Learning Challenges Of Students With Low Vision In Kisumu Integrated Programmes, Kisumu District Kenya

ABSTRACT

The objective of the study is to investigate the impending challenges faced by leainers

with low vision on the integrated programmes in Kisumu District. The predicainent of

these leainers remains unresolved if vital resources, personnel and environmental

modification are not upgraded to suit their needs. The insensitiveness of the general

school community to involve these leainers in facing difficulties with adequate assistance

rather thai1 placing these leainer in Special schools forms the basis of the study.

A quantitative approach and survey design is hence used in collecting data using own

designed questionnaire. Thirty respondents provided the sainple population as a

representation of more than one hundred schools integrating leainers with low vision in

the region. Frequency table was used to assemble ai1d ai1alyse the results.

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The findings from the study reveals that despite the training of teaches .!§ handling

learners with low vision, insensitiveness of the plight of the leai11ers is still lacking by the

general school community. The challenges continuous to exist due to lack of serious

commitment of the entire community to embrace the challenges as opportunities for

development of model institutions where hence the challenges will be aineliorated as an

exainple to other institutions.

Difficulties expe1ienced on the use of low vts10n aids, orientation and mobility,

cmTiculum and non cm-riculmn ai·eas would hence be resolved in order to admit all

leainers with diverse categories of low vision.

Finally, the researcher advocates for creation of model schools from district or divisional

level to act as resource centr·es where all the needs of these leai11ers would be met. This

would act as the key centres of training, inductions and visits for implementation of

inclusive policy by the yeai· 2015. This would work along achieving universal education,

the article two of the millennium development goals (MDGS) by the year 2015 in Kisumu District and Kenya at large.