Abstract
Problem statement: This research examines knowledge and attitudes towards environmental awareness among special needs individuals in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The population census of (136) special needs individuals with different types of disabilities; physical impairments, visual impairments and hearing impairments from different locations of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan participated in the survey and completed the questionnaire in 2010. The targeted population encompassed Jordanian special needs citizens with different backgrounds including; age, location of residency, gender, social status and education levels. The questionnaire consisted of (27) questions concerning major environmental issues. Approach: Analysis of Variance was conducted on the means of the sample population determined by gender, age, education and geographic distribution to verify that the apparent differences of the means were statistically significant. The environmental awareness among special needs females in all locations exceeded the total awareness of special needs males. Results: The Statistical Package for Social Sciences conducted on the sample revealed that special needs people in cities have better environmental awareness in comparison to the special needs people who live in villages and rural areas. Conclusions: The education level played a significant role in the degree of environmental awareness in all locations surveyed. Environmental awareness was directly affected by the type of disability; people with physical impairments had a better environmental awareness than individuals with hearing and vision disabilities as the percentage of environmental awareness reached (65%, 55% and 46%) respectively.
Highlights
Environment can be defined as the combination of living things which are closely related to the elements of nature such as human, animal, as well as plants. (Hassan et al, 2009; Said et al, 2010) indicated that public awareness through educational programs is very important and an essential step toward sustainable developments
It has been concluded by researchers that environmental education towards awareness, environmental protection and conservation involve appropriate levels of knowledge and understanding leading to direct change of behaviors and practical implementation of such concepts by each individual in the society as a whole (Staniskis and Stasiskiene, 2006)
The questionnaire had four general environment grouped questions formulated to measure the basic environmental knowledge of special needs individuals with disabilities including non-discrimination on the along with the questions in the specific areas of water basis of disability, their right to equal opportunities and their right to participate in decision-making relating to their affairs
Summary
Environment can be defined as the combination of living things which are closely related to the elements of nature such as human, animal, as well as plants. (Hassan et al, 2009; Said et al, 2010) indicated that public awareness through educational programs is very important and an essential step toward sustainable developments. Many researchers worldwide studied the levels of environmental awareness among different groups of people in different countries (Staniskis and Stasiskiene, 2006; Lumley and Armstrong, 2004; Hongyan, 2003; Rose and Bridgewater, 2003; Herremans and Reid, 2002; Daudi, 2008; Said et al, 2010). Environmental awareness program planners and educators are obligated to acknowledge and utilize strategies for comprehensive program developments where all groups of society are granted an equal opportunity to convey their opinions. Obstacles recognized through such a process are negotiated and discussed in order to come with a final agreed decision by all groups of the society involved (Daudi, 2008). It has been concluded by researchers that environmental education towards awareness, environmental protection and conservation involve appropriate levels of knowledge and understanding leading to direct change of behaviors and practical implementation of such concepts by each individual in the society as a whole (Staniskis and Stasiskiene, 2006)
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