Emerging Successful With Disabilities: The Life Histories of Four Persons With Disabilities
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Date
2010-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The main purpose of the study was to depict the lives of SPWDs comprehensively and
documeJ1l their biographies. Four PWDs who are residing in Addis Ababa 'I'ere
purposively selected for this study. The research allempted to a/lSwer six basic questions.
To collect data three instruments; interview guide, focus group discussion guide, and
document analysis guide were developed. In connection with this, leller of permission
was taken ji-om Special Need Department of A.A . U and then given to heads of ENAE,
ENAD, ENAPH, and ENAOD respectively. Necessmy agreement was reached on the
pUipose of the study. And then, the heads informed potential participants for the study
more than once. Finally, the ideal respondents were identified and where made clear
with the objective of the study. Intimate relationship was established by the ji-equent visit
and phone call made by the researcher. Participants were interviewed and il1l'olved in
FGD both at their office and at A.A. U classroom for one participant for 'I"hom sign
language intelpreter was used. Accordingly, tape recorder and note book was used to
record all data generated; starting ji-om 25 of Janumy up to March 30 of 2002 E.c.
Then, the data were analyzed qualitatively; case by case. The result sho'ws that, first, the
societal reaction towards participants' disabilities were negative that they were thought
of worthless and turned more of positive afier they became successji.d. Second, the
participants manifested negative reaction on the onset of their disabilities due to societal
unpleasant reaction towards their disabilities and then gave favo rable response at their
latter ages. Third, among other challenges the respondents faced, societal negative
allilude was found the most stressjid, as long as it is a day to day phenomenon. Fourth,
the participants have registered remarkable success benefiting themselves and the
community. Fijih, the respondents' community participation was found to be
unsatisfactOly. Six, ihe respondents success factors were found to be both of personal
including self-esteem, self-efficacy, coping strategies and sources of strengths,
aspirations and those of conducive environment including early familial experience and
early childhood education and school experience. Finally, on the bases of the study
findings implications pertaining to PWDs and PWODs were drawn.
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Keywords
Successful With Disabilities: The Life Histories