Adaptation Process on Blind Students and Teachers in Special Education School

Abstract

In Indonesia there are approximately 3.5 million people with blindness in both eyes. With this number, Indonesia ranks third in the list of countries with the highest blindness rates in the world. Half of the blindness sufferers, suffer from blindness due to cataracts. In adolescents blindness disorders usually occur due to myopia. This paper examines the adaptation process of students and teachers with visual impairments in Special Education School (the National SLB-A). The researcher uses the constructivist paradigm and the process adaptation theory. Data collection is done by observation, in-depth interviews, and literature study. Data analysis was performed with qualitative data analysis. The research findings show that in the process of adapting informants through several stages, such as stress caused by inner conflict due to facing a new situation (being blind), imbalance (disequilibrium) that arises in the form of uncertainty, confusion, and anxiety emotionality. They also face some obstacles in adapting, because the attitude of parents who are too protective (overprotected) and teachers who also always want to help. To overcome this adaptation, teachers, family, and peers play a very large role.