Issues of Children with Disabilities as Reflected in the Jordanian Media from their Parents’ Perception: A SWOT Analysis

Abstract

A SWOT study was conducted to analyze parents' perspective on the degree to which Jordanian media covers issues of children with disabilities; the study sample consisted of 129 parents. Th e researchers constructed a scale consisting of 28 items; furthermore, validity and reliability coeffi cients of the scale were extracted. Results showed a moderate level of media coverage regarding issues of children with disabilities; social media was given the highest rating followed by visual and audio media, and lastly print media such as newspapers and magazines. However, the majority of media coverage addressed physical and health issues and communicative disorders. Finally, recommendations to improve practices were provided.

The Role of Jordanian Television Channels in Raising Awareness of Children’s Learning Disabilities

“…These results are consistent with Hassouneh's study (2015), which showed that the extent of parents' satisfaction with the ability of the Jordanian media to cover autism disability in Jordanian society was of a moderate degree, and with the study Almakanin & Alodat (2018) which showed a medium level of Jordanian media coverage of the issues of children with disabilities. From a parent's point of view, it also agrees with the study of Al-Zein (2008), which showed that media professionals see limited interest in people with special needs in the media, and with the study of Bahri and Khorramoush (2018), which showed that there is insufficient media attention to issues of learning disabilities.…”

“…A SWOT study was conducted by Almakanin & Alodat (2018) aimed to analyze parents' perspective on the degree to which Jordanian media covers issues of children with disabilities; the study sample consisted of 129 parents. The researchers constructed a scale consisting of 28 items; furthermore, validity and reliability coefficients of the scale were extracted.…”

“…The Study Problem and its Questions In light of the increasing interest in the disability sector in Jordan; By approving legislation and related matters related to information and awareness, and based on the role played by the media, specifically television channels, as a tool for awareness in society, and based on the importance of the role placed on the shoulders of parents of children with learning disabilities in light of the requirements of the Corona pandemic following the pattern of learning and the absence of resource rooms teachers' role in following up this category of children; the study on the role of media outlets in practicing their awareness and educational role for community members comes, specifically the role of Jordanian TV channels in raising awareness of learning disabilities issues, especially that the role of media outlets and television channels in raising awareness of children with special needs issues was not in the required manner before the Corona pandemic, as the Almakanin & Alodat (2018) study showed that media coverage of children with disabilities in Jordan was at an average level, and Hassouneh (2015) concluded that parents 'satisfaction with the ability of Jordanian media to cover the phenomenon of autism in Jordan was of a moderate degree, was not as required before the Corona pandemic (Almakanin & Alodat, 2018); (Hassouneh, 2015).…”

“…A number of previous studies conducted in the Jordanian environment were relied upon to define the study problem and formulate its questions, the study of Almakanin & Alodat (2018), which showed that media coverage of the issues of children with disabilities, including learning disabilities, in Jordan was below the required level, And Majali's study (2014), which indicated the inadequacy of Jordanian television programs to educate people with disabilities. This is an indication of the weak awareness of the issues of people with special needs, which was confirmed by the study of Al-Khawaldeh (2019), which indicated that there is a weakness in the percentage of follow-up to health programs offered by Jordanian TV programs.…”

Specific Learning Difficulties and Their Assessment Models: A Study from Inclusive Elementary Schools

“…In general, it has increased from year to year. However, if such difficulties are appropriately addressed and even the other related issues are covered in some media, the society and some interested parties can devote greater attention to various disabilities of special need students and the issues emerging in their family (Almakanin & Alodat, 2018).…”