This investigation was designed to assess the amount of attitudinal change experienced by the client and certain selected characteristics of the client, his vocational rehabilitation counselor, immediate workshop supervisor and his sheltered workshop.

A dilemma in some local educational institutions is the lack of a supportive teacher community which could lead to decreased teacher job satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to describe to what extent teacher collaboration in a professional learning community (PLC) impacts teacher job satisfaction. Theoretical foundations by DuFour, Eaker and DuFour supported the relationships between PLC and teacher collaboration. Herzberg's theory of motivation and Maslow's hierarchy also served as frameworks in this study. An interpretive, qualitative research design was used to explore potential connections between collaboration and job satisfaction. Research questions addressed how scheduled school day collaborative time impacts teacher job satisfaction, job satisfaction changes due to a PLC environment, and the impact of teacher isolate on job satisfaction. Data included observations of collegial interactions, face-to-face interviews, recorded field notes and audio tapings captured during these data collecting events. Cross-referencing was applied between collection tools. Data were coded, categorized and analyzed following the process designed by Hatch. Ideal collaborative time and job satisfaction characteristics emerged as core themes. Specifically, scheduled collaboration provided a structure for developing strategies for meeting students' needs, and principal support for collaboration was shown to enhance teachers' perceptions of job satisfaction. Teachers also cited improved practices and enhanced collegial relationships as additional sources of increased job satisfaction. Implications for positive social change include improving teacher job satisfaction, which could assist in creating a positive, productive environment for teachers. This can result in more well planned learning environments and greater academic achievement for students.

No description available.

Thesis (MOccTher)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The rights of people with disabilities to equal opportunities for employment is acknowledged on a national and international level. A key area whereby this can be addressed is through effective vocational rehabilitation programmes in occupational therapy. The delivery of high quality health care services is an important issue for the consumer and government within the health arena. This implies that standards have to be developed for the various services. The standards will serve the purpose of activating quality assurance and quality improvement processes in all health care services. Vocational rehabilitation of people with disabilities and the emphasis that is placed on good quality care, resulted in the question: "How can occupational therapists ensure that they will deliver a good quality service in a vocational assessment area?". The question is posed specifically in terms of the assessment of a person's work abilities, as this step is viewed as most important in the vocational rehabilitation process. The step(s) that follow will be determined by the results obtained from the assessment. The purpose of the study is to identify a standard statement and generic measurement criteria that will be used to set the standards for Structure, Process and Outcome for vocational assessment areas. The establishment of measurement criteria is viewed as a starting point in the quality assurance cycle. The results of the study will initiate quality assurance and quality improvement in vocational assessment areas. Although the role of the occupational therapist is clearly delineated regarding vocational rehabilitation and the importance of the occupational therapy contribution recognised in this regard, could no information pertaining to standards and measurement criteria for work assessment areas be identified through a literature study. It was therefore decided to develop a standard statement and measurement criteria according to the Donabedian Model of Structure, Process and Outcome for vocational assessment areas in South Africa. Occupational therapists with at least one year experience of vocational rehabilitation of patients were requested to rate the proposed standard statements and measurement criteria. A survey method (adapted Delphi method) was used whereby the participants had to rate the proposed standard statements and measurement criteria on a four-point scale. The results obtained were used to draw up a standard statement and measurement criteria to ensure that quality assurance and quality improvement will become a reality in vocational assessment areas in South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die regte van persone met gestremdhede tot gelyke indiensneming word op nasionale en internasionale vlak erken. Die aanbieding van effektiewe werkrehabilitasieprogramme deur arbeidsterapeute is een van die belangrikste wyses waarop die situasie aangespreek kan word. Die lewering van hoë gehalte gesondheidsdienste word toenemend deur die verbruikers en die staat vereis. Dit impliseer dat standaarde vir die dienste vasgestel moet word om gehalteverbetering en gehalteversekering in gesondheidsdienste te vestig. Werkrehabilitasie van persone met gestremdhede en die kwessie van hoë gehalte dienste het die volgende vraag laat ontstaan: "Hoe kan die arbeidsterapeut verseker dat 'n hoë gehalte diens in 'n werkbepalingsarea gelewer word?". Die vraag handel spesifiek oor die bepaling van 'n persoon se werkvermoëns aangesien dié stap as baie belangrik binne die werkrehabilitasieprogram beskou word. Die stap(pe) wat hierna sal volg, salop besluit word na aanleiding van die resultate van die bepaling. Die doel van die studie is om 'n standaardstelling en generiese metingskriteria volgens Donabedian se model te identifiseer om die standaarde vir die Struktuur, Proses en Uitkoms van werkbepalingsareas in Suid-Afrika daar te stel. Die bogenoemde metingskriteria sal dit moontlik maak om die gehalteversekeringsiklus te inisieër. Gehalteversekering en gehalteverbeteringsaksies sal as gevolg hiervan in werkbepalingsareas kan plaasvind. Ten spyte van die feit dat die rol van die arbeidsterapeut in werkrehabilitasie duidelik uiteengesit is en die belang daarvan erken word, kon geen inligting oor 'n standaardstelling en metingskriteria vir werkbepalingsareas in die literatuur gevind word nie. Arbeidsterapeute met minstens een jaar ondervinding van werkrehabilitasie van pasiënte het hulle menings ten opsigte van 'n standaardstelling en metingskriteria uitgespreek. 'n Opname metode (gewysigde Delphi metode) is gebruik en deelnemers het op 'n vierpuntskaal hul voorkeure ten opsigte van 'n standaardstelling en metingskriteria aangedui. Die resultate wat op dié wyse bekom is, is gebruik om 'n finale standaardstelling en voorkeur metingskriteria voor te stel. Die gebruik hiervan in werkbepalingsareas sal daartoe lei dat gehalteversekering en gehalteverbetering in dié areas in Suid-Afrika tot uitvoer gebring sal word.

published_or_final_version / Mental Health / Master / Master of Social Sciences

No description available.

When one group of disabled individuals finishes their vocational rehabilitation training programs and another group, almost as large in number, fails to complete their courses one wonders whether there are significant differences in the two groups. The problem in this study is to determine if the two groups differ significantly in certain identifiable characteristics. The identifiable characteristics are some important objective variables that are utilized in the vocational rehabilitation training of disabled veterans.

African American women represent one of the largest groups disproportionately living with and affected by HIV/AIDS yet African American women have largely been unrepresented in the federal-state rehabilitation system. As pharmaceutical treatment options improve and individuals with HIV/AIDS are living longer and healthier lives, research exploring the appropriateness of rehabilitation services has increased. Accordingly, it has become more necessary to address the needs of this population. As the largest service provider for people with disabilities, the state-federal rehabilitation system has the potential to be a vital resource for African American women living with HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this study is to identify and examine variables related to and predictive of the utilization of rehabilitative services among a sample of African American women living with HIV/AIDS in the United States who volunteered to complete the National Working Positive Coalition - Vocational Development and Employment Needs Survey (NWPC-VDENS). The sample for this study was 313 African American women living with HIV/AIDS who were recruited from AIDS service organizations and national networks throughout the United States. Participants voluntarily completed the NWPC - VDENS, which explored their needs in the areas of education, training, employment, and health. The behavioral model for vulnerable populations was utilized as a framework to organize and examine predisposing, enabling and need constructs as they related to the utilization of rehabilitative services among African American women living with HIV/AIDS. This study used descriptive, bivariate and binary hierarchical logistic regression statistical analyses to determine the extent to which the constructs were predictive of the use of vocational rehabilitative services. The bivariate analyses produced no statistically significant differences between users and non-users of vocational rehabilitation services for either the predisposing or need variables. Three enabling characteristics, receipt of income benefits, knowledge of services, and reasonable access were all found to have statistical significance in the bivariate analyses. At least one variable from each construct was statistically significant in the regression model. Receipt of income benefits and knowledge of rehabilitation services were found to be predictive of the utilization of vocational rehabilitation services. Study findings framed from previous research, study limitations, implications, and recommendations for future research were acknowledged.

Magister Scientiae (Occupational Therapy) - MSc(OT) / Return to work is a recognised goal of rehabilitation by the occupational therapy discipline that is addressed through vocational rehabilitation as a key feature of work practice. Programmes that fall under the umbrella of vocational rehabilitation include work preparation and training, work hardening and supported employment. In the case of mental health care users (MHCU), meaningful employment contributes to their sense of identity and the prevention of relapse. Vocational rehabilitation is thus important in preparing MHCU for self-employment or employment in the community after they are discharged from the hospital. There is however a dearth of literature pertaining to how vocational rehabilitation programmes particularly in a rural setting, is experienced by MHCU in South Africa. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of MHCU regarding the usefulness of the vocational rehabilitation programme at a rural hospital in enhancing their worker roles. A qualitative research approach and exploratory descriptive research design was utilised. Purposive sampling was used to select participants for the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten MHCU participants as well as two focus groups. Semi-structured interviews were furthermore conducted with two key informants. All interviews and the focus group discussion were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed through thematic data analysis. Strategies implemented to ensure trustworthiness included member checking and peer review. Ethics clearance was obtained from the UWC Research Committee and permission to conduct the study at the hospital was requested from the Mpumalanga Provincial Health Ethics Committee and hospital management. Three themes originated from the findings of this study. Theme one describes the barriers experienced by people with mental illness while returning to work. Theme two describes the programme factors that influence return to work in respect of work habits, work skills, and community re-integration. Theme three captures the value of participating in the work programme as experienced by the participants. The findings of the study is related to the Model of The Ecology of Human Performance (EHP) to show how the vocational rehabilitation programme effected the MHCU’s return to work. The findings show that the context as well as the person’s skills and abilities are very important factors in reintegrating the user back to work. The study illuminated recommendations for the further development of the vocational rehabilitation programme.

Magister Scientiae (Occupational Therapy) - MSc(OT) / Tuberculosis (TB) and multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB have been identified as one of the largest health problems in the world, and notably recognized as a big issue in democratic South Africa. Socio-demographic factors such as poverty and unemployment were identified to be major contributing factors to the epidemic. Individuals with TB reportedly have poor levels of occupational self-efficacy and found it challenging to return to work after prolonged hospitalization. The Model of Occupational Self-Efficacy (MOOSE) has been used effectively to assist individuals with traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) to return to work. Adaptation of the MOOSE was recommended for application with other syndromes associated with long hospitalization and absence from work. The aim of the study was to adapt the MOOSE for clients living with tuberculosis and to aid them in returning to work. The study was conducted through exploratory research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten purposively selected key informants from private and public health facilities in the Western Cape. The data was analysed through thematic analysis from which six themes emerged. Themes One, Two and Six describe the barriers experienced by the participants when returning to work following their diagnosis of PTB or MDR-TB. Theme Three, Four and Five discussed the factors that facilitate the resumption of the worker role for the PTB and MDR-TB survivors. The findings of this study were used to inform the adaptation of the MOOSE for use with patients living with TB. Ethics clearance was obtained from the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee (BMREC) of UWC. Permission was given by the Department of Health to conduct the study on the clinical platform. All ethics principles were upheld.