In the beginning of the master's thesis I theoretically determine the terminology in the field of children with special needs, define who blind and visually impaired children are and describe their specific development. I present a comprehensive early treatment of pre-school children with special needs, which is based on the new law (ZOPOPP), define the early treatment centers, which are the basis for the implementation of this law, and describe multidisciplinary teams. I describe more in detail the IRIS Center, which provides early treatment in the field of blindness and low vision.
Due to the frequent misunderstanding and confusion of the terms integration and inclusion, I have devoted the next chapter entirely to defining these two concepts. I focused more on inclusion, which was also the subject of my research. I continued with the implementation of inclusive education in kindergarten, where I talk about inclusion in the program, the role of professionals in the department, the role of additional professional assistance, cooperation with parents and social inclusion of the blind and visually impaired in the group.
I concluded the theoretical part with a short presentation of the sociometric test technique, which I performed in kindergarten to gain an inside vision into the social structures in the group. I was interested in the girl's acceptance from the point of view of other children.
In the empirical part, I formulated research questions, which I tried to answer through interviews with individuals who are important in the girl's inclusion - parents, kindergarten professionals (educator, assistant educator, companion) and a typhlo-pedagogue. In doing so, I illuminated the case of inclusion in question from several different angles.
I was interested in the training of kindergarten professionals in working with a visually impaired child and the support they receive in their work. I was also interested in who offers support to parents and how they interact with the typhlo-pedagogue as well as the professional staff in the kindergarten. I established how the girl is included in her group, what the benefits of inclusion are and what challenges the professionals, the girl and the group have faced along the way. Finally, I was interested in the opinion of the interviewees on how the inclusion of the blind and visually impaired could be improved in the future.
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