A section of South Africa’s national eisteddfod for learners with special needs, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing, blind or partly sighted, physically disabled, learning disabled or intellectually challenged, entered as individuals in three school-age categories.
Participants with different abilities is the section of South Africa’s national eisteddfod set aside for learners with special needs. It is Part 11 of the festival’s prospectus. The festival’s own wording says the category covers learners who are deaf or hard of hearing, blind or partly sighted, physically disabled or learning disabled, as well as intellectually challenged participants. It is a section for people, not for one art form: the performance or work itself can be anything the festival’s other sections accept.
The festival makes two points that shape how an organiser should think about it. First, in many cases these learners can simply enter any of the ordinary sections, for example a blind or partly sighted singer in a vocal class, or a learner with a physical disability in a speech or art class. Second, special categories also exist for participants who are deaf or hard of hearing and for intellectually challenged participants. The full rules for those special categories sit in Part 11 of the prospectus, which is only visible to registered entrants, so this page does not describe their classes, time limits or marking details.
On eTalenter the item is an Individual entry in the On Stage category, open to both genders, in English, offered in three categories: Entry Level (Grades 0 to 3), Junior (Grades 4 to 7) and Senior (Grade 8 and above). It is scored out of 100 on a working scale and sets no time limit, because the festival’s public pages publish neither a time limit nor a marks scheme for this section. Treat the template as a starting frame and write your own rules into the entry notice.
Organisers add a section like this so that every learner has a place on the programme and a result they can be proud of. The practical work is in the arrangements: a quiet and unhurried slot, step-free access to the stage, sign-language support or a seat close to the adjudicator where needed, and a helper who can stand beside the entrant. Decide these before entries close and ask each entrant, or their parent or teacher, what support they need when they enter, so the day runs on information rather than guesswork.
Where Participants with Different Abilities is run
On eTalenter this item appears in one template, the one modelled on South Africa’s national eisteddfod, where it runs in all three entry categories. The definition of who the section covers, and the idea that these learners may enter any ordinary section as well as the special categories, are that festival’s own. Many school and community arts festivals make a similar provision, sometimes as an inclusive or special-needs class and sometimes by simply welcoming every entrant to the ordinary sections with adjustments, so use this page as a description of one festival’s section and write your own rules into your entry notice.
- South Africa
Key facts
- An Individual item in the On Stage category, open to both genders, in English, offered in the Entry Level (Grades 0 to 3), Junior (Grades 4 to 7) and Senior (Grade 8 and above) categories
- The festival defines the section as learners with special needs: deaf or hard of hearing, blind or partly sighted, physically disabled, learning disabled, and intellectually challenged participants
- Learners can often enter any ordinary section instead; the festival also provides special categories for deaf or hard-of-hearing and intellectually challenged participants
- The rules for the special categories are in Part 11 of the prospectus, which is behind registration, so this page sets no classes or time limits
- The template scores out of 100 on a working scale and sets no time limit; set your own limit and marking notes in the entry notice
- Idea, not a rule: ask for support needs on the entry form (sign-language support, a helper, seating, extra preparation time) and share them with the adjudicator before the day
On eTalenter, Participants with Different Abilities is filed under On Stage and typically scored with Marks. It appears in 1 ready-made event templates — each one can adjust its time limit, age-group assignment and scoring setup independently.
Across the templates that use it, Participants with Different Abilities is most often entered as an Individual competition, typically scored out of 100.
What judges look at in Participants with Different Abilities
What a Participants with Different Abilities panel is actually weighing up, and where the marks are usually won or lost:
- Personal achievement: the adjudicator judges what the entrant presents on the day, in the context of their own preparation, rather than against a standard that ignores their circumstances
- Preparation and effort: whether the piece has clearly been practised, so the entrant can present it with confidence, in their own way
- Communication: how clearly the entrant gets the piece across, by voice, signing, movement, music or the work itself, and whether the audience can follow it
- Choice of material: a piece that suits the entrant’s strengths and interests scores above one that is too ambitious or has been chosen for them
- Engagement and presence: how fully the entrant takes part, from walking on to finishing, including how they work with a helper or accompanist where one is allowed
- Written comment: because the festival’s own approach is encouraging and adjudicated rather than ranked, the most useful result for many entrants is the adjudicator’s written comment
Treat these as the judging focus, not a fixed rubric: publish your own weighted criteria for Participants with Different Abilities under Scoring Setup, or start from the judging and scoring software guide.
How to prepare for Participants with Different Abilities
How entrants and their teachers usually get Participants with Different Abilities right on the day:
- Start by asking the entrant what they want to present; a piece they chose themselves will be practised more willingly and presented more confidently
- Tell the organiser about support needs on the entry form: sign-language interpretation, a helper, a seat near the judge, extra set-up time, a quiet space beforehand
- Rehearse in the real venue if you can, or in a room set up the same way, so the stage, lights and sound are familiar before the day
- Practise in short, regular sessions rather than one long one, and finish each with something the entrant did well
- Plan the day with the entrant and family: arrival time, where to wait, who stands beside them, and what happens after the performance
- Agree how the piece will end and how the entrant will leave the stage, so the finish feels planned and not abrupt
- After the day, read the adjudicator’s comment together and choose one thing to try next time, as well as one thing to celebrate
- Check your event’s rules on accompanists, helpers and time before rehearsing, because they may differ from the festival described here
Ready-made event templates that include Participants with Different Abilities
Open any template to preview it in eTalenter and install it as a live, editable event.
| Template | Category | Score label | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Eisteddfod of South Africa (NEA) | On Stage | Marks | 3 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Participants with Different Abilities judged individually or as a team?
Across eTalenter’s templates it’s most often run as an Individual entry, though an organiser can set either participation type when assigning the item to an age group.
Who can enter Participants with Different Abilities?
In the festival’s own description the section covers learners with special needs: deaf or hard of hearing, blind or partly sighted, physically disabled, learning disabled and intellectually challenged participants. If you run your own event, state in your notice who the section is open to.
Can these learners enter the ordinary sections instead?
Yes, the festival says that in many cases learners such as those who are blind or partly sighted, physically disabled or learning disabled can enter any of the ordinary sections. It also provides special categories for deaf or hard-of-hearing and intellectually challenged participants.
What are the time limits and marking rules for this section?
The festival keeps the details in Part 11 of its prospectus, which is available to registered entrants, so they are not published here. The eTalenter template scores each entry out of 100 on a working scale with no time limit; set your own in the entry notice.
Can an entrant bring a helper or interpreter on stage?
This page does not state the festival’s rule because it sits behind registration. If you run an event, decide what support is allowed, say so in the entry notice and tell the adjudicator in advance.
Want the full judging picture? Read the judging and scoring software guide, or browse every on stage competition item.
Try Participants with Different Abilities in eTalenter
See every ready-made template that runs Participants with Different Abilities, and install one as a live event — age groups, rules and scoring included.
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