ABSTRACT
This study aims to describe the constraints in the Physics practicum on visually impaired students in inclusive junior high school, along with the alternative solutions. This was a descriptive explorative study. The data in this study was qualitative and was obtained by observation and in-depth interviews with six visually impaired students, and five Physics teachers who taught the visually impaired students in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The data was analyzed by using the following steps: reducing the data, grouping the data into specific themes, linking the themes and drawing conclusions. The results of this study show that there have been obstacles in the Physics laboratory for the visually impaired students in the inclusive junior high schools and that these obstacles are due to the lack of special Physics practicums for visually impaired students, the non-availability of the practicum instruments for visually impaired owned by the schools, the limited procurement process of the practicum instruments, and the teachers’ incapability to independently manufacture the practicum instruments in order to minimize the impact caused by the limited facilities. The alternative solutions for dealing with these obstacles can be 1) pursuing a synergy between the schools and the government in procuring the practicum instruments; 2) holding the training programs intended to improve the teachers’ competencies; and 3) establishing cooperation with researchers/academicians.
