HOME SCIENCE PROJECT DRAFT

Interview two adolescents and two adults

regarding their perception of people with
special needs.

1. INTRODUCTION
’Special needs’ is defined as an individual with a mental, emotional, or physical
disability. Such individuals may need help with communication, movement, self-
care, decision-making, etc. All the disabled people are people with special needs,
but not all people with special needs are disabled.

Special-needs children include those who have:

• Mental Retardation- which causes them to develop more slowly than other
children.
• Speech and Language Impairment- such as a problem expressing
themselves or understanding others.
• Physical Disability- such as vision problems, cerebral palsy, or other
conditions.
• Learning Disabilities- which distort messages from their senses.
• Emotional Disabilities- such as antisocial or other behavioral problems.

Too many people with special needs have been sidelined or treated differently
because of their disability or having been classified as ‘a person with special
needs’. As a result, these people are often placed in special needs’ centers, or
kept out of normal schools, worst, not allowed to integrate and take part in
normal community life. These people, if they are not mentally affected can be
easily absorbed and integrated.
Negative effects of discrimination on people with special needs:

Due to the presence of discrimination in society, children and adults with

special needs will be sensitive to this. One sign is the difficulty to understand
peoples’ reactions toward them- the way they are looked at, spoken to, or
dealt with. For some children, life might become lonely and isolated as they
have no playmates. A sense of ‘differentness’ might settle in as they have to
always attend a ‘special needs’ center, rather than go to regular school or
classes. A sense of self-consciousness often develops to being treated
differently- like speaking slowly to them. It is also not easy to get into high
school, college, or even to get a job. The choices of their recreational or
religious activities are limited to where they are taken or where they can go
without being stared at.
2. RESEARCH DESIGN

Research Methodology:

Sources of Data:

Primary data:
Primary data are obtained by a study that is specially designed to fulfill the
data needs of the problem at hand. There are original in character. Primary
data is collected from primary sources and it is fast and fresh hand data. A
primary source usually has more detailed information particularly on the
procedure followed in collecting and combining the data. In this study, the
researcher has used a survey method (questionnaire method) to collect fast
and fresh hand data.
Secondary data:
Data that are not originally collected but rather obtained from published and
unpublished sources are known as secondary data. It constitutes the chief
material on the basis of which statistical data is carried out in many
investigations. It is desirable that one should go through existing literature or
learn what is already known or the general area in which the specific problem
or study is known. It helps in getting an idea about the possible pitfalls
avoiding duplication of efforts and wasteful resources.
The following secondary sources are useful in studies:
• Websites
• Related textbooks
Tools and techniques of analysis:
The following technique is used in connection with analysis:
• Interview
Expected contribution from the study:
The benefit of the study can be drawn in the following ways:
• helps in revealing the areas of weakness
• helps in overcoming the areas of weakness
3. INVESTIGATIONS AND FINDINGS

In this following interview, 5 questions were asked to two adolescents and two
adults from the neighborhood regarding their perception of people with
special needs. The subjects were asked descriptive questions to which they
provided personal answers.
The conclusion was derived representing the subject’s answers to the
questions and depicts common perceptions about people with special needs in
society.

Adolescents and adults perception results shown respectively.

Adolescents perception- 80% positive, 20% negative
Adults perception- 70% positive, 30% negative
 4. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

Conclusion:

It can be concluded that the interviewed adolescents and adults have quite
positive perceptions of people with special needs. The responses may or may not
have been influenced, yet there have been some negative answers. However, it is
seen that the general perception that our society has on people with special
needs are not fully positive yet which needs to improve as the struggling people
do not deserve it. We are all people and the people with special needs did not
choose to be born this way.

Suggestions:

• Implementing programs and organizations by the government to improve

attitudes by raising awareness.
• Providing inclusive school education and conducting inclusion programs.
• Increasing social contact between people with and without special needs.
• Providing positive portrayals of special needs in media and art.
• Training employers for positive outlook towards people with special needs
to increase the employment rate.
 5. BIBLIOGRAPHY

References: NCERT Textbook of Home Science - Saraswati

Websites: http://www.therosecentre.ca/societys-attitude-toward-disability/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/46094305_Attitudes_toward_people_
with_disabilities_The_perspective_of_attachment_theory

https://www.ucd.ie/t4cms/Public_Attitudes_to_Disability_in_Irelandfinal%20Rep
ort%202011.pdf
 SHANTINIKETAN INDIAN SCHOOL – DOHA, QATAR
HOME SCIENCE
PERCEPTION OF PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

NAME: I.H AGE: 14 GENDER: Female OCCUPATION: Student

1. Do you think people with special needs are disabled? If yes, why?

I would say they are just differently-abled. They are not necessarily incapable of doing
the things non-disabled people do. They just do the regular things in a different manner.
It would be unfair to place them in the category of disabled.

2. Have you ever met anyone with special needs? If yes, describe their problem and how
you felt interacting with them.

I actually have not come across someone with special needs.

3. Why do you think people with special needs should receive equal opportunities in terms
of education or employment?

I believe everyone should receive equal opportunities in the field of education or

employment irrespective of their background. No one should be alienated from being
able to learn or work simply because of their special needs. We should only be focusing
on ensuring that the person has the set of capabilities to fulfill the given task.

4. How do you feel about people with special needs being seen differently by society?

It’s unreasonable to treat or view people with special needs as different. They can’t
control it and they’re trying their best.

5. What do you think are the abilities that people with special needs have?
The ability to survive in different workspaces and environments and to express
themselves.
 SHANTINIKETAN INDIAN SCHOOL – DOHA, QATAR
HOME SCIENCE
PERCEPTION OF PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

NAME: A.M AGE: 14 GENDER: Female OCCUPATION: Student

1. Do you think people with special needs are disabled? If yes, why?

I think not all people with special needs are disabled.

2. Have you ever met anyone with special needs? If yes, describe their problem and how
you felt interacting with them.

I have met someone with special needs, the person was unable to walk, and interacting
with them was just the same as interacting with a normal person.

3. Why do you think people with special needs should receive equal opportunities in terms
of education or employment?

In terms of education and employment, I think people with special needs should receive
equal opportunities as long as they have the potential to do it.

4. How do you feel about people with special needs being seen differently by society?

I think it's okay to be seen differently in society when you require special needs as you
get special treatment corresponding to your needs.

5. What do you think are the abilities that people with special needs have?

They could have many different abilities despite their disabilities or special needs such as
to inspire and connect.
 SHANTINIKETAN INDIAN SCHOOL – DOHA, QATAR
HOME SCIENCE
PERCEPTION OF PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

NAME: N.A AGE: 24 GENDER: Female OCCUPATION: Therapist

1. Do you think people with special needs are disabled? If yes, why?
They are not disabled, they’re differently-abled because they’re not the same as the rest
of the population.

2. Have you ever met anyone with special needs? If yes, describe their problem and how
you felt interacting with them.
Yes, I’ve met a couple of handicapped people who I had normal interactions with. I did
not feel anything different from what I feel when I interact with every other being.

3. Why do you think people with special needs should receive equal opportunities in terms
of education or employment?

Everybody needs equal opportunities in the sense that it’s fair and it’s only fair by giving
them whatever necessary things they need to get as many opportunities in the fields of
education or employment. For example, you cannot ask a fish to climb a tree or a
monkey to swim because that’s not fair. Therefore, you need to make use of the
resources accordingly.

4. How do you feel about people with special needs being seen differently by society?
I feel like they should look at them differently in the sense where you understand that
the world is not accommodating towards them and you need to start making everything
that accepts and accommodates them more rather than looking down on them or
looking at them like they are weird.

5. What do you think are the abilities that people with special needs have?

Just the same as every other human being.

 SHANTINIKETAN INDIAN SCHOOL – DOHA, QATAR
HOME SCIENCE
PERCEPTION OF PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

NAME: A.M AGE: 18 GENDER: Male OCCUPATION: Student

1. Do you think people with special needs are disabled? If yes, why?

Yes, because they lack what a normal human has therefore they are dependent.

2. Have you ever met anyone with special needs? If yes, describe their problem and how
you felt interacting with them.

Yes, I have met people with Down Syndrome. Sympathetically speaking, it was a very sad
sight yet I felt happy interacting with them.

3. Why do you think people with special needs should receive equal opportunities in terms
of education or employment?

I think they should be treated equally because after all, they are humans just like us, they
just need extra support and care.

4. How do you feel about people with special needs being seen differently by society?

I feel like it’s okay to be seen differently, there’s nothing wrong with being positively
different as long as people in society don’t reach to the extents of bullying.

5. What do you think are the abilities that people with special needs have?

As people say, loss of an ability heightens other abilities, I think they have many abilities
such as to be able to converse and connect with people.
 SHANTINIKETAN INDIAN SCHOOL – DOHA, QATAR
HOME SCIENCE
PERCEPTION OF PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

NAME: AGE: GENDER: OCCUPATION:

1. Do you think people with special needs are disabled? If yes, why?
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2. Have you ever met anyone with special needs? If yes, describe their problem and how
you felt interacting with them.
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3. Why do you think people with special needs should receive equal opportunities in terms
of education or employment?
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4. How do you feel about people with special needs being seen differently by society?
________________________________________________________________________
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5. What do you think are the abilities that people with special needs have?
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