Psychosocial Challenges Students with Disabilities Encounter in Selected Primary Schools of South Western Ethiopia

The study was mainly organized to assess the psychosocial difficulties students with disabilities faces in selected upper Elementary Schools of South Western Ethiopia emanating from home and environment that might have long lasting effect in life time. Qualitative study was undertaken to get relevant information from students with disabilities in selected schools, their respective teachers and family/caregivers employing purposive and availability sampling techniques. Interview, focus group discussion and outside observation were conducted as major tools of data collection from respondents. Accordingly, the result of this study shows that students with disabilities face a number of psychosocial problems which are different from home to home depending on the family backgrounds, educational and economic statuses of the family/care givers. The major ones reveal that emotional instability, discrimination, segregation, self blaming, hiding attempts, depressions of different levels, fleeing from home, suicidal attempts and parental rejections are the prominent ones raised by respondents. Based on the results obtained conclusions were drawn that both the family/caregivers and the students with disabilities face different levels of psychological and social problems from home, neighboring community and the larger societal settings due to cultural, religious and belief related impacts. Hence, training at different level for family, teachers and students with disabilities were recommended as to minimize the psychosocial difficulties for shorter period and continuous awareness raising and education on disability matters for the community at large was stated as the means for long term way out.