Teachers’ Knowledge And Practice Of Accommodation For Pupils With Visual Impairment In Basic Schools In Owerri North Local Government, Imo, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated teachers’ knowledge and practice of accommodation for pupils with visual impairment in basic schools in Owerri North Local Government. The study was carried out to examine the level of basic school teacher's knowledge accommodation strategies fmmor pupils with visual impairment and to ascertain the extent of practice accommodation strategies for pupils with visual impairment. Respondents were 80 basic school teachers selected through convenience sampling. Questionnaire on Accommodation Strategies for Pupils with Visual Impairment (QASPVI) developed and validated by the researcher was used to collect data for the study. Data collected were analyzed using frequency count, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Results show low level of knowledge of accommodation strategies among the respondents as 61.1% of the   respondents were not aware of accommodation strategies for persons with visual impairment while 38.9%were aware. It was also found that the level of practice of accommodation strategies for pupils with visual impairment among the respondents was

very low as shown by the weighted average (X =1.38; SD= 0.484). The need for regular   in-service   workshop for basic school teachers   on accommodation strategies for pupils with visual impairment in Basic Schools in Owerri North Local Government Area and provision of necessary facility and equipment such as resource room, Braille machine,

large print, audiotape, etc. which will enable teachers accommodate pupils with visual impairment in classroom instruction were recommended.