Persons with disabilities' education and quality of life: Evidence from Malaysia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-1-2022
Abstract
The need for more inclusive education policies for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Malaysia has long been discussed. This study sought to investigate the association between levels of education with quality of life (QoL) of PWDs. The study was cross-sectional, using the WHOQOL-DIS instrument to assess QoL level of PWDs. The instrument comprised of three global items and seven domains. The global items assessed the overall QoL, health satisfaction and impact of disabilities on life of PWDs, while the seven domains measured the physical health, psychological health, social relationships, environment, discrimination, control and inclusion. A total of 339 PWDs participated in this study, stratified based on types of disabilities; hearing and speech, visual, and physical. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the mean scores of global items and domains with the level of education. Findings from this study revealed that PWDs with higher education level generally have a better QoL. Physically disabled persons scored the lowest for almost all the domains, while visually impaired persons scored the lowest for domains related to facilities. Hearing and speech impaired persons felt they were more discriminated against compared to their counterparts. Hence, in the formulation of education policy for PWDs, the government ought to focus on the environmental domain for the visually impaired and the physical domain for the physically impaired.
Keywords
Disabilities, Education, Inclusive, Malaysia, WHOQOL-DIS
Divisions
Faculty_of_Business_and_Accountancy
Funders
University Malaya Research Grant (UMRG) [Grant No. RP013A13SBS]
Publication Title
International Journal of Inclusive Education
Volume
26
Issue
8
Publisher
Routledge Journals, Taylor & Francis Ltd
Publisher Location
2-4 PARK SQUARE, MILTON PARK, ABINGDON OX14 4RN, OXON, ENGLAND