, constitute negative conceptions. The study thus draws attention to people with visible disabilities, in the sense of becoming more naturally included in society. Through the study analysis four themes where identified; lack of inclusion, interpersonal interactions, negative events and lack of knowledge. / Studiens övergripande syfte är att studera och belysa fenomenet diskriminering i relation till individer som besitter en synlig funktionsnedsättning. Den huvudsakliga empirin har grundats i kvalitativa intervjuer och fullgjort inflytelserika kunskaper. Huvudresultatet har därav exponerat en kontextburen diskriminering, i form av sociala samhällsstrukturer och fysiskt missanpassade offentliga miljöer. Diskriminering påvisas således vara ett vanligt förekommande fenomen och uttrycker sig av ojämlika förhållanden, i form av bristande inkludering i sociala situationer. Studiens resultat har dock visat generella orsaksförklaringar av denna problematik – som bottnar i bristande kunskaper, och i sin tur, utgör negativa föreställningar. Studien uppmärksammar därav människor med synliga funktionsnedsättningar, i en betydelse av att alltmer naturligt inkluderas i samhället. Utifrån studiens analys har fyra framgående teman identifierats; bristande inkludering, mellanmänskliga interaktioner, negativa tilldragelser och bristande kunskap.

Magister Commercii - MCom / There is an increase in the number of people with disabilities entering, and in the workplace. Industrialised countries are encountering a workforce that is ageing, which makes the prevalence of disability, due to chronic illness amongst employees, more evident. However, even with legislation and policies that support people in the workplace, such as the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act 53 of 2003 and the Code of Good Practice on Disability in the Workplace, many people still choose not to disclose their disabilities. Therefore, the main purpose of the study is to identify the perceived factors that could possibly prevent the disclosure of disability in the workplace. The study was conducted at one of the universities in the Western Cape. The study was qualitative in nature and made use of semi-structured interviews. Ten participants took part in the study and comprised of two academic staff members from each of the faculties on the main campus. Content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data where various themes and subthemes emerged.

I detta examensarbete undersöker jag två övergripande frågeställningar gällande fysisk tillgänglighet. Den första frågan rör varför enkelt avhjälpta hinder, det vill säga retroaktiva krav på ökad tillgänglighet, har tillfogats Sveriges bygglagstiftning. Den andra frågan rör hur arbetet med åtgärdandet av de retroaktiva föreskrifterna har utförts i svenska kommuner. Motiven bakom uppkomsten av krav undersöks genom en genomgång av äldre byggregler och handikapputredningar. I undersökningen konstateras att tillgänglighetskrav har funnits i svenska byggregler sedan länge, men att omfattning och formuleringar har varierat. I studien visas att nuvarande lagkrav är förhållandevis lika äldre byggregler och två huvudsakliga förklaringar till behovet av en retroaktivt verkande lag konstateras. Den första förklaringen är att en stor del av den byggda miljön har tillkommit innan tillgänglighetskrav ställdes i lagstiftningen. Den andra anledningen är att aktörer inom plan- och byggprocessen har saknat tillräcklig kunskap för att kunna verkligställa de övergripande målkrav som ställts sedan början av 1980-talet. Studien visar också att arbetet med enkelt avhjälpta hinder utgör ett medel för att tillgodose denna kunskap bland berörda aktörer. Arbetets andra frågeställning är om några specifika strategier har varit särskilt effektiva i arbetet med enkelt avhjälpta hinder. Genom litteraturstudier och intervjuer i en kommun plockas sju faktorer fram och testas mot resultatet i en av SKL genomförd undersökning av tillgängligheten i svenska kommuner. Det går inte att dra några generella slutsatser från testet, men genom litteraturstudien och intervjuerna bedöms två faktorer vara kopplade till hur framgångsrikt arbetet med enkelt avhjälpta hinder har varit: hur väl arbetet har planerats och hur samarbetet med funktionshinderrörelsen har utformats. / In this thesis, I examine two main questions regarding accessibility. The first question concerns why retroactive requirements for increased accessibility, enkelt avhjälpta hinder (easily eliminated barriers), have been added to the Swedish building legislation. The question is examined by a review of older building codes and reports published by disability commissions. The review found that accessibility requirements have existed in building regulations since the 1960s. The extent of the requirements has varied, but many requirements set in the new policy are relatively similar to those in older building codes. The study gives two explanations for why the new policy is needed. First, a majority of the built environment in Sweden was constructed before any accessibility requirements were legislated. Second, the actors in the planning and building process have previously lacked sufficient knowledge on disability. The study shows that the new policy is a means to raise the knowledge on disability and accessibility. The second question concerns how the new policy has been implemented in Swedish municipalities, and whether some specific implementation strategies have been particularly effective. Through literature reviews and interviews in a municipality, two main factors are identified as crucial for the success of accessibility adaptations: how well the work has been planned in advance and how the collaboration with the disability movement has been arranged.

Background: Every child deserves to learn in an environment that is tailored to their specific needs. Inclusive education offers a wide range of benefits, from social, and emotional to academic achievement. In addition, inclusive education provides the means to acquire knowledge and skills in order to alleviate poverty and break the cycle of disadvantage for children with disabilities. In Southern Africa, efforts have been made to ensure that children with disabilities have access to quality education. Nevertheless, 90% of children with disabilities are less likely to attend school, and dropout rates are higher among those with disabilities in school. These statistics are alarming.  Aim: Using a scoping review, the study aims to analyze the challenges and facilitators of inclusive education in Southern African countries.  Methodology: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in 5 databases, and the retrieved articles were screened in two phases leading to the selection of the final sixteen articles. The results were analyzed in a thematic approach under the ecological theory. Results: The analysis of the selected 16 articles indicates that the region faces similar problems, and inclusive education is constrained by negative attitudes of teachers, peers, and parents, as well as by a lack of resources, poor infrastructure, ineffective policy development, and lack of clear policy implementation. Under facilitators, availability of policies, teacher training, strong support system coupled with knowledge and understanding of policies were found to promote inclusive education.  Conclusion: The dominant theme of the research results was negative views of disability held by Southern African societies. As such the author concludes by emphasizing the importance of developing policies that take into account cultural and environmental factors and an overall mindset change of viewing disability from the traditional and medical point to a social and human rights perspective.