Adequacy of the Regular Early Education Classroom Environment for Students With Visual Impairment

Resource type
Journal Article
Authors/contributors
Title
Adequacy of the Regular Early Education Classroom Environment for Students With Visual Impairment
Abstract
This study describes the classroom environment that students with visual impairment typically experience in regular Australian early education. Adequacy of the classroom environment (teacher training and experience, teacher support, parent involvement, adult involvement, inclusive attitude, individualization of the curriculum, physical environment, and vision aids) for students with visual impairment in early regular education was assessed at the start and the end of one year. A total of 20 students with visual impairment (age M = 5.4 years) attending regular early education participated. In general, teacher-reported curriculum individualization and the physical environment were adequate. However, support provided for staff, teacher training, adult involvement, access to visual aids, and inclusive attitudes were less than adequate. More than 40% of students experienced fewer than four out of nine adequate environmental features. These results indicate that strategies to improve teacher training, support, attitudes, and access to vision aids are needed.
Publication
The Journal of Special Education
Volume
46
Issue
4
Pages
223-232
Date
02/2013
Journal Abbr
J Spec Educ
Language
en
ISSN
0022-4669, 1538-4764
Accessed
27/03/2024, 15:15
Library Catalogue
DOI.org (Crossref)
Citation
Brown, C. M., Packer, T. L., & Passmore, A. (2013). Adequacy of the Regular Early Education Classroom Environment for Students With Visual Impairment. The Journal of Special Education, 46(4), 223–232. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022466910397374