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Social integration and its impact on the sense of belonging among visually impaired employees
Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2025.
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| Other Authors: | |
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2026
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| _version_ | 1867613520699326464 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Vermaak, Andre |
| author_browse | Vermaak, Andre |
| author_facet | Vermaak, Andre |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2025 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/109162 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:37:27.661Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/109162 Social integration and its impact on the sense of belonging among visually impaired employees Vermaak, Andre ichelp@gibs.co.za Ntombela,Sindisiwe UCTD Workplace inclusion Social integration Sense of belonging Accessibility Intersectionality South Africa Integrated Dual-Pathway Model Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2025. While organisations increasingly commit to disability inclusion, many visually impaired employees continue to experience workplace isolation. Yet we know relatively little about how workplace structures, psychosocial safety, and belonging interconnect for visually impaired employees in African contexts. Most existing studies focus on employment rates rather than inclusion quality, and few examine how structural and relational factors interact to shape belonging. This qualitative study explored how social integration shapes belonging amongst 28 visually impaired employees and organisational representatives in South African workplaces through semi-structured interviews analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The analysis revealed complex interactions between structural and psychosocial factors. Structural accessibility, including assistive technology, accommodation procedures, and meeting communication practices, fundamentally shaped integration, with 82% of participants reporting meeting communication barriers. However, accessibility alone proved insufficient. Identity safety, perceived acceptance, and freedom from microaggressions determined genuine belonging beyond mere presence. These pathways interacted synergistically. Structural barriers created ceilings that psychosocial support could not overcome, whilst organisational culture moderated pathway effectiveness. Early career experiences set trajectories that accumulated over time. Intersecting identities compounded barriers beyond additive effects. The findings suggest organisations must address both structural and cultural dimensions simultaneously through universal design, disability awareness training, leadership accountability, and co-creation mechanisms that position visually impaired employees as solution design partners. Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) MBA Unrestricted Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) SDG-10: Reduces inequalities 2026-03-23T09:35:45Z 2026-03-23T09:35:45Z 2026-05-05 2025 Mini Dissertation * A2025 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/109162 en © 2025 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Workplace inclusion Social integration Sense of belonging Accessibility Intersectionality South Africa Integrated Dual-Pathway Model Social integration and its impact on the sense of belonging among visually impaired employees |
| title | Social integration and its impact on the sense of belonging among visually impaired employees |
| title_full | Social integration and its impact on the sense of belonging among visually impaired employees |
| title_fullStr | Social integration and its impact on the sense of belonging among visually impaired employees |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social integration and its impact on the sense of belonging among visually impaired employees |
| title_short | Social integration and its impact on the sense of belonging among visually impaired employees |
| title_sort | social integration and its impact on the sense of belonging among visually impaired employees |
| topic | UCTD Workplace inclusion Social integration Sense of belonging Accessibility Intersectionality South Africa Integrated Dual-Pathway Model |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/109162 |