Challenges inherent in the academic endeavours of students with visual impairment

ABSTRACT

This article investigates the challenges confronted by students with visual impairment at the University of Cape Coast. The researchers adopted the phenomenological design and utilised semi-structured interview guide and observation guide for the data collection. Through the purposive sampling technique, the views of students with visual impairment were elicited. The findings reflect the challenges that students with visual impairment encounter while succumbing to the demands of academic endeavours at the University. These challenges are based on the inauspicious physical environment, inordinate attitude of some members of the University community and unsupportive academic arrangements at the University. The study discusses the need for public education on students with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) and the need for lecturers to reconsider their pedagogic procedures to suit all students especially students with SEND. There is also a call for the modernisation of the physical environment and academic assistive devices by the management of the University with the co-operation of the government of Ghana and some NGOs.

KEYWORDS:

• Inclusive education (IE)
• visual impairment
• higher education
• disability
• challenges

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Irene Vanderpuye

Irene Vanderpuye is a special educationist and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast. Her research interests include Parental Involvement in Inclusive Education, Social Attitudes towards Inclusive Education, Educational Intervention for Children with Special Educational Needs and generally ensuring a conducive educational environment for individuals with special educational needs and disabilities. She has been a Ph.D. holder from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom, since December 2013.

Isaac Nyame

Isaac Nyame is a Special Educationist and Assistant Lecturer of the University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. His research interests include Stress and Coping Mechanisms, Education and Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities, and generally, best practices in teaching students with diverse learning needs in inclusive and special settings. He has an M.Phil. in Special Education from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana in 2016 and currently, he is a P.hD. candidate in the Department of Education and Psychology of the Same University.

Martha-Pearl Okai

Martha-Pearl Okai is an Assistant Lecturer at the Department of Education and Psychology in the University of Cape Coast. Her field of expertise is in Special and Inclusive Education. Her research interests include Educational Assessment and Educational Intervention for Children with Special Education Needs, Early Childhood Special Education, Reading Intervention, Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOS) and general practices in Inclusive and Special Education. She has an M.Phil in Special Education and she is Currently a P.hD candidate at the University of Cape Coast.