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conferenceseries
.com
Volume 6, Issue 4 (Suppl)
J Nurs Care, an open access journal
ISSN: 2167-1168
World Nursing 2017
July 10-12, 2017
23
rd
World Nursing and Healthcare Conference
July 10-12, 2017 Berlin, Germany
Applying the principals of self-advocacy to enhance the education of Down syndrome learners
Susette Brynard
University of the Free State, South Africa
T
he aim of the article is to provide Down syndrome (DS) learners with better educational opportunities by implementing the
principals of self-advocacy, at school level. A literature review was done to obtain background information on the concepts of
DS and the self-advocacy program. Qualitative research methods like art-based research combined with a narrative approach was
implemented to get information from the participants because they could not always verbalize their feelings. From the findings it can
be deduced that some of the principals underlying the self-advocacy movement can be used to enhance the educational opportunities
of DS learners. If the principles of self-advocacy could be taught to all DS learners from an early age in schools over a longer period
of time, these learners should benefit exponentially. DS learners could then be empowered to make some of their own choices from
an early age, taking cognizance of the responsibilities that go with freedom of choice. The contribution this article makes is to apply
the ideas of the self-advocacy movement to the education of learners with DS, as a possible way to give these learners a voice. The
assumption is that if they can give input regarding their education, it will improve their opportunities to become valued human
beings.
Biography
Susette Brynard is currently a Lecturer in Education Management at the University Free State, South Africa. She was the Head in the Department of Natural
Sciences, Bloemfontein College of Education. She has done her graduation from the University Free State. She received BEd and MEd degrees Cum Laude,
and her PhD degree from the University Free State, South Africa. She received numerous awards during her studies and published papers on the education and
development of Down syndrome learners.
Susette Brynard, J Nurs Care 2017, 6:4(Suppl)
DOI: 10.4172/2167-1168-C1-049