Perception of students and instructors toward students with disabilities: issues, challenges and opportunities to implement inclusive education
Birhanu Moges
Research Article I Published May,2015
Research Journal of Educational Studies and Review Vol. 1 (2), pp. 30-56
The purpose of
this study was to examine sociological, psychological,
socio-economic, cultural and societal students and
instructors perceptions of towards persons with
disabilities. This study used a descriptive survey method
and a stratified sampling technique. To achieve the purpose
of the study, a total of 119 (with disability (39), non
disabling students (40) and instructors (40), that is
Male=56, Female=63 participants) were included in the study.
The participants were selected from the three experienced
universities (Addis Ababa University, Haramaya University
and Adama Science and Technology University). A three-point
attitude scale questionnaire consisting of 20 items with
some open ended items) and a focus group discussion were
used to collect the data. Data analysis was performed using
SPSS-version19; and results were organized and interpreted
using mean, percentage and t-test. The major perceived
challenges to disfavors disability were related to
communication problem, perception of the participants about
situations in the university and to feeling of incompetence
in facing challenges that may be encountered in the
instructional process. The relation of the students with
disability versus non disability student to change of
attitude was not statistically significant. While the
relationship of the independent variables can be seen as
interactive, the degree to which each variable has
contributed to change of attitude did not appear clearly. It
found that issues and challenges include a lack of knowledge
about disabilities, instructors and students misconceptions,
negative attitudes, and insufficiency of effective
educational tools at sample universities. Hence, the result
suggests that effective measures need to be taken to reduce
challenges and cultivate positive attitudes towards students
with disability, by establishing a harmonious relationship
between and among instructors and students. Further research
is also required to examine the relative contribution of the
demographic variables to attitudes towards disability. The
study further provides suggestions on how the university can
enhance equalization of learning opportunities regardless of
students with disables.
Key words: Attitudes, challenges, perceptions, people
with disabilities, university, instructors, and students.
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