We cannot fight for what we do not know : information that mothers of disabled children have about the Children's Act (No. 38 of 2005) and the Children's Amendment Act (No. 41 of 2007) in South Africa

The purpose of this study is to explore the information that the mothers of disabled children have on the provisions of the Children's Act (CA) (Act no.38 of 2005) and the Children's Amendment Act (CAA) (Act No.41 of 2007). The two Acts were consolidated after the regulations had been adopted. The Children's Act gives effect to the three specific constitutional rights of children contained in section 28. These are: a. The right to social services. b. The right to parental or family care or to appropriate alternative care when removed from their family. c. Protection from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation. This Act stipulates the services that are required to give effect to the three State obligations. The aim of the research was 1) to investigate the nature of information which mothers of disabled children have acquired about the Children's Act, and 2) factors influencing the access to this information by these mothers. The study population was mothers whose children have a physical or mental disability. The study sample was purposively selected from mothers of disabled children living in a township in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan, in Gauteng Province. A qualitative research approach was used in this study, and a case study design was adopted. Individual in-depth interviews were held with four participants. The data collected through the in-depth interviews was analysed using a thematic content analysis. The findings of this study will raise awareness among mothers of disabled children and their organizations of the rights and services to which disabled children are entitled according to the Children's Act. It will therefore enable them individually and through DPOs to more effectivity monitor the implementation of the Act by the State and to enforce compliance by the State of its obligations to disabled children in terms of the Children's Act.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Meyiwa, Nonceba

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Lorenzo, Theresa
• Philpott, Sue

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12693

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/12693