Image and Representation of Persons with Disabilities in Emirati Textbooks at the First Circle Stage

Abstract

The current study aimed to identify the image and representation of persons with disabilities (PWD) in the textbook for the first four grades. To achieve the goals of the study, the researcher followed the descriptive- analytical approach, and the study sample consisted the books of Islamic Education, Arabic Language, Social Studies, and National Education, Moral Education) for first to fourth grades. The results indicated that Islamic Education textbooks were the most representative of PWD with an average of 27%. In terms of grades, the books for the second grade came first with a percentage of 20%, and the general average of the target sample for its representation of PWD came 18%, which is considered acceptable. The results showed that the most representative category is the visual impairment/visual weakness category with prcentage of 79%, while the results related to the context in which the PWD were referred to showed that the educational context came first with percentage of 64%. The conclusions resulting from this representation indicated that PWD are often represented, either as individuals in need of help, looking for the sympathy of others, or as individuals whose accomplishments are represented as overstated.