Perception of inclusive education among parents of special needs children in Ampara District

Abstract

All human being have equal rights in the world. Ensuring the equitable access to the differently abled is the theme discoursed currently among the higher ups in Sri Lanka. The disabled, the poorest and the marginalized are neglected in the society and that most of them are unaware of the opportunities available for them. In this backdrop, Perception among the parents of the disabled regarding inclusive education is inter alia required appropriate interventions to ensure that the barriers to access to education encountered by certain sections of population, particularly the differently abled are overcome through a well-orchestrated strategy. Accordingly, substantial steps were taken in to ensure equalization of rights and opportunities for differently abled persons in Sri Lanka. Nonetheless, a large number of differently abled persons are confined to their homes without access to formal education. Though there could be a number of reasons the denial of access to education for the disabled, the factor of perception among the parents of the differently abled are significant in mainstreaming the differently abled to the formal school in the setup of access to inclusive education. The major objective of this study is to find out the perception of the parents of special needs regarding inclusive education. The target population of the study is the parents of the differently abled living in Sri Lanka. The sample of 50 parents living in Ampara district of Sri Lanka was selected at random from the list of parents of the differently abled from the census of 2012. Data were collected by using the tool of questionnaire and personal data sheet. The data were analyzed by using ‘t’ test.