Influences of Schooling on Social Participation of Young Persons who are Deaf in Nyeri County, Central Province, Kenya
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Date
2013-10-17
Authors
Lunani, Sore Inviolata
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Abstract
Having assistive devices per se is not enough to enable young persons who are deafto
participate in mainstream programmes and social life. Devices must be considered
together with access to the environment and social milieu that welcomes participation.
An integrated solution is required to produce significant enhancement in social
participation. No matter how accessible the physical environment is, young persons
who are deaf will still be excluded from society unless there are deliberate efforts by
the same society to eliminate discrimination. The aim of this study was to investigate
the role played by schooling in the lives of young persons who are deaf with regard to
levels of social participation. The study attempted to establish values acquired in the
schooling process which enhance social participation of young persons who are deaf.
The objectives were to:- Identify the influence of schooling in facilitating access to
jobs and prosperity in the job market by young persons who are deaf; Establish
whether schooling sensitizes young persons who are deaf about social spaces available
for them in communities; Explore the influence of schooling on young persons who
are deaf in navigating social relationships and starting families; Explore possible
strategies for enhancing educational communication and social participation for young
persons who are deaf. The study adopted a qualitative design and used life stories
captured by way of semi-structured interviews with young persons who were deaf,
their significant others and important stakeholders in the community. An observation
guide, visual images taken by young persons who were deaf and a focus group
discussion employed during analysis of the visual images. Interview questions were
open ended. Observations and triggers were used to capture non-verbal
communication and additional and in depth information. The study employed
purposive and snowball sampling techniques to sample three male and three female
young persons who were deaf aged 14-25 years with or without schooling and five
significant others. The locale of the study was an informal settlement in Nyeri urban
and Nyaribo which is a rural semi-arid site of Nyeri south in Nyeri County, Kenya.
Piloting of the study was done in Kiganjo location in Nyeri south. Coding of data was
facilitated by Atlas.ti qualitative software package which provided tools that let the
researcher locate, code, annotate 'findings in primary data material, weigh and evaluate
their importance and visualize their complex relations. Thematic analysis was
employed to interpret findings, utilizing insights from available literature and
researcher reflections. The study findings revealed that: - Social participation by
young persons who are deaf is hampered by communication barrier between them and
people with hearing. There are few secondary schools for the deaf and this denied
young persons who are deaf the opportunity to transit from primary to secondary level.
Low levels of schooling of young persons who were deaf were brought about by low
parental expectations. Schooling had enhanced social participation for young persons
who were deaf. There was a noticeable difference between young persons with
schooling and the one who had dropped out of school in terms of personality and job
access. The study recommended that young persons who are deaf should be exposed to
more courses, encouraged to pursue their career interests by giving them a chance to
choose courses that interest them. The government needs to implement the inclusion
policy and scale up advocacy and awareness about deafness among communities
Description
Special Education Department