Thesis (M. Communication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Summary in English and Afrikaans. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 137 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-128).

Thesis (Ph.D. (Augmentative and Alternative Communication))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis of (M.A.)--University of Alberta, 2009. / Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on October 2, 2009). "Fall, 2009." At head of title: University of Alberta. A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduates Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Speical Education, Educational Psychology, University of Alberta. Includes bibliographical references.

See Afrikaans / Dissertation (M(Communication Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / unrestricted

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 193-203).

Thesis (M. Communication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Summary in English and Afrikaans. Includes bibliographical references.

This study focuses on the needs of parents of learners with hearing impairments in a mainstream school. Since 1994, South African society has undergone massive changes informed by the Constitution based on a human rights perspective. The ultimate aim is an inclusive society based on the principles of democracy. The educational system has been transformed from one which supported exclusivity and inequalities on the basis of language, colour and ability to one which embraces diversity and inclusivity. The release of Education White Paper 6: Building an Inclusive Education and Training System (Department of Education, 2001) was the culmination of a process of restructuring of the education system to cater for all learners. Engelbrecht & Green (2001:6) emphasise that inclusive education is not about how to assimilate individual learners with identified special needs into existing forms of schooling, but about restructuring schools and education systems so that they can accommodate the learning needs of every individual. The new dispensation has made it possible for parents to assume the role of partners in education. Although School Governing Bodies have been established, parents still need a lot of support in order to play a meaningful role. In the case of parents of learners with hearing impairments in mainstream schools, there is a lot of ground that must still be covered in terms of their needs. In carrying out this research, an exploratory, descriptive, contextual and qualitative design was undertaken to find out what type of support is needed by parents who have children with hearing impairments in a mainstream school. Interviews were conducted with parents who have children with hearing impairments. During the interviews, ethical measures were adhered to and steps to ensure trustworthiness were also followed. Data were analysed and distinctive patterns of concerns emerged from the data, relating to the type of support parents needed. The findings indicate that in terms of the needs of parents of learners with hearing impairments in mainstream schools, Parent-school Partnerships; Capacity Building; Support Processes, Support and Networking; and Shared Decision-making were aspects identified by parents that had to be addressed. Based on the findings, it is recommended that schools lead the process, and that education officials be involved at all levels. The establishment of parent support groups will enable parents to be active agents of change in addressing their needs. District officials, governmental sectors, as well as community organizations serving the interests of learners who have hearing impairments, need to provide expertise and support for parents in starting and maintaining these processes. / Prof. R.E. Swart

Deafness is one on the most common types of disability in South Africa with 90% of deaf children being born to hearing parents, many of whom are unprepared for the consequences of deafness. Since deafness is an invisible disability, the severity of its impact upon both the child and the family is often underestimated. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of hearing parents raising deaf children. Thus, the primary research questions were: What are the experiences of hearing parents raising deaf children in South Africa, and how do various ecosystemic variables affect the way they manage their parenting role? This study was informed by the ecological systems theory which is the theoretical framework that underpins this study. The research paradigm shaping this study was pragmatism, while the strategy used was phenomenology. The mixed methods approach was employed, using both qualitative and quantitative approaches concurrently in a triangulation design. The findings emanating from the quantitative data served to complement the findings from the qualitative data. These findings were corroborated in the interpretation stage. The findings, representing the lived experiences of hearing parents raising deaf children, show that although the parenting experiences differ according to the unique circumstances in the family, school and community, there are several commonalities. These include issues associated with the diagnosis and parenting of deaf children. Some of these issues included the challenge of communicating with the deaf child, the financial burden, stigmatization from the general public, strained interpersonal relationships, concern about the child’s future, as well as lack of opportunities for the Deaf to study at tertiary institutions and limited employment opportunities for deaf persons. The findings from both sets of data reveal that, despite the resilience of participants, there is a need for formal support for parents from professionals in the community, as well as informal parental support from the family, friends, and community members, including other hearing parents raising deaf children, and the need for a central location to access information on deafness and related matters. Recommendations were made to address these issues, with a view to facilitating the emotional well-being of hearing parents raising deaf children, and consequently improving the quality of life of the deaf child and the family. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

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