Methodology

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Concept of Integrating Children with special needs (CWSN) in regular school was introduced in many countries in 1960's. 1970's have also witnessed new initiatives in the area of Integrated Education, with awareness and services for children with special needs becoming more accessible. Following International year of the Disabled persons (1981) people from each corner of the world became aware of the fact that large number of disabled children reside in developing countries and the countries concerned increased their attention to fulfill the needs of challenged children. As per the estimation of UNICEF by the year 2000 there will be over 150 million disabled children (up to 15 years of age) in developing countries. India has 300 million children between 0-14 years of age. On this basis, India may well have 30 million children with one or more of the disability. And as per the Census of India, 2001 the percentage of people with disability has increased to 2.13 percent of the total population, a percentage point increase of 1.83 over that of 1931 and 1.97 points over 1931. This implies that out of 1028610328 total number of population (432156772 males & 496453556 females) of India 21906769 number of persons are disabled (out of which male-12605635 and females - 9301134). Enabling legislation like RCI Act (1992), PWD Act (1995) and  National Trust Act (1999) are paving the way for implementation of Inclusive Education through the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan vehicle towards the ultimate aiming of Mainstreaming. When we are trying to implement “Education for All” and universalisation of Elementary Education is out motto, this aim will not be fulfilled keeping outside this prevalent percentage of children with special needs in India.  Considering the socialization aspect, transfer of learning and education in a school just outside the home staying in the lap of mother in an affectionate environment will be able to stimulate the learning of these type of learners with different abilities.

OBJECTIVES

1.      To study the socio-demographic characteristics of the students with physically challenged.

2.      To find out the study habits of the students with orthopaedic disability.

3.      To find out the attitude towards school environment among the students with physically challenged. 

RESEARCH DESIGN AND SAMPLING

The universe consists of 106 students with orthopaedic disabled from six schools, which include 3 schools from government and another 3 schools from government aided at Tiruchy Town.  Out of this the researchers selected 60 respondents through Propositionate sampling technique (10 respondents from each school). This study was descriptive in nature as it described the various characteristics of the respondents and find out the level of student’s study habit. It also analysis the school attitude among the students with physically challenged.

TOOLS OF DATA COLLECTION

The researchers used interview schedule as a tool for collecting the data for the present study.  The first part of schedule has self-prepared questions pertaining to personal and socio-demographic background of the respondents. In addition the following tools were also used.

 STUDY HABITS INVENTORY SCALE

This scale was prepared by B.V. PATEL. It is prepared to assess the level of study habits among the students with physically challenged.  This scale has 45 statements covering seven areas namely, Home environment, Habits of reading, planning of subjects, Habits of concentration, Preparation of examination, General habits and attitudes and School environment. The reliability and validity were already established by the author.

SCHOOL ATTITUDE INVENTORY

This scale was prepared by D. GOPAL RAO (1970).  It is prepared to assess the level of student’s attitude towards school environment among the students with physically challenged.  This scale has 30 statements covering six areas namely, Teachers, School Subjects, class fellows, Home work, Co-curricular activities and Parental attitude towards school. The validity has been already established by the author.