ERIC Number: EJ986392
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
The School Experiences of Children with Epilepsy: A Phenomenological Study
Whiting-MacKinnon, Cheryl; Roberts, Jillian
Physical Disabilities: Education and Related Services, v31 n2 p18-34 Fall 2012
In Canada, approximately three out of every 1,000 children have epilepsy, making it one of the most commonly diagnosed neurological conditions affecting children. It is therefore highly probable that educators will work with this population at some point in their careers. Epilepsy is linked to academic underachievement and social isolation, but little is known about how students with epilepsy experience school, making their unique needs less familiar to school personnel. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to identify the school experiences of children with epilepsy. Specifically, this study identified children's perceptions and experiences of having epilepsy at school and acquired insights to inform future studies. Participants were six students (ages 7-12 years) who have a diagnosis of epilepsy and reside in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Data were gathered through open-ended, semi-structured interviews. These interviews were transcribed and analyzed to obtain the essential experiences of school children with epilepsy. Four categories emerged from these interviews: (a) seizures, (b) academics, (c) social belonging and (d) awareness. Implications for schools and directions for future research are discussed. (Contains 1 table.)
Descriptors: Underachievement, School Personnel, Student Attitudes, Social Isolation, Foreign Countries, Semi Structured Interviews, Educational Experience, Epilepsy, Seizures, Phenomenology, Student Needs, Social Integration
Division for Physical, Health, and Multiple Disabilities, Council for Exceptional Children. 1110 North Glebe Road Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22201. Tel: 888-232-7733; Fax: 703-264-9494; e-mail: barbara.kulik@csun.edu; Web site: http://www.cec.sped.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A