Amputation patients have a great deal more than just physical recovery to contend with and the extent and scope of this condition is largely unknown in South Africa. Rehabilitation programmes for amputees, specifically at state institutions are characterised by lack of resources, lack of information provided to patients and the patients themselves seem to experience lack of support on an emotional and psychological level. This study investigates the experience of self of the amputation patient through a review of the literature available and from an ecosystemic-postmodernist viewpoint. In addition, guided imagery is examined as a technique that could add value to rehabilitation programmes for amputation patients. Health care professionals in two state hospitals in Pretoria were interviewed by means of semi-structured questionnaires to obtain additional information on current rehabilitation programmes as well as the experience of the amputation and the subsequent process for the amputee. Themes extracted from these questionnaires were used to design a suggested rehabilitation programme. This programme, based on the findings of the research, suggests certain enhancements to existing programmes and is focussed on supporting the experience of the process for the amputee through inclusion of specific guided imagery texts. / Psychology / M.A.(Clinical Psychology)

This thesis is about pastoral work with people who live with mobility impairment. The research address two main questions, namely "What are the implications of acquired mobility impairment for personal identity and collective identity?" and "How can we in Christian faith communities, through pastoral work, facilitate a sense of belonging and strengthen personal identity and collective identity for people who are mobility disadvantaged?" This thesis therefore addresses the problem of identity. Thus, a theoretical analysis from literature sources is undertaken to explore theories about narrative identity in relation to personal identity and the importance of the metaphor "belonging" to bridge the gap of personal identity to collective identity. Consequently, religious identity is discussed in relation to the notion of multiple identities and the importance of collective identity to shaping personal identity. The research questions are answered through a theoretical exploration of approaches to disability and qualitative, narrative empirical research is undertaken. A few people who are quadriplegic, a family member and an occupational therapist are interviewed and the recounting of their "stories" facilitated. The empirical research results in highlighting that the research participants' "stories" discloses a link between bodily restrictions and social restrictions to mobility. This combination works together to make social interaction very difficult and clearly influenced the transition from pre-quadriplegia to post-quadriplegia. Analysing the "stories" told by the research participants allows for critical reflection on a preferred pastoral work praxis to people living with mobility impairment. Narrative identity is linked with a theology of embrace and metaphors of "covenant" and "belonging" which expresses that faith communities should imitate the embracing love and compassion of the Triune God who through the act of suffering included all humankind. It provides the foundation for a preferred pastoral work praxis of "embrace" which can be practised holistically and actively through integration with the other practices of faith communities to facilitate a sense of belonging to a collective identity. / Practical Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)

The aim of this study is to address the proposition that the spirituality of L'Arche has a great deal of potential to offer people with learning disabilities outside its own community setting. For chaplains who have the task of seeking to nurture and develop the spiritual lives of people with learning disabilities in schools, there exists the opportunity to draw out the fundamental characteristics of the spirituality of L'Arche and incorporate these into their own formation programs. The opportunity to be creative and imaginative in developing formation programs comes from within the context of legislation which requires schools to meet the spiritual needs of the children in their care. / Christian Spirituality / M. Th. (Christian Spirituality)

Text in Afrikaans / This pastoral-narrative study pans the stories of multi disabled children's parents for story elements and account resources that lead to the development of alternative realities on the dominant reality of "disability". With a postmodern epistemology and postmodern theological background this study was performed with a qualitative narrative research approach. In this study the stories of eight multi "disabled children's parents are utilized. Story elements and account resources from social structures and existence are highlighted and discussed. Examples of this are family, circle of friends, hope and parental love. The account of this study underlines the value that alternative realities on the dominant reality of "disability" can add to the quality on how people experience life. It also services as prove of people's riches of inner power and resilience. / Practical Theology / M.Th.

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Social workers are increasingly being encouraged to include the economic development of their clients in the intervention strategies they apply. As a result of this, social work programmes with income generating activities are becoming commonplace within the social work arena. People with disabilities have been identified as a group that should be targeted for support in income generating activities and small business initiatives. An exploratory study of the effect of a social work programme on the lives of people with disabilities was undertaken. A literature study was conducted on perspectives and intervention strategies that are applied in social work intervention with people with disabilities. This included the ecological and strengths perspectives of social work as it applies to people with disabilities. The empowerment approach was described as an intervention strategy to be applied by social workers working with people with disabilities. Disability in South Africa was explored by focussing on the disability rights movement as well as the policies and institutions that affect the lives of people with disabilities. Little research has been done to explore the effect of social work programmes with income generating activities on the lives of the people involved in them. Exploratory research was done in the Western Cape using the interview survey for data collection,. The experiences of people with disabilities, who are members of a social work income-generating programme, were explored. Information obtained during the interviews is presented in four categories, namely: demographic information of the respondents, the nature of the respondents' disabilities, respondents' involvement in the programme and their awareness of their rights as people with disabilities. The study revealed that although, income generating activities were the focus of the programme, respondents did not identify economic rewards as the main reason for remaining in the programme. Respondents identified emotional and social rewards as being of most value to them in their membership of the programme. It is therefore concludedthat social work programmes should include both income-generating activities as well as activities that will enhance the emotional and social development of people with disabilities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Maatskaplike werkers word al hoe meer aangemoedig om die ekonomiese opheffing van hul kliënte in te sluit by die intervensie strategieë wat hul implementeer. Gevolglik word strategieë met inkomste-genererende aktiwiteite al hoe meer alledaags in die maatskaplike werk arena. Mense met gestremdhede is as 'n groep geïdentifiseer om ondersteuning in inkomste-genererende aktiwiteite en kleinsake inisiatiewe te ontvang. 'n Verkennende studie is onderneem om die effek van 'n maatskaplike werkprogram op die lewens van mense met gestremdhede te ondersoek. 'n Literatuurstudie is ook onderneem om die maatskaplike werk perspektiewe en intervensie strategieë wat van toepassing is op mense met gestremdhede, te beskryf. Dit het die maatskaplike werk ekologiese en sterkte perspektiewe ingesluit en ook hoe dit van toepassing is op mense met gestremdhede. Die bemagtigings benadering in maatskapike werk en die toepassing daarvan op mense met gestremdhede word ook beskryf. Gestremdheid in Suid-Afrika is verken deur te fokus op die gestremdheids regtebeweging, sowel as die beleid en instansies wat 'n effek het op die lewens van mense met gestremdhede. Min navorsing is tot dusver gedoen om die effek van maatskaplike werkprogramme met inkomste-genererende aktiwiteite op die lewens van mense met gestremdhede te verken. Verkennende navorsing is in die Wes-Kaap gedoen met behulp van onderhoude as 'n instrument vir data insameling. Die ervaringe van mense met gestremdhede, wie lede van 'n maatskaplike werk inkomstegenererende program is, is verken. Inligting wat ingewin is gedurende onderhoude word in vier kategorië aangebied, naamlik: demografiese inligting van respondente, die aard van respondente se gestremdhede, respondente se betrokkenheid by die program sowel as hulle bewustheid van hulle regte as gestremdes. In die studie is bevind dat alhoewel inkomste-genererende aktiwiteite die fokus van die program was, het respondente nie noodwendig die ekonomiese beloning as die hoof rede om in die program aan te bly, geïdentifiseer nie. Respondente het die emosionele en sosiale beloning geïdentifiseer as die aspek wat die meeste waarde vir hulle ingehou het. Die gevolgtrekking is dus dat maatskaplike werk programme beide inkomste-genererende aktiwiteite, sowel as aktiwiteite wat die emosionele en sosiale ontwikkeling van gestremdes aanmoedig, moet insluit.

The aim of this study is to address the proposition that the spirituality of L'Arche has a great deal of potential to offer people with learning disabilities outside its own community setting. For chaplains who have the task of seeking to nurture and develop the spiritual lives of people with learning disabilities in schools, there exists the opportunity to draw out the fundamental characteristics of the spirituality of L'Arche and incorporate these into their own formation programs. The opportunity to be creative and imaginative in developing formation programs comes from within the context of legislation which requires schools to meet the spiritual needs of the children in their care. / Christian Spirituality / M. Th. (Christian Spirituality)

Amputation patients have a great deal more than just physical recovery to contend with and the extent and scope of this condition is largely unknown in South Africa. Rehabilitation programmes for amputees, specifically at state institutions are characterised by lack of resources, lack of information provided to patients and the patients themselves seem to experience lack of support on an emotional and psychological level. This study investigates the experience of self of the amputation patient through a review of the literature available and from an ecosystemic-postmodernist viewpoint. In addition, guided imagery is examined as a technique that could add value to rehabilitation programmes for amputation patients. Health care professionals in two state hospitals in Pretoria were interviewed by means of semi-structured questionnaires to obtain additional information on current rehabilitation programmes as well as the experience of the amputation and the subsequent process for the amputee. Themes extracted from these questionnaires were used to design a suggested rehabilitation programme. This programme, based on the findings of the research, suggests certain enhancements to existing programmes and is focussed on supporting the experience of the process for the amputee through inclusion of specific guided imagery texts. / Psychology / M.A.(Clinical Psychology)

This thesis is about pastoral work with people who live with mobility impairment. The research address two main questions, namely "What are the implications of acquired mobility impairment for personal identity and collective identity?" and "How can we in Christian faith communities, through pastoral work, facilitate a sense of belonging and strengthen personal identity and collective identity for people who are mobility disadvantaged?" This thesis therefore addresses the problem of identity. Thus, a theoretical analysis from literature sources is undertaken to explore theories about narrative identity in relation to personal identity and the importance of the metaphor "belonging" to bridge the gap of personal identity to collective identity. Consequently, religious identity is discussed in relation to the notion of multiple identities and the importance of collective identity to shaping personal identity. The research questions are answered through a theoretical exploration of approaches to disability and qualitative, narrative empirical research is undertaken. A few people who are quadriplegic, a family member and an occupational therapist are interviewed and the recounting of their "stories" facilitated. The empirical research results in highlighting that the research participants' "stories" discloses a link between bodily restrictions and social restrictions to mobility. This combination works together to make social interaction very difficult and clearly influenced the transition from pre-quadriplegia to post-quadriplegia. Analysing the "stories" told by the research participants allows for critical reflection on a preferred pastoral work praxis to people living with mobility impairment. Narrative identity is linked with a theology of embrace and metaphors of "covenant" and "belonging" which expresses that faith communities should imitate the embracing love and compassion of the Triune God who through the act of suffering included all humankind. It provides the foundation for a preferred pastoral work praxis of "embrace" which can be practised holistically and actively through integration with the other practices of faith communities to facilitate a sense of belonging to a collective identity. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)

Text in Afrikaans / This pastoral-narrative study pans the stories of multi disabled children's parents for story elements and account resources that lead to the development of alternative realities on the dominant reality of "disability". With a postmodern epistemology and postmodern theological background this study was performed with a qualitative narrative research approach. In this study the stories of eight multi "disabled children's parents are utilized. Story elements and account resources from social structures and existence are highlighted and discussed. Examples of this are family, circle of friends, hope and parental love. The account of this study underlines the value that alternative realities on the dominant reality of "disability" can add to the quality on how people experience life. It also services as prove of people's riches of inner power and resilience. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th.

Afrikaans text, with Afrikaans and English summaries / Despite legislation to the effect intended to ensure the position of the disabled in society, disabled persons still find themselves largely marginalized in the South African context. During this research a group of about twenty participants, of whom about one-half are disabled, were involved in an inclusive process of art-making. The aim of the research was to challenge the dominant discourse which holds that making art is only for the select, talented few. This research was undertaken according to the scientific guidelines of practical theology. Contextual theology was used as a starting point, with emphasis on the participatory- and narrative approaches. The characteristics of pastoral care created an atmosphere which was conducive to the disabled participants discovering and developing hope for a more rewarding future. The research culminated in an exhibition in a national museum, which could contribute to an additional dimension in the narrative of the disabled participants. / Ten spyte van wetgewing om die inklusiewe posisie van die gestremde in die samelewing te verseker, is gestremdes in die Suid Afrikaanse konteks nog grootliks gemarginaliseerd. Vanuit hierdie gemarginaliseerde posisie vind gestremdes dit moeilik en dikwels onmoontlik om hul unieke potensiaal te ontwikkel om sodoende 'n beter lewenskwaliteit lewe te vestig. 'n Groep van ongeveer twintig deelnemers, waarvan die helfte gestremd is, is tydens hierdie navorsing in 'n inklusiewe konteks van kunsmaak betrek. Die doel van die navorsing is om diskoerse uit te daag wat bepaal dat kunsmaak net vir unieke, talentvolle mense beskore was. Teen die agtergrond van 'n postmoderne epistemologie kon gestremdes sonder vooraf opgestelde reels en regulasies uiting gee aan hul verbeelding en sodoende waaghalsig wees in die proses van kunsmaak. Hierdie navorsing het plaasgevind volgens die wetenskaplike riglyne van praktiese teologie. Kontekstuele teologie is as 'n teologiese vertrekpunt gebruik, met die klem op die deelnemende en narratiewe benaderings. Sodoende is ruimte geskep vir die ontdekking sowel as die ontwikkeling van die potensiaal van die gestremde. Die eienskappe van pastorale sorg het 'n atmosfeer tydens die kunsmaaksessies geskep waarbinne die deelnemers in 'n veilige konteks hoop op 'n bykomstige realiteit en 'n beter toekoms kon ontdek en ontwikkel. Die navorsing het gekulmineer in 'n kunsuitstalling in 'n nasionale museum wat kan bydra tot 'n bykomstige dimensie in die verhaal en identiteit van die gestremdes. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology eith specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)