Bornman Juan, Msipa Dianah
Division of Speech, Language and Hearing Therapy, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Afr J Disabil. 2024 Jul 8;13:1385. doi: 10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1385. eCollection 2024.
Individuals with communication disabilities encounter obstacles in attaining equal access to justice compared to others. Despite experiencing widespread violence and abuse, they come across as challenges in seeking remedies through the legal system. One barrier is the lack of awareness among legal practitioners regarding suitable accommodations that would facilitate effective participation in court for individuals with communication disabilities.
This study explores the awareness of final-year law students concerning court accommodations available for individuals with communication disabilities, allowing them to testify in a South African court. The findings can serve as inspiration for expanding the current curriculum for law students.
This qualitative study used a modified six-step nominal group technique whereby participants (six law students identified through snowball sampling) generated, discussed and reached a consensus on accommodations needed by individuals with communication disabilities, enabling them to provide testimony in court. Data were analysed using thematic analysis principles.
The study found that although participants had not received any instruction on disability rights, access to justice or court accommodations during their legal training at the undergraduate level, they were able to perceive and learn about four main types of court accommodations for persons with communication disabilities to enable their testimony.
Final-year law students are aware of court accommodations despite not having received formal instruction in disability law.
The inclusion of disability rights and court accommodations is recommended at the undergraduate level to ensure that when in practice, lawyers have knowledge on ensuring access to justice for persons with communication disabilities.
与其他人相比，有沟通障碍的人在获得平等司法救助方面面临障碍。尽管他们遭受着广泛的暴力和虐待，但在通过法律系统寻求补救措施时却遇到重重困难。其中一个障碍是法律从业者对适当便利措施缺乏认识，而这些措施有助于有沟通障碍的人有效参与庭审。
本研究探讨即将毕业的法学专业学生对可供有沟通障碍的人在南非法庭作证时使用的庭审便利措施的认识。研究结果可为拓展当前法学专业学生课程提供参考。
本定性研究采用改良的六步名义小组技术，参与者（通过滚雪球抽样确定的六名法学专业学生）就有沟通障碍的人在法庭作证所需的便利措施进行提出、讨论并达成共识。数据采用主题分析原则进行分析。
研究发现，尽管参与者在本科阶段接受法律培训期间未接受过任何关于残疾人权利、司法救助或庭审便利措施的指导，但他们能够认识并了解有沟通障碍的人在法庭作证所需的四种主要庭审便利措施类型。
即将毕业的法学专业学生尽管未接受过残疾法方面的正式指导，但对庭审便利措施有所了解。
建议在本科阶段纳入残疾人权利和庭审便利措施内容，以确保律师在实际工作中了解如何确保有沟通障碍的人获得司法救助。
