Prof Juan Bornman's Research looks at Disability, specifically severe communication disability, as a multi-dimensional phenomenon that arises from the interaction between a person’s health status and their physical, social and attitudinal environment. In the disability field, the scholar can never be a passive onlooker – it requires commitment and passion for “gently shaking the world” as described so aptly by Gandhi. Hence, a human rights-based approach towards communication rehabilitation with a sustainable, contextually relevant framework is the focal point of her scholarly endeavours.
Communication represents an essential human need as well as a basic human right as it enables us to create shared meaning and validates human equality. The ability to communicate is essential to forging relations, interacting with one another and in helping to break down barriers that impede growth and development. However, this is not always easy for those individuals who cannot rely on spoken language to meet their daily needs. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UN, 2009) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN, 1989) focusses on the promotion and protection of the human rights of all persons with disabilities, including individuals with significant communication disability.
Prof Bornman's recent Research entailed two large research foci related to these Conventions– one focussed on children (which comprised 6 separate studies), and one that focussed on adults (which also comprised 6 studies).
