TY - JOUR
T1 - From university-to-work
T2 - an in-depth exploration into the transition journey of graduates with sensory disabilities in Ghana
AU - Odame, Lois
AU - Opoku, Maxwell Peprah
AU - Nketsia, William
AU - Swanzy, Patrick
AU - Alzyoudi, Mohammed
AU - Nsowah, Fred Adusei
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - The importance of planned and supported transition processes for persons with impairments to move from one education institution to another, or from education to employment, cannot be overemphasised. In the Ghanaian context, while some attention has been given to the experiences of individuals with disabilities and their participation in universities, less attention has been paid to their transition journey to work. In this study, 27 persons with hearing and visual impairments were recruited to delve into their experiences. A semi-structured interview guide was developed and data were collected via face-to-face, virtual and telephone interviews, as well as focus group discussions. The results showed a lack of transition programmes for persons with sensory impairments who participated in the study. Also, participants were reluctant to disclose their impairments status when applying for employment. The study limitations, recommendations for future research and policy implications are discussed in detail.Points of interest Graduates with visual and hearing impairment have unique modes of communication. Effective transition from university to work will facilitate efforts towards promoting the acceptance and independence of graduates with hearing and visual impairments in society. While universities offer opportunities for the participation of all students, there seems to be a lack of transition programmes–from university to work–for graduates who participated in this study. Participants withheld information about their impairment when applying for jobs in order to ‘pass as normal‘ and avoid negative discrimination towards them. There is discussion of the need for participants to accept their physical impairments and to intensify their advocacy to preserve and promote the realisation of their right to work.
AB - The importance of planned and supported transition processes for persons with impairments to move from one education institution to another, or from education to employment, cannot be overemphasised. In the Ghanaian context, while some attention has been given to the experiences of individuals with disabilities and their participation in universities, less attention has been paid to their transition journey to work. In this study, 27 persons with hearing and visual impairments were recruited to delve into their experiences. A semi-structured interview guide was developed and data were collected via face-to-face, virtual and telephone interviews, as well as focus group discussions. The results showed a lack of transition programmes for persons with sensory impairments who participated in the study. Also, participants were reluctant to disclose their impairments status when applying for employment. The study limitations, recommendations for future research and policy implications are discussed in detail.Points of interest Graduates with visual and hearing impairment have unique modes of communication. Effective transition from university to work will facilitate efforts towards promoting the acceptance and independence of graduates with hearing and visual impairments in society. While universities offer opportunities for the participation of all students, there seems to be a lack of transition programmes–from university to work–for graduates who participated in this study. Participants withheld information about their impairment when applying for jobs in order to ‘pass as normal‘ and avoid negative discrimination towards them. There is discussion of the need for participants to accept their physical impairments and to intensify their advocacy to preserve and promote the realisation of their right to work.
KW - Ghana
KW - Inclusive education
KW - communication barriers
KW - poverty
KW - sensory impairments
KW - transition
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U2 - 10.1080/09687599.2020.1804328
DO - 10.1080/09687599.2020.1804328
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85089251631
SN - 0968-7599
VL - 36
SP - 1399
EP - 1422
JO - Disability and Society
JF - Disability and Society
IS - 9
ER -