Browsing by Author "Daskon, L."

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    Challenges and opportunities for inclusive education: Perceptions of parents of children with disabilities receiving speech and language therapy services in Colombo District
    (Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2021) Begam, N.; Daskon, L.
    Background: There is evidence that suggest disability is an issue that prevents children from accessing mainstream education in Sri Lanka. Article 24 of United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which Sri Lanka has ratified, talks about Inclusive Education. However, United Nations Universal Periodic Review - Sri Lanka (2017) reports that it has failed to implement it sufficiently in practice. Objective: This study aimed to obtain a critical understanding of the challenges and opportunities for inclusive education of children with disabilities in Sri Lanka through the exploration of perceptions of parents of children with disabilities in the Colombo District. Methods: This qualitative study used twenty semi-structured interviews of a purposive sample of parents of children with disabilities who receive speech and language therapy services in Colombo District. Data was analyzed using a thematic analysis process. Results: Four major categories of challenges and four major categories of opportunities for inclusive education were identified: the identified challenges were negative attitudes and lack of awareness, parents’ dissatisfaction of inclusive education, lack of resources and ignorance. The identified opportunities were accommodations by education authorities, assistive devices and correctional medical interventions and recognition of the inherent capacity of children with disabilities. Conclusion: From the perspective of parents of children with disabilities, though there are some opportunities for inclusive education there are still multiple challenges that hinder the effective exercise of the right to inclusive education by children with disabilities under the Sri Lankan system.
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    Disability studies in Sri Lanka: priorities for action
    (Informa Healthcare, 2014) Peiris-John, R.J.; Attanayake, S.; Daskon, L.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.; Ameratunga, S.
    ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To review the published literature relating to disability in Sri Lanka, identify research gaps and inform priorities for action. METHODS: A narrative literature review was undertaken and relevant articles extracted using electronic databases such as Medline and PubMed. The available literature was examined in relation to the nine key recommendations of the World Report on Disability. RESULTS: Over the past 30 years, published disability research in Sri Lanka has primarily focussed on mental health, visual impairment and healthcare delivery. Significant gaps were apparent in evidence relating to the status and services for people with intellectual disability, policies and their impact, provider attitudes, barriers to education and employment, health workforce training and access to healthcare. CONCLISIONS: While published studies provide insights on several dimensions of disability, there are important research gaps pointing to unmet needs that require attention to support the health and wellbeing of people living with disability in Sri Lanka. To address these gaps, it is imperative that a critical mass of multi-disciplinary researchers including people living with disabilities collaborate on a strategic program of research using effective participatory approaches that engage all sectors and communities relevant to uphold the rights of people living with disability. Implications for Rehabilitation All nine key recommendations in the World Report on Disability are highly pertinent to the needs and status of people living with disabilities in Sri Lanka. Significant gaps in research on disability-related health issues exist and warrant more focussed attention by researchers, funders and policy makers. It is imperative that national stakeholders including the Ministries of Health and Social Welfare, organisations representing people living with disability and related advocacy groups, work collaboratively to identify and implement a research strategy that would better inform disability policies and programmes that have access and equity as core principles. Implementation of a national disability survey by the Department of Census and Statistics, will help prioritize disability research in the country