A Qualitative Study on the Educational Experiences of Mothers Raising Children with Low Vision in General and Special Schools

This study was conducted as a qualitative research project to explore the experiences of mothers raising children with low vision in inclusive education settings at general schools and specialized education settings at special schools. For this purpose, in-depth interviews were conducted with three mothers of children with low vision over five sessions. The findings regarding inclusive education in general schools are as follows. First, the participants experienced a sense of helplessness regarding their children’s education due to the lack of educational resources and information specific to low vision. Second, the children faced difficulties in adapting to school environments due to the lack of awareness about low vision among their peers and homeroom teachers. Third, the participants observed differences in their children’s school adaptation depending on the teachers’ competencies. Regarding the experiences in special schools, the results are as follows. First, the children were able to engage in a variety of activities and classes that were not available in general schools. Second, they encountered challenges in peer relationships and academic performance due to differences in disability types. Third, the children experienced a lack of interaction with non-disabled peers. The findings of this qualitative study provide meaningful insights into the unique lived experiences of individuals, which cannot be generalized quantitatively. It is anticipated that the results of this research will serve as a foundation for improving educational practices to enable students with low vision to fully realize their potential.