Visual impairment: The educational experiences of young people in Northern Ireland

Abstract

During the last 30 years there has been an increasing commitment in many countries to inclusive education. This has yielded a substantial evidence base that addresses various aspects of inclusive education including its impact on teacher attitudes and on pupil experiences. In contrast, few studies have been undertaken to examine these issues from the perspective of pupils with a visual impairment (VI). To extend the evidence base this paper examines the mainstream and special education experiences of young people with a VI. Focus group discussions and one to one in-depth interviews were conducted with 19 young people age 15 to 23. All of the participants were educated in Northern Ireland. Findings demonstrate that those who experienced a mainstream education disliked school more and had fewer friends at school than their peers at special school. Teachers in both school sectors were perceived as discouraging and thought to hold low expectations for pupils with a VI. In the main, neither group enjoyed an active social life nor did they report having many friends at home.