Sighted students’ attitudes towards students with visual impairment in Wenchi Methodist Senior High School, Brong Ahafo

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the attitudes of sighted students towards the integration of students with visual impairments in the Wenchi Methodist Senior High School in Brong Ahafo Region. The study employed the case study approach. A sample of 80 students was selected using purposive sampling. Structured questionnaire was the tool for data collection. The data collected were analyzed descriptively using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics to explore patterns of association among variables. The result of the study revealed that integrating students with visual impairments with sighted students may disrupt classroom discipline. It also emerged that teachers are the biggest challenge to the school’s integration programme because they usually neglect the needs of the students with visual impairment in class. It was further revealed that students who are visually impaired are helpless and incapable of performing the tasks required for day to day living. Finally, it emerged that females have more positive attitude towards students with visual impairments than their male counterparts. It was also found that the concept of inclusive education would suffer a great deal if the perception and attitude of sighted students towards students with visual impairment remain unchanged. It was recommended that the school authorities and the guidance team should organise disability sensitization programmes in the school to orient non-disabled students on the causes and related issues about visual impairments and other disabilities.