Background: Working-age adults with aphasia experience difficulties in social participation, specifically the ability to fulfil social roles and reintegrate into communities. Literature regarding social participation of people with aphasia (PWA) is predominantly based on high income countries limiting generalizability of findings. Investigation of PWA’s perspectives on social participation in lower-middle-income countries such as South Africa is warranted. Objective: To describe the perspectives of working-age adults with aphasia regarding social participation within the first two years post-incident. Method: Semi-structured interviews were used to obtain the perspectives of 10 working-age adults (mild to moderate aphasia), using pictorial and written supports, and supported conversation techniques. Data were coded and thematically analysed to identify common themes amongst participants’ perspectives of social participation. Results: Five main themes and two sub-themes were identified. Participants’ perspectives of social participation align with previous qualitative studies regarding perspectives of working-age adults with aphasia, specifically their preference for re-engagement in meaningful activities. Participants described preference for specific 2 communication partners, specifically close friends and family. Reduced social participation was apparent due to difficulties in returning to work. The rehabilitation process was identified as an area of social engagement, specifically participants’ relationships with their speech-language therapist. Faith-related activities were the primary contexts that involved other community members. Conclusion: Successful social participation was dependent on the perceived value and the supportive nature of social activities rather than the quantity of activities. Rehabilitation should facilitate and optimise PWA’s communicative functioning within valued areas of social participation, enhancing person-centred care. Keywords: Social participation; aphasia; mild-moderate aphasia; stroke; lower-middle-income countries; working-age adults; A-FROM; ICF; speech-language therapy; person-centred care. / Dissertation (MA) University of Pretoria 2020. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / MA (Speech-language pathology) / Unrestricted

Thesis(LLM.) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Ravaged by the socio-economic ills of poverty, income inequality and unemployment, South Africa entrenched the constitutional right to access social assistance for everyone unable to support themselves and their dependents under section 27(1)(c). The state is obliged to create a comprehensive social security system, to ensure that all who need social assistance access it. But not all poor and deserving people access social assistance. The study found that underlying the obligation to improve the quality of life for all is the fundamental normative commitment to access social assistance. In 2002, the Taylor Committee recommended, inter alia, that the state implements a Basic Income Grant (hereafter the ‘BIG’) as part of its comprehensive social security project. The study thus examines the legal feasibility of the BIG to provide social income support to eliminate widespread socio-economic ills, for all in South Africa. The study makes use of a desktop qualitative methodology garnered four-folded objectives. The relevant revelations were as follows: First, the study found that international and regional frameworks do not directly guarantee poor able-bodied working-age adults any social income support. Second, the study found that little jurisprudence interprets the right to social assistance, let alone a BIG. But a general body of socio-economic judgments developed over the years can aid in developing the right. Third, the study found that Covid-19 resurrected the over two-decade laments for a BIG, given the R350 Covid-19 SRD grants that were since provided. It was further found that there is reasonably sufficient capacity to roll out the BIG. Finally, the study included a comparative perspective and identified the Republic of Namibia, as the right comparator. The study found that South Africa can learn from the tremendous improvements in the quality of the lives of the people of Otjievero since the Namibian BIG Pilot Project. Also, the study found that there are numerous financing avenues for the BIG. Ultimately, the study recommended the gradual implementation of a BIG, starting with those aged 18 to 59 years.