Comparative study of the psychosocial functioning of children with visual impairment in integrated and Special school settings

No Thumbnail Available

Date

2006-07

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Addis Ababa University

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the psychosocial fill7c tianing of children with visual impairment in integrated and special school setlings. To conduct this study 32 children (M= 15, F=17) were purposefully selectedFom German (integrated) and Sebeta (spec ial) school and instruments that measure their psychosocial functioning were administered on them. Their teachers and caregivers (who were also purposefully selected) filled the social skill scale and responded to interview questions with regard to the children's psychosocial functioning The T-test result indicated that at a =0. 0.5 there is Significant difference in the psychosocial functioning of those children in the two schools. When specifically looking into the variables the significant difference is observed in four of the variables . Those children in the special school were found to be better in their self confidence, psychological adjustment, social adjustment andfunctional independence The interview made with teachers and caregivers was analyzed using thematic analysis and the result indicated that what was found Fom most of the respondel1ls in the "pecial School is in line with many of the quantitative findings whereas what was found Fom those in the integrated school was different from it. This strengthens the finding that the children in the special school are beller in their psychosocial functioning than those in the integrated school. From the result of the study it can be concluded that educational selling has an impact on the psychosocial fimctioning of children with visual impairment. Finally it was recommended that before integrating children with special needs in the regular class rooms some preconditions must befii/filled like changing the attitude of teachers and sighted children towards them, making the inFastructure of the schools suitable for them, availability of "pecially trained teachers etc. The children should be integrated not only physically but also socially and intellectually and their special needs must be }ii/}illed. Counseling services should also be provided for the children to strengthen their psychosocial fu nctioning. It was also recommended that it is better for those children with visual impairment to join special schools so that their psychosocial function ing would be enhanced. The recommendation also highlights the need for further study and a revision in the current trend in special needs education.

Description

Keywords

psychosocial functioning of children

Citation