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Abstract

Helen Keller once said, 'not blindness, but the attitude of seeing to the blind is the
hardest burden to bear' (Jan, Freeman & Scott, 1977, 385). In this study the changing
attitudes toward children with a vision impairment, from early times through to present
day will be examined. The world is organisedon the basis of possession and use of
vision, yet people with a vision impairment are able to do the same as their sighted
peers but require extra concentration, time and exertion. Sighted people interpret this
by overestimating the physical and mental limitations imposed on the blind regarding
the blind as dependant and helpless.'... the major problems of blindness, at any age,
stems from the mistaken attitudes held by the sighted toward that blindness, and from
the economic and social impact of those attitudes on the blind' (Rottman, 1976,61).
In terms of a child's education the manifestation has been to segregate and isolate.
Education systems in Great Britain and America have followed similar paths leading to
the integration of children with a vision impairment into the regular school system.
Australian history, although much shorter has also acknowledged the value of
including children with a vision impairment into regular schools. Attitudes form the
major focus as the critical change agent leading to inclusion. What follows provides a
basis as to why attitudes have meant exclusion was the norm and how the changes
have evolved toward inclusion.

Item Type:	Thesis - Coursework Master
Authors/Creators:	Hughes, Margaret E
Keywords:	Children with visual disabilities, High school students, Vision disorders in children
Copyright Holders:	The Author
Copyright Information:	Copyright 1995 the Author - The University is continuing to endeavour to trace the copyright owner(s) and in the meantime this item has been reproduced here in good faith. We would be pleased to hear from the copyright owner(s).
Additional Information:	Includes bibliographical references (leaves 96-108). Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Tasmania, 1996
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