Abstract:
The purpose of the study was to examine academic and social experiences of
students with visual impairments at Wenchi Methodist Senior High Schools.
Four research questions guided the study. The study adopted a qualitative
approach specifically, a phenomenological research design. Participants for the
study were purposively selected. The sample size for the study was 20
participants which were made up of 11 students with blindness and nine students
with low vision. Focus group interview was used to collect data for the study.
The data obtained were analysed using thematic analysis. It was discovered in
the study that students with visual impairment were assessed academically
through tactile modelling, verbalisation, and differentiation. It was further
revealed in the study that sighted students were the only medium students with
visual impairment access information due to inadequate assistive technologies.
Also, it was found in the study that the social relationship that exist between
students with visual impairment and sighted students was poor. Based on the
findings, it is recommended that the Special Education Division through the
Ministry of Education should sensitise sighted students to accept and appreciate
individual differences. Students with visual impairment at Wenchi Methodist
Senior High should be provided with Closed Circuit Television, magnifiers, Job
With Access Speech to enable them access information without solely
depending on their sighted peers.
