A Phenomenological Study of Challenge-Related Lived Experiences of Female Students with Visual Impairment in Higher Education The Case of Addis Baba University
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Date
2017-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The aim of this study was to describe the lived experiences of female students
with visual impairment who failed to continue (dropped out) their education
at Addis Ababa University (AAU) because of various challenges. I conducted
in-depth individual interviews with 7 participants and data were analyzed
according to the principles of the descriptive phenomenological approach.
Participants described the challenges they experienced in relation to
academic and social aspect which includes the hardship of the transition
period, the university environment, the risk factors and their coping
mechanisms.
The study participants discussed also about their preference and level of
social interactions with in-group and out-group peers. The findings revealed
that in addition to the typical demands of university studies, the participants
also took a lot of responsibility upon themselves to manage their studies and
their physical and social environment. Though participants struggled a lot to
maintain their position in the university, yet the effort sometimes drained their
energy and left them frustrated and hopeless. Despite valuable steps towards
inclusion in Ethiopia, the study participants’ experience might be taken as
indicator that the full participation of visually impaired female students seems
to be not realized in the tertiary educational level
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Social Work