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This paper examines the accommodations for the inclusion of children with disabilities in regular schools in Trinidad. A multiphase mixed methods design consisting of three phases is used. In the first phase, the environmental accommodations essential for the inclusion of children with disabilities in schools are identified. This information is obtained through interviews with parents and advocates of children with various disabilities. Five themes emerge, namely, qualified human resources, educational materials, physical access, supportive learning systems, and supportive school policies and rules. A questionnaire is then developed in the second phase based on these qualitative findings which is administered to a representative sample of primary and secondary schools in the third phase. Qualitative data are also collected in the third phase. Particularly, data on inclusive education policy are collected from primary and secondary schools and data on legislation supporting inclusion from government officials. The integrated findings indicate that existing environmental accommodations, law, and policy do not fully support the inclusion of children with disabilities in Trinidad. They further illustrate the need for national discourses to move beyond access to maximum participation, and for stronger legislation to ensure inclusion in schools.

Mixed methods research plays an important role in understanding and supporting the implementation of inclusive education policies and practices around the world. The aim of this scoping review was to assess the rigour of 66 mixed methods research texts in inclusive education by applying Harrison, Reilly, and Creswell's (2020) Rigorous Mixed Methods Framework and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Overall, studies showed medium levels of rigour, although there was significant variability, with theses and dissertations reflecting higher rigour than peer reviewed articles. Results suggest that scholars can deepen their application of mixed methods by thoughtfully integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches to gain insights into the complex and contextualized processes that characterize inclusive education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rigor evaluation in mixed methods research is a growing need. Linking rigor to Hong and Pluye's (2019) concepts of methodological and reporting quality, the purpose of this article is to operationalize and expand Harrison et al.'s (2020) Rigorous Mixed Methods Framework. Drawing from a systematic methodological review of 66 inclusive education studies, we (a) operationalize each element of the original framework, and (b) present arguments for two additional advanced elements, paradigm and ethics. Contributions to the field of mixed methods include situating the concept of rigor in the quality literature, expanding a rigor tool by developing guiding questions, and offering both conceptual and empirical justification for including paradigm and ethics in the rigor tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores positive and negative attitudes towards the inclusion of children with disabilities in schools among primary and secondary school teachers in Trinidad via qualitative methods. Data is collected from 15 primary and secondary school teachers using semi-structured interviews and constant comparison analysis is employed to identify the themes. Among the teachers in the positive attitude category, two themes emerged, namely humanistic beliefs and recognition of benefits indicating the existence of a philosophy of inclusiveness. For teachers in the negative attitude category, two distinct themes emerged corresponding to limitations for children with and without disabilities and the lack of support for inclusion. The findings indicate the need for professional development for in-service teachers and the urgency for a compulsory pre-service programme for new teachers in Trinidad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract \nPoints of interest Everyone has the right to education, work, healthcare, participation in cultural life and community, and rest and leisure. Many groups of people however experience inequities in many aspects of life. One such group is persons with disabilities. The aim of this paper is to explore the lived experiences of persons with disabilities in Trinidad and Tobago by examining the complaints lodged with the Equal Opportunity Commission. Using a basic interpretive design, files related to four categories, namely, education, goods and services, accommodations and employment, are examined. Findings indicate various attitudinal, environmental and institutional challenges across all categories as well as financial, psychological and quality of life implications. Against the backdrop of various conceptualisations of the social model of disability and the social relational experiences of disability in the local setting, policy and practice recommendations are presented to support wellbeing for persons with disabilities in Trinidad and Tobago. Experiences of persons with disabilities are examined across four categories simultaneously, i.e. education, goods and services, accommodations and employment. Experiences among examined categories demonstrate inconsistencies in national and organisational policies to promote equal rights among persons with disabilities. Guidance on disability disclosure and measures to promote equal rights among persons with disabilities after disability disclosure are absent. Ambiguity and neglect of current social situations regarding the eligibility criteria of social assistance grants contribute to double disadvantage. The development of a social model of disability and wellbeing is recommended to promote equal rights among persons with disabilities. Experiences of persons with disabilities are examined across four categories simultaneously, i.e. education, goods and services, accommodations and employment.Experiences among examined categories demonstrate inconsistencies in national and organisational policies to promote equal rights among persons with disabilities.Guidance on disability disclosure and measures to promote equal rights among persons with disabilities after disability disclosure are absent.Ambiguity and neglect of current social situations regarding the eligibility criteria of social assistance grants contribute to double disadvantage.The development of a social model of disability and wellbeing is recommended to promote equal rights among persons with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caring for persons with disabilities is challenging, yet it is assumed that people would care for their relatives with disabilities because of a feeling of closeness. Using a convergent mixed methods design, this article examines attitudes towards older persons with disabilities in the context of home care using Trinidad as a case study. The analytical framework involves (a) measuring attitudes towards the inclusion of older persons with disabilities in the home and (b) identifying the reasons for these attitudes. This framework is applied to a representative sample of 868 adult Trinidadians as well as the subsamples of adult Trinidadians dwelling and not dwelling with older persons with disabilities. Not all adult Trinidadians agreed that older persons with disabilities should be included in the home, and integrated findings indicate the need for monitoring systems for both home care and at homes for the aged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though easily accessible and cost-effective healthcare is a fundamental human right, many persons with disabilities experience healthcare barriers and poor health outcomes. We explore the healthcare barriers among working-age persons with disabilities in Trinidad using a qualitative descriptive approach. Semi-structured interviews with 26 participants reveal barriers at the personal, healthcare facility, and societal levels. The findings indicate the need for a nation-wide integrated digitalized system and increased intersectoral collaborations to support adequate healthcare among persons with disabilities in Trinidad. Increased consultation with persons with disabilities and transformation of the disability discourses within the healthcare system and at the national level are also recommended as part of the humanisation of their care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the expected increase in the proportion of older persons and evidence of poverty among persons with disabilities in general, well-being among older persons with disabilities is an important issue. Using Sen's capability approach, this article examines well-being among older persons with disabilities in Trinidad. A multiphase mixed-methods design with three phases was employed. In the initial exploratory phase, functionings which are things people value doing or being were identified via 11 interviews. These functionings were used in the subsequent phase to develop an instrument with both closed- and open-ended questions. The instrument was then administered in the third phase to measure well-being and to identify its hindering factors. Responses from 31 participants revealed moderate-to-severe deprivations among older persons with disabilities in Trinidad including for functionings related to food, healthcare, information and transportation. The integrated findings suggested changes to social care and healthcare systems to promote well-being among older persons with disabilities in Trinidad, as well as the need to develop community interactions and public services regarding transportation, supportive devices, and therapy., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)