ERIC Number: ED658534
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 129
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-3832-7947-2
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Belizean College Faculty Members' Attitudes toward Junior College Students with Disabilities and Accommodations
Mirtha A. Peralta
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, Saint Louis University
The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate junior college faculty's attitudes toward student with disabilities and their attitudes regarding accommodations for students with disabilities in Belize. Faculty members from the ten junior colleges of the Association of Tertiary Level Institutions of Belize (ATLIB) were recruited to participate in the study. As a result of the recruitment process, eight faculty members from seven junior colleges volunteered to participate in the study. This study endorsed the theory of planned behavior framework that attitudes influence intention which in turn influence behavior. Using two research questions 1. What are the attitudes of Belizean junior college faculty toward junior college students with disabilities? 2. What are the attitudes of Belizean junior college faculty toward providing accommodations for junior college students with disabilities? Four themes emerged from the data collected using six open ended question used in the focus group interviews 1) Willingness and Commitment 2) Access for Success 3) Lack of Knowledge and 4) Compassion over Comprehension. The findings showed that faculty members in the study had positive attitudes towards junior college students with disabilities and providing accommodations for students with disabilities. The faculty expressed willingness and great compassion towards students with disabilities and providing accommodation. They were prepared to go over and beyond to help these students. Based on the findings the practical implication of this study that stands out the most is the need for more training of faculty in methodologies to facilitate learning of students to teach students effectively and efficiently with disabilities and provide accommodations. This research study was exploratory in the Belizean educational landscape thus, there are many opportunities for future research on the topic of students with disabilities in Belize. Similarly research on specifically attitudes of faculty and administrators toward students with disabilities. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Two Year Colleges, College Faculty, Teacher Attitudes, Students with Disabilities, Academic Accommodations (Disabilities), Intention, Teacher Behavior, Attitudes toward Disabilities, Knowledge Level, Altruism
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Two Year Colleges
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Belize
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A