Experiences of students with physical disabilities in mainstream senior high schools in Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District, Ghana

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore the experiences of students with physical disabilities in mainstream senior high schools in Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District, Ghana. The study was purely qualitative and used phenomenology as its research design. A census method was used to select all the eleven students with physical disabilities for the study due to the small nature of population. Interview guide in the form of probe was developed to guide the interview for the data collection. Data were analyzed using a content analysis technique and themes generated from the transcription of the data collected from the participants. The results of the study revealed that students with physical disabilities did not experience difficulties with teachers teaching methods and the curriculum. Even though there were available in the schools teaching and learning materials and also library facilities, the students with physical disabilities experienced difficulty using them because they were not user-friendly. Also, students with physical disabilities did not experience problems with teachers and students attitudes towards them as there is friendship and interaction among them. However, the study showed that students with physical disabilities’ challenging experiences were associated with the use of schools buildings, the library and toilet facilities. In view of these, it was recommended that more attention should be directed towards making physical structures and facilities more accessible and use-friendly and accommodation be made to other rigid systems so that students with physical disabilities can experience full participation in the schools.