The effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation in supporting the social inclusion of children with hearing impairments- A field study of several cases

Abstract

: Hearing impairment is one of the major challenges facing children in society, as it directly impacts their ability to interact with their social environment and participate actively in daily activities. This study aims to explore the effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation programs in supporting the social inclusion of children with hearing impairments through a field study involving several individual cases. Two cases of children with varying degrees of hearing impairment, aged between 14 and 17, who have received specialized vocational rehabilitation programs, were selected. The study utilized a qualitative approach, employing data collection tools such as semi-structured interviews with the children and their families, direct observations during vocational and social activities, and analysis of documents related to medical assessment records and progress reports. The focus was on analyzing the impact of vocational training on improving social communication skills, independence, and social interaction for the children, as well as the barriers that may limit the effectiveness of the programs. The results showed that vocational rehabilitation significantly contributed to improving the opportunities for social inclusion of children with hearing impairments by enhancing their communication skills and increasing their participation in social activities within the community. It was also found that family and community support played a fundamental role in strengthening rehabilitation outcomes. However, some obstacles remained, particularly those related to limited social awareness and, at times, the lack of appropriate adaptive resources for training programs. The study concluded that vocational rehabilitation programs for children with hearing impairments need to be improved by adapting activities and resources to meet their specific needs, in addition to enhancing cooperation between educational institutions, rehabilitation centers, and the children’s families in order to achieve comprehensive and effective social inclusion.