The invisible student in physical education classes: voices from Deaf and hard of hearing students on inclusion

ABSTRACT

Students with disabilities have described issues related to participating in activities during physical education (PE) classes with feelings of being excluded. This study investigates the inclusive process of the Deaf or hard of hearing students in school from the specific context of PE class. Qualitative research using semi-structured face to face interviews were utilised with a convenience sample of seven Deaf or Hard of hearing students. All interviews were conducted on a dialogue with assistance of a professional sign language interpreter. The results were analysed through Delucca’s theoretical framework on inclusion. Thematic analysis revealed two major categories, (1) I don’t understand and (2) Feeling invisible. These categories exposed the difficulties of the inclusive PE class environment on Deaf and hard of hearing students. Students expressed difficulties understanding the PE activities and sports proposed during classes. Sign language or other strategies to communicate were not part of teachers support system for instruction, nor did the teachers interact with the Deaf students or their interpreters. All social interactions of the Deaf children were limited to the sign language interpreter. PE classes were recognised by Deaf and hard of hearing students as a place of non-acceptance and indifference.

KEYWORDS:

• Deaf
• inclusive education
• physical education
• Deaf education
• inclusion

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by São Paulo Research Foundation – FAPESP (under Grant [2015/18113-1].

Notes on contributors

Maria Luíza Tanure Alves

Maria Luíza Tanure Alves, professor of School of Physical education, University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Brazil.

Joslei Viana de Souza

Joslei Viana de Souza, professor of Department of Health Sciences, State University of Santa Cruz, Brazil,

Michelle Grenier

Michelle Grenier, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of New Hampshire, USA

Lauren Lieberman

Lauren J. Lieberman, PhD, professor in the Department of Physical Education and Sport, The College at Brockport, USA.