Blind Students' Academic and Social Challenges and Coping Strategies in Ethiopian Primary Schools

The study aimed to examine the academic and social challenges faced by blind students and their coping mechanisms in Ethiopian primary schools. Thus, it employed the narrative design of a qualitative research method. A purposive sampling method was used to choose 15 blind students. Data gathered through interviews and focus group discussions, and word-by-word narrative analysis was used to examine the results. The findings from every respondent showed that blind students in the participating schools faced academic challenges such as lack of instructional resources and an inaccessible learning environment. Their learning has also been impacted by negative outlooks from teachers, peers, parents, and other members of society as well as a lack of mobility and orientation training in the schools they are attending. It was also discovered that blind students used problem-focused coping mechanisms, such as sharing resources and supporting one another to overcome the challenges they faced. The study suggests that the local government and other stakeholders take prompt and serious action to address the difficulties found in the participant schools.