The Needs of Picture Books for Fostering Disability Awareness and Peer Acceptance in Inclusive Primary School

Abstract

Having high disability awareness can increase acceptance and friendship in inclusive schools. Picture books are a medium that can foster disability awareness. This study aims to determine the needs of picture books for fostering disability awareness in regular students in inclusive schools. The study is a survey research and using questionnaires. Participants are 146 regular students and 6 classroom teachers in three inclusive primary schools in Surakarta. The results were analysed descriptively. The results show that the regular students want to learn about disability, interest with picture books, and willing to read the picture books. The classroom teachers are also interested and willing to use the book in class. This suggests that picture book about disability is needed for fostering disability awareness in inclusive schools.