Page 52 - University of Pretoria Research Review 2017

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Participation of people with disabilities
Juan Bornman, Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities reaffirms the basic human rights and dignity of people with disabilities and advocates for the full participation in all aspects of life. Participation is particularly relevant for people with disabilities, as embodied by the World Health Organization in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.
In 2017, the Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) focussed its research projects on the construct of participation through the use of graphic symbols.
Graphic symbols are designed to make concepts tangible, thereby capturing information where individuals are unable to express themselves in
spoken or written language. Associate Professor Shakila Dada has used graphic symbols in her work with adults with aphasia and motor neuron disease, especially in communicating areas of importance to their rehabilitation. She has also used graphic symbols as a conversational tool with children to discuss their participation in activities at home, at school and in leisure activities, and with adults with low literacy levels about their coping strategies and well-being in raising a child with disability, and their understanding of health information.
Dr Ensa Johnson has also used graphic symbols in her communication work with vulnerable persons with disability in intensive care settings, and in determining effective communication strategies for nurses. The outcomes of this research have shown encouraging results in pain management and in the participation of vulnerable patients in expressing their pain in terms of location, intensity and type.
In 2017, the AAC continued to focus on the participation of persons with disability in the judicial system; from initial statements taken by police officers, to testifying in court and post-trial debriefing. Research with
police officers has shown that a short two-day, custom-designed training programme increased their knowledge and skills with respect to taking statements from persons with significant communication challenges. This has resulted in a request to train staff of the National Prosecuting Authority and the South African Judicial Education Institute.
Professor Juan Bornman, Director of the Centre, underscores the relevance of the African proverb, and of the research undertaken: ‘until the lion learns to speak, the story will always be told by the hunter’.
AAC training programme, Eastern Cape