Η βιβλιοθεραπεία στην εκπαίδευση: προετοιμασία μαθητών δημοτικού σχολείου για την ένταξη παιδιών με αναπηρία

Abstract

The curent trend in students‟ education is to provide a school community that includesall students, despite different abilities, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. In order toreach this target it is necessary teachers as well as students to de prepared for theinclusion of children with disabilities in the mainstream classroom. Positive attitudesof typical students are fundamental factor for providing an inclusion programme.Research evidence suggests that students‟ understanding and knowledge aboutdisability are restricted. Researchers have highlighted that when an interventionprogramme is implemented prejudices are restricted and misconceptions are clarified.As a result, interction among students with and without disabilities may be promotedand positive attitudes may emerge.As a result, disabled students‟ inclusion depends on typical students‟ acceptance andpositive interaction. Many researchers have stressed the fact that bibliotherapy is aninexpensive, interesting and authentic way of promoting awareness, understandingand acceptance of disabilities. For that reason, we have firstly accessed students‟ priorknowledge and then investigated their attitudes in order to design and implement anintervention programme. The aim of that programme was the students‟ preparation fora disabled student inclusion.The results showed that the intervention had a positive impact as regard students‟knowledge and their attitudes. The strong cognitive background enables theacquisition and maintenance acceptance and positive attitudes toward a peer withdisability, far from prejudices and misconceptions.