Needs, Problems and Vocational Interests of Hearing Impaired Adolescents and Young Adults in Selected Locales in the Provinces of Laguna and Quezon

Abstract

Physically disabled persons, like the Hearing Impaired (HI), should be given equal opportunities to education and employment as provided in RA 7277, Magna Carta for the Disabled. It mandates state colleges and universities to offer vocational training program or non-formal education designed to their needs. The present study surveyed the needs and problems of some HIs to derive implications as basis for establishing skills training program for them. Forty-five HIs (21 males, 24females) were identified from a survey and referrals of concerned persons and DSWD offices from selected localities in Quezon and Laguna Provinces. Parents/guardians of the involved HIs served as the informants. An interview schedule and the Philpsycor-Geist Picture Interest Inventory were used as research instruments. Frequencies converted to Percentages and Meanswereused to analyze the data. Findings revealed that most of the HIs are congenitally deaf and were subjected to medical diagnosis. Most of them aged 15-19, from Lucena City and are studying in SPED-HI high school. The informants’ (mothers) aged from 31-65 years old, majority aged 46-50,and are gainfully employed. They provide adequate physical care and attention to their HI children, but are unable to provide them their needed education because of the lack of finances, and the distance orentirely absence ofSPED schools in their localities. Prominent vocational interest of the HI for both men and women are in mechanical, computational and artistic. In conclusion, parents/guardians are caring and attentive to the physical needs of their disabled children, and some are trying to provide good education for them. The problems relative to the education of the HI are the insufficient finances and inaccessibility to SPED school, so that most of them are out-of-school. Their interest is on jobs that require mechanical/technical skills. The recommendations are: a vocational/technical training can be provided to HIs, but sponsorship/financial assistance is needed, NGO’s and government agencies must give attention to the needs of financially disadvantaged individuals, a barangay based survey research must be conducted to identify more accurate number of physically disabled children particularly HI and their needs; DEPED in coordination with concerned agencies should provide SPED schools, particularly high school in localities where these are not present; and SLSU as a state university in the region, may initiate to implement provisions in the Magna Carta for the Disabled, specifically Section 15Vocational/Technical and other training programs for the disabled and Section 16 Non-formal Education for the Disabled.