Employment is viewed as one of the pinnacle factors in enhancing quality of life. Despite being a right in South Africa, the employment opportunities available to individuals with Down syndrome are limited. This study aimed to explore the employment experiences of individuals with Down syndrome, their employers and their families in KwaZulu-Natal. This research provided valuable information for Speech-Language Therapists on enhancing communication in the workplace as effective communication in the workplace is crucial for employment. A qualitative approach and phenomenological design were used within the context of International Classification Framework, biopsychosocial model and critical paradigm. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results revealed that individuals with Down syndrome valued their employment for the emotional and financial support it provided and the skill development opportunities available. Gaps were evident in legislation specific to the employment of individuals with Down syndrome as well as the implementation of these limited policies. Communication is necessary in the workplace; however, it is one of the areas that is severely impacted in individuals with Down syndrome. Employers and family members’ experiences indicated variability in speech intelligibility, language and literacy skills among the participants with Down syndrome linked to cognitive ability, intervention, education received, mood swings and memory loss. Intriguing trends relating to the positive use of technological devices for social and recreational purposes were evident. Employment success can be linked to successful job selection, visual and emotional support. Speech-Language Therapists, employers, family members and the Down syndrome association were found to have crucial roles in providing this support. The role of the Speech-Language Therapist continues to evolve and is required across the lifespan for different purposes. / M.Sc. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2013

Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to better understand the lived experiences of a learner in a mainstream high school, who is experiencing a speech-flow difficulty, in order to gain insight into how best to support such a learner within an inclusive classroom. The theoretical framework on which this study was based is the bio-ecological model, inclusive education, positive psychology, resilience as well as developmental psychology, specifically the developmental phase of adolescence. The purpose of this was to view the learner holistically, taking into account all of the positive support structures in her life, especially, her levels of resilience, whilst taking cognisance of the fact that she is in the adolescent developmental phase, within a mainstream high school. Inclusive classrooms should ideally be structured in such a way that they accommodate a learner’s specific individual learning needs. The methodology employed in this study was based on a basic qualitative research approach, and viewed through an interpretive paradigmatic lens. Purposive sampling was used to select a learner who was experiencing a speech-flow difficulty. Various methods of data collection were employed, such as: a semi-structured interview with the learner and her mother, diary entries from the learner, a timeline of the learner’s life drawn by the learner herself, the researcher’s observations (both in the classroom and during a break time), as well as the researcher’s own reflective notes. Documents were also made available to the researcher, and these were the learner’s school reports, the learner’s speech therapy workbook, as well as a report on the learner from her speech therapist. This data was analysed through a qualitative coding process. The research findings indicated that the learner had various experiences, both positive and negative, within all spheres of her life. The majority of her experiences were positive, as the learner had strong support structures in her life, in the form of her mother, her friends, her sound academic capabilities, as well as her level of resilience. The learner is also currently receiving positive intervention in the form of speech therapy, where she is learning various strategies in order to assist her with her speech-flow difficulty. However, there are few factors that make the learner feel uncomfortable, especially in the classroom. The researcher has thus recommended ways in which educators can better support learners who are experiencing speech-flow difficulties within their classroom. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die geleefde ervaringe van ʼn leerder in ʼn hoofstroomskool, en wat ʼn spraakvloeiversteuring ervaar, te probeer verstaan. Die doel hiermee was om insig te verkry in hoe so ʼn leerder ondersteun kan word binne ʼn inklusiewe klaskamer. Die teoretiese raamwerk waarop hierdie studie berus is die bio-ekologiese model, inklusiewe onderwys, positiewe sielkunde, veerkragtigheid, sowel as ontwikkelingsielkunde, spesifiek die adolessente ontwikkelingsfase. Die mikpunt was om die leerder holisties te beskou, deur al die positiewe ondersteuningstrukture in haar lewe in ag te neem veral haar vlakke van veerkragtigheid, terwyl die feit dat sy haar in die adolessente ontwikkelingsfase bevind, en in ʼn hoofstroomskool is, verder lig op haar ervaringe kan werp. Inklusiewe klaskamers behoort dus in so ʼn mate gestruktureer te wees dat individuele behoeftes van leerders in ag geneem word. Die navorsingsmetodologie in hierdie studie het berus op ʼn basiese kwalitatiewe benadering, en beskou deur ʼn interpretatiewe paradigmatiese lens. ʼn Doelgerigte steekproef is gebruik om ʼn leerder te identifiseer wat ʼn spraakvloeiversteuring ervaar. Verskeie metodes van data-insameling is gebruik, byvoorbeeld semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met die leerder en haar moeder, dagboekinskrywings van die leerder, ʼn tydlynoefening wat die leerder van haarself geteken het, die navorser se waarnemings (binne die klaskamer sowel as op die speelgrond), asook die navorser se reflektiewe notas gedurende die proses afgeneem. Dokumente is beskikbaar gestel aan die navorser, naamlik die leerder se skoolrapporte, haar werkboek wat sy gedurende spraakterapie sessies gebruik, sowel as ʼn verslag deur die spraakterapeut wat die deelnemer tans konsulteer. Die data is geanaliseer met behulp van ʼn kwalitatiewe koderingsproses. Die navorsingsbevindinge dui ʼn verskeidenheid van ervarings (positief sowel as negatief) aan wat die leerder binne al die areas van haar lewe ondervind. Die meerderheid van haar ervaringe is positief, aangesien sy sterk ondersteuningsstrukture in haar lewe het, veral haar moeder, haar vriende, haar sterk akademiese vermoeëns sowel as haar veerkragtigheid. Die leerder ontvang ook tans ʼn baie positiewe intervensie van ʼn spraakterapeut, waar sy ʼn verskeidenheid strategieë aanleer, wat haar help om die spraakvloeiversteuring mee te hanteer. Daar is egter ʼn paar faktore wat haar ongemaklik maak, veral in die klaskamer. Die navorser kan dus ‘n verskeidenheid van riglyne aanbeveel waardeur leerders met spraakvloeiversteurings ondersteun kan word binne die klaskamer.