SURVEY OF PARENTAL ATTITUDES AS PREDICTORS FOR INCLUSION OF STUDENTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT IN REGULAR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Since the adoption of inclusive education in 1994 by Nigeria and other countries across the world, there is still significant number of children with visual impairment of school age outside the classroom. The consequences of this, is felt on street begging, over dependency and involvement in social vices. This might be blamed on lack of parental involvement. This study then was aimed at investigating parental attitudes as predictors for inclusion of students with visual impairment in regular secondary schools in Cross River State, Nigeria. A survey research design was adopted and a sample of twenty (20) secondary school students participated in the study. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection and analyzed using simple linear regression. The result of the findings revealed that students’ need satisfaction, parental involvement and support for orientation and mobility services predicts inclusion of students with visual impairment. These findings underscore the need to foster positive parental attitudes for inclusive education of their children/wards to eradicate the rate of out-of-school children. The study recommended among others that parents should endeavor to make appropriate provision to satisfy the need of students with visual impairment to enhance inclusion into regular secondary schools. It was then concluded that positive parental attitudes are predictors to inclusion of students with visual impairment into regular secondary schools.