Difficulties in social inclusion of students with disabilities are serious prevailing conditions that continue from the very beginning of their development and these conditions are prominently evident in the scene of inclusive educational system.
The ...
Difficulties in social inclusion of students with disabilities are serious prevailing conditions that continue from the very beginning of their development and these conditions are prominently evident in the scene of inclusive educational system.
The purpose of this study is to develop a program, in which one is able to facilitate positive interactions between students with and without disabilities, to reduce negative social behaviors and to improve the awareness of students without disabilities towards students with disabilities in the inclusion setting.
This was to be accomplished through positive interaction between the two groups and by improving the social activities of the students with disabilities. In order to encourage mutual social inclusion of the students with and without disabilities, a music therapy program was designed, in which both groups of students jointly participated as the test group. The effectiveness of the program was analyzed by examining and comparing the behavior of the group prior to, during and subsequent to the therapy sessions.
The participating group attended the program 2 sessions per week for a total of 15 therapy sessions. A 40-minute free time was given to the students before and after the program, and each session consisted of 10 minutes of interaction time and 40 minutes of activities. For the analysis of the results of the program, an observation checklist was created for behavior prior to, during, and subsequent to the program. In addition, the changes in behavior of the students were evaluated and observed according to the proper time frame. Interpretation of the changes and development in the behavior of students were then reported.
The result of the study showed significant changes in the level of mutual social interaction between the students with and without disabilities. Positive interaction increased and negative social interaction decreased among the test group, showing that positive attitude of students will be maintained upon completion of the program. This indicates that by learning interaction skills, social exchange between the students with and without disabilities can be enhanced.
As supplemental study for the reform of music therapy that can improve social inclusion, research on the positive social effect of music therapy and its effect on social and emotional development of students with and without disabilities are needed. In addition, to make the effect of the program the norm of our society, further research must be conducted in order to create and design an appropriate music therapy program, in which students with and without disabilities jointly participate.