INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: A CASE STUDY ON ITS CHALLENGES AND LONG-TERM IMPACT ON VISUALLY IMPAIRED INDIVIDUALS

Abstract

Inclusive education is arguably currently one of the most debated topics in the field of education. With more and more families opting for this approach to education for their special needs child, there is a rise in the number of schools adopting this approach. The present study examines the perceptions of visually impaired individuals towards inclusive education in Malaysia, including the challenges faced. The impact on their social lives was also investigated. Participants for the study comprised of 4 visually impaired individuals who had previously gone through inclusive education in their secondary school years. Employing a qualitative approach, a semi-structured interview was conducted in order to generate an in-depth insight into the phenomenon. The results of the study have indicated overall positive experiences for the participants. While the majority of the teachers were reported to show positive attitudes towards the participants, there were rare occurrences of teachers being unaware of the appropriate approaches of including the visually impaired students while teaching. Moreover, although there were a few instances of being bullied by peers, this improved once the visually impaired and their sighted peers began to socialize and understand each other. This positive repercussion of socialization was evident in the social development of the participants with regard to their working life and relationships with others. Some suggestions were made by the participants, which have been put forth as implications. These include more viable education options and widespread opportunities for attaining stable jobs. Nonetheless, further research is required in the field involving female participants to gain a wider perspective on the phenomenon, while the integration of quantitative methods of data collection will generate more conclusive outcomes.