3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item Inclusive education of primary school aged children with Down Syndrome in Gauteng Province, South Africa.(2008-06-11T05:47:04Z) Klompas, Michelle ShanaThe study documented three case studies of primary school aged children with Down Syndrome attending ordinary public schools in Gauteng province, South Africa by employing an adapted ecosystemic model (Donald, Lazarus & Lolwana, 2002). Triangulation and content analysis was employed to analyse the data obtained from a parent questionnaire; parent, teacher and teaching assistant interviews; documented reports; school observations; an educator rating scale; a speech-language assessment and audiological screening. The study found that inclusive education had been successful for the participating children. Their communicative impairments impacted on the domains of communication, academic skills and socialization in the inclusive school context and had the greatest influence on their functioning in the ordinary school. The unique perceptions, attitudes and experiences of the children’s parents and educators were found to have a profound impact on the inclusive education process. The study found that systemic factors influencing inclusive education within the South African context acted as barriers and challenges to the successful inclusive education of the children and that their parents were the most influential and contributing force to the success of the process. Paramount implications for the systems and subsystems involved in the inclusive education process, clinical practice of Speech-Language Pathology and for the advancement of theory and research are discussed. A valuable proposed inclusive education process for the learner with Down Syndrome in the South African context is set out.