Thesis (M. A. (Social Work)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / Physically disabled adults encounter many constraints in the societies they live in, and are often prone to stigma and discrimination, social exclusion and negative perceptions. Rooted in the qualitative research approach, this study is informed by a sample of 20 adults with physical disabilities. It gathered data relating to experiences of adults with physical disabilities. Participants were identified using purposive and convenience sampling and took part in comprehensive face to face interviews. This data collection method provided a platform to elicit experiences of adults living with physical disabilities. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse data. The major findings that came out of the study included the main challenges faced by adults with physical disabilities, established the accessibility barriers, assessed how adults cope with health challenges, evaluated the cultural and traditional prejudices of adults with physical disabilities and assessed the stigma and discrimination that they face. From the participants’ personal encounters and narratives, the study recommends assistance and support of physically disabled adults, implementation of awareness campaigns and donations to be specified according to their needs. More so, the study recommends extensively involving and consulting adults with physical disabilities in matters that directly or indirectly affects them and supervising and monitoring schools which accepts persons with disabilities.

(in English): The master thesis deals with the pedagogical influence of leisure time for people with physical and combined disabilities. The nature of the work is theoretical-empirical. The aim of this work is to find out the organization of leisure activities in the Jedlička Institute and Schools, and to approach the pedagogical influences of leisure time in this institution. Its extent, manner and impact of pedagogical influences on the physical and mental side of people with physical and combined disabilities are determined. The theoretical part is based on professional literature that deals with people with physical and combined disabilities and pedagogical influences leisure time of these people. The practical part contains mixed research, which is a combination of qualitative and quantitative research. Qualitative research was conducted through online interviews with leading educators of the Jedlička Institute and Schools and presented the specific organization of leisure activities in three sections of the Jedlička Institute and Schools - two weekly hospitals and a school club. Based on the answers from the interviews, it was found that the organization of leisure activities in weekly hospitals is different from the organization in the school club, especially in time allocation and...

Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att beskriva föräldrars erfarenheter om social delaktighet på lekplatser för barn med fysiska funktionsnedsättningar. Metod: Studien genomfördes som en kvalitativ intervjustudie med semistrukturerade intervjuer, där 12 föräldrar till barn med fysiska funktionsnedsättning intervjuades. Vid analysen av intervjuerna använde författarna en kvalitativ innehållsanalys, vilket resulterade i 2 kategorier. Resultat: Utifrån föräldrarnas erfarenheter visade resultaten att otillgängliga lekplatser begränsade eller hindrade deras barn att vara socialt delaktiga. Det framkom också att tillgängliga lekplatser kunde möjliggöra barn med fysiska funktionsnedsättningars sociala delaktighet om de tillgängliga delarna inte separerades från resterande lekredskap. Föräldrarnas erfarenheter var att framkomligheten på lekplatserna var av stor vikt för att möjliggöra deras barns lek med andra. Resultatet visade även att föräldrarna hade erfarenhet att bemötas av negativa attityder, oförståelse och bristande kunskap från hemkommuner och lekplatsskapare. Barnens beroende av föräldrarnas stöd för att ta sig runt på lekplatser fick föräldrarna att känna sig som ett hinder för deras barn att leka och umgås med andra barn. Slutsats: Slutsatser från studien är att involvera föräldrar till barn med fysiska funktionsnedsättningar och deras barn i skapandet av lekplatsmiljöer för att främja social delaktighet. Vidare diskuteras behovet av arbetsterapeutisk kompetens om meningsfulla aktiviteter samt kunskap om att anpassa miljöer utifrån barns behov kan utgöra ett bra stöd till skaparna av lekplatser för att möjliggöra social delaktighet genom att utforma tillgängliga lekplatser för alla oavsett förmåga. / Aim: The aim of this study was to describe parents experiences of social participation in playgrounds for children with physical disabilities. Method: The study was conducted as a qualitative interview study with semi-structured interviews, where 12 parents of children with physical disabilities were interviewed. When analyzing the interviews, the authors used a qualitative content analysis, which resulted in 2 categories. Results: Based on parents experiences, the results showed that inaccessible playgrounds limited or prevented their children from being socially involved. It also emerged that accessible playgrounds could enable children's social participation if the accessible parts were not separated from the rest of the play equipment. Parents experiences were that the accessibility of playgrounds was of great importance to enable their children to play with others. The results also showed that parents experienced negative attitudes, incomprehension, and lack of knowledge from local authorities and playground designers. Children's dependence on parental support to get around playgrounds made parents feel like a barrier to their children being able to play and socialize with other children. Conclusion: Conclusions from the study is to involve parents of children with physical disabilities and their children in the creation of playground environments to promote social inclusion. It further discusses the need for occupational therapy skills on meaningful activities and knowledge on adapting environments based on children's needs can provide good support to playground designers to enable social inclusion by designing accessible playgrounds for everyone regardless of ability.

This study aimed to explore how non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Sri Lanka define and interpret an independent life for women with physical disabilities (WWPD) in their services. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five employees at five Sri Lankan NGOs. The material was then analysed using two theoretical models, the social and medical model on disability. The study results showed that the selected NGOs in Sri Lanka in the majority defined an independent life as difficult to achieve due to societal barriers. However, one local NGO defined WWPD as not independent due to the individual's impairment. Further results showed that NGOs in Sri Lanka provide individual, employment, education and advocacy/lobbying services to help WWPD achieve independence. Services based on the social model focus more on helping WWPD achieve independence than services based on the medical model. Nevertheless, medical model services are needed in combination with social model services for WWPD to achieve independence. International and national NGOs work with social model services more than local organisations. Further, services connect since several services are needed to achieve independence.

Il est connu que les personnes ayant une hémiparésie à la suite d’un accident vasculaire cérébral (AVC) présentent une mise en charge (MEC) asymétrique lors de la station debout et lors du passage assis à debout (PAD). Par contre, peu d’études ont quantifié l’évolution de la MEC avec la réadaptation ou la précision avec laquelle ces personnes sont capables de la juger. L’objectif principal de ce projet était d’étudier l’évolution de la répartition et la perception de MEC en position debout et lors du PAD chez des personnes hémiparétiques en réadaptation fonctionnelle intensive (RFI). Un objectif secondaire était d’identifier les facteurs qui caractérisent les personnes hémiparétiques les plus asymétriques et les plus atteintes dans leur perception. Cette étude a été menée auprès de seize participants. Les résultats ont démontré qu’une asymétrie de répartition de l’appui en faveur du côté non parétique est présente dès les premiers mois après l’AVC et qu’elle persiste malgré la RFI. Chez les personnes avec une atteinte sévère de la fonction motrice, la MEC était plus symétrique pour le PAD que la station debout. En termes de perception, les personnes hémiparétiques étaient capables d’identifier le côté sur lequel ils mettaient plus d’appui mais ils avaient tendance à surestimer l’appui sur le côté parétique et donc à se juger moins asymétriques qu’ils ne l’étaient en réalité. Très peu de changements ont été observés lorsque les données au congé étaient comparées aux données à l’entrée dans l’étude. En réponse à l’objectif secondaire, la fonction motrice du membre inférieur parétique évaluée par le Chedoke et la différence de force des extenseurs entre les genoux étaient les facteurs les plus déterminants de l’asymétrie et de la perception de MEC. Les résultats obtenus constituent donc une étape supplémentaire vers la compréhension de la répartition asymétrique et les troubles de perception de MEC lors de la station debout et le PAD chez les personnes hémiparétiques. Il serait intéressant dans le futur d’explorer davantage les facteurs susceptibles d’influencer l’asymétrie et la perception de MEC et d’objectiver la relation de cause à effet entre ces deux variables en plus de préciser l’effet réel de l’asymétrie sur la stabilité posturale. / It is well known that people with hemiparesis after stroke have asymmetric weight bearing (WB) when standing and during sit-to-stand (STS). However, few studies have quantified the evolution of WB with rehabilitation or focused on the accuracy with which hemiparetic individuals are able to perceive their WB. The main purpose of this project was to assess the changes, with rehabilitation, in WB distribution and perception of WB during standing position and STS in hemiparetic individuals. A secondary objective was to identify the factors that characterize the most asymmetric hemiparetic individuals and the most affected in their perception. The study was conducted with sixteen participants. The results showed that asymmetric WB is present in the first months after stroke and persists despite rehabilitation. For individuals who had had severe impairment of motor function, WB was more symmetrical during STS than standing. In terms of WB perception, hemiparetic individuals were able to identify the side on which the loading was higher and they generally overestimated the weight under the paretic side. Overall, data at admission and discharge from the study were not different. Furthermore, the motor function of paretic lower limb evaluated by Chedoke and the strength of knee extensors were the most determinant factors of WB and perception. These results can thus be considered as a further step in order to understand the asymmetrical distribution and the impaired perception of WB. It would be interesting in the future to further explore the factors that may influence the perception and asymmetry of WB in order to identify the relationship between these two variables with a specific focus on the impact of WB asymmetry on the patient’s stability in both tasks.

This dissertation examines the personality of Frantisek Bakule. It is largely based on many manuscripts of his rich estate, and the products of his pupils. The aim of the paper was to map out the unexamined part of the estate in the National Pedagogical Museum and Library of J. A. Comenius. This aim was only partially achieved as the estate is truly enormous. Therefore, the focus was put on the parts concerning Bakule's Little Singers, Childern's Workshop Group and letters from his former students. However, the main benefit of this paper is a complete record of all the products and toys made the children. Such record had not been compiled, not even in museum record keeping files. All the objects were photographed, measured, described and categorized. An important part of this dissertation is also an extensive chapter devoted to the history of caring for the physically disabled not only in the Czech Republic but also in other European countries at the turn of the 19th and 20th century.

<p>This study attests to the fact that disability is an issue in conflict-affected populations, in particular refugees. Refugees with disabilities living in Mayukwayukwa refugee camp also have poor HRQOL similar to other studies. Education was the only variable significantly correlated to the psychological and social domains of the HRQOL. The study highlighted that environmental and personal variables played a role in the determination of health related quality of life among refugees with disabilities.</p>

Utifrån Normaliseringsprincipen och demokratiska strömningar under andra hälften av 1900-talet påbörjades på skolområdet en integreringsprocess. Begreppet inkludering introducerades senare för att markera skolans ansvar i frågan. Trots inkluderingsuppdraget har avskiljande lösningar inom skolan åter blivit vanliga. Studier om rörelsehindrade barns skolvardag visar att det förekommer många exkluderande situationer i skolan, ofta omedvetna och i tron att dessa är bäst för eleven. Dessa situationer är en följd av att skolan inte arbetar på organisationsnivå med inkluderingsfrågor. Syftet med denna studie har varit att belysa inkluderingsaspekter i skolan för elever med rörelsehinder. Deltagarna i studien var tre unga personer med rörelsehinder som gått inkluderade i skolan. Studien har en livshistorisk ansats där deltagarna berättade om sina skolminnen, som sedan analyserades utifrån Tangens modell om fyra dimensioner: tid, mening, relationer, samt självbestämmande och kontroll. Deltagarna bedömer att de i den inkluderade skolverksamheten utvecklats, men att de många gånger fått kämpa för sin rätt och ibland fått lösa uppkomna situationer själva. De har alla haft elevassistent. De unga vuxna som deltagit i studien är positiva till inkludering och menar att detta har gett dem bättre möjligheter i deras vuxna liv. Vidare forskning kan vara longitudinella studier om elever med funktionsnedsättningar och fortsatta studier, hur den marknadsanpassade skolan påverkar elever med funktionsnedsättningars möjligheter att gå inkluderade, studier om elevassistentens funktion samt hur inkluderande idrottsundervisningen ska bedrivas för elever med rörelsehinder. / Based on the Normalization Principle and democratic movements in the second half of the 1900s an integration process considering school began. The concept of inclusion was introduced later to mark the school's responsibility in the matter. Despite the inclusion mission separation solutions for school has again become common. Studies on disabled children's school day shows that there are many exclusive situations in school, often unconscious, and in the belief that these are the best for the student. These situations are a result of schools not working at the organizational level with inclusion issues. The purpose of this study was to illuminate the inclusion aspects of the school for students with disabilities. Participants in the study were three young people with disabilities who have included the school. The study has a life-historical approach in which participants talked about their school memories, which were then analyzed based on Tangen´s model in four dimensions: time, meaning, relationships, and self-determination and control. The participants believe that they included in the school system evolved but they often had to fight for their rights and sometimes had to resolve arisen situations  themselves. They have all had a student assistant. The young adults who participated in the study are positive towards inclusion and believe that this has given them better opportunities in their adult lives. Further research may be longitudinal studies of students with disabilities and further studies, how the market-school affects students with disabilities and their ability to be included at  school, studies on student assistant's function and how inclusive physical education should be conducted for students with disabilities.

<p>This study attests to the fact that disability is an issue in conflict-affected populations, in particular refugees. Refugees with disabilities living in Mayukwayukwa refugee camp also have poor HRQOL similar to other studies. Education was the only variable significantly correlated to the psychological and social domains of the HRQOL. The study highlighted that environmental and personal variables played a role in the determination of health related quality of life among refugees with disabilities.</p>

This qualitative study develops a model of a virtual community for people with longterm, severe physical or mobility disabilities. The model also has implications for the wider community of people with disabilities. The study uses the Strauss and Corbin grounded theory methodology to inform the investigation from which a systematic theory has been developed. On the basis of this theory, the study proposes strategies for implementing the virtual community model. In-depth interviews were conducted with twelve Queenslanders with paraplegia, quadriplegia or other severe, long-term physical or mobility disabilities and with six health care professionals, service providers, information personnel and policy advisers involved in their well-being. The methodology used one interview question to determine their experiences and perceptions regarding virtual communities and the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Each interview explored in detail the elements, enablers and barriers behind the usage of ICT and/or assistive technology. The personal responses and narratives of the people with disabilities who use the technology and their allied health care professionals were analysed and interpreted for meaning before the transcripts were returned to these participants for validation. Rich explanations were derived. Details of the various response categories of these interviews were analysed as part of the grounded theory, constant comparison methodology, and the relationship to the literature was considered. These de-constructed meanings were compared and contrasted with those in the current literature. The central theme to emerge from these narratives is that people with long-term disabilities regain a sense of control and independence in their lives through the use of ICT, as they move towards an on-line community. Other major themes that emerged from being on-line indicated that being on-line tended to break down people's isolation, while potentially changing the work paradigm (both vexed issues for people with disabilities). Information and communications technology and on-line communities offer ways to enhance every person's inclusion, participation and empowerment in our society. The primary outcome of the study is a theory regarding the character of virtual communities for people with long-term, severe mobility impairments that stakeholders may consider whenever such a virtual community is proposed. The theory is represented as a virtual community model. The model identifies the need for "a sense of control" as the foundational element of virtual communities for the disabled, and distinguishes the key domains in which disabled people participate in virtual communities. The barriers and enablers to their participation are specified within it. The model also provides a framework within which virtual communities can be facilitated. It melds six types of e-communities or sets of well-developed discrete categories (for example, themes, concepts) that the data from this study revealed: education-oriented, fantasy-oriented, information-oriented, interestoriented, relationship-oriented and transaction-oriented, depending on the type(s) of consumer need(s) to be met. The study concludes that although the technology itself provides strategies for independence and thus facilitates self-empowerment, it is also capable of being disempowering. Many interviewees referred to this aspect as a "double-edged sword". Empowerment and dis-empowerment are intersecting processes because of digital divide and information literacy issues and this "double-edged sword", which virtual reality presents for people with physical disabilities. Based on the new knowledge and the model as the outcomes of this study, a range of recommendations are discussed that have application in the community for persons with mobility impairments.