Browsing by Author "Suraweera, T."

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    PublicationOpen Access
    Assessing Quality of Life of the Visually Disabled People in Sri Lanka using the Seven Domains of Personal Wellbeing
    (Journal of Technology and Value Addition, Volume 3 (2), 2021: (23-46), 2022-10-02) Jayathilaka, M.D.R.K.; Dunuwila, V; Attale, D.S.C.; De Seram, H.S.H.; Sudusinghe, D. R.; Abeyrathna, H.A.P.I.; Suraweera, T.; Thelijjagoda, S.
    Quality of life (QoL) of the disabled is of interest to social researchers, though in general, it is a concept somewhat overlooked by many nations including Sri Lanka. This study examines the extent to which the seven domains of the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI) impact the QoL of people with visual disabilities in Sri Lanka. The PWI comprises of seven social indicators viz, standard of living, achievements in life, community connectedness, close relationships, health, safety and future security. The sample of visually disabled population for this study was obtained from, Hambanthota District, in Southern Sri Lanka, as it records the highest rate of vision impairment in the country. Data collection was performed through a tailored questionnaire and thereafter analysed to determine relationships between the above mentioned seven domains and QoL. Demographic factors such as age and gender were also examined. Results conclude that majority of visually disabled individuals, especially those in the 40-59 age group are satisfied with the seven PWI social indicators examined. However, the domain of future security remains a significant concern, while females appear to be dissatisfied in terms of close relationships, achievements in life and standard of living, in addition, community connectedness and achievements in life domains need to be addressed by the policymakers to sustain QoL among VIandB in Sri Lanka.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Challenges of Mobility and Access to Transport for People with Visual Impairment and Blindness: An Exploratory Study
    (SLIIT,Business School, 2022-12) Suraweera, T.; Bandara, S.; Wickramaarachchi, C.; Perera,D.
    The ability to move around to get things done to fulfil one’s wants, and needs is critical for independent living, irrespective of his or her age or existence of impairments or disabilities. Safe and efficient mobility with confidence is widely recognized as influential factors of the positive wellbeing of persons with visual impairment and blindness. Inability to confidently move around pushes persons with visual impairment and blindness to a risk of social exclusion. Even though research into this area is significant, such research in developing countries like Sri Lanka is quite limited. While aiming at bridging the said knowledge gap, this research intended to explore challenges and obstacles of mobility and transport experienced by people with visual impairment and blindness in Sri Lanka. This study adopted a qualitative method through in-depth interviews. Fifteen persons with visual impairment and blindness were purposively chosen to represent a wide range of social and economic boundaries and interviewed in May-August 2021. With the prior consent of respondents, interviews were recorded and transcribed. The interview transcriptions were analyzed using a thematic approach. Data triangulation was done through focus group discussion and observation methods. The results confirmed that persons with visual impairment and blindness confronted challenges and obstacles in mobility and transport that is discussed in six themes: deficient infrastructure, access to information, improper attitudes of sighted persons, service provider issues, personal attitudes, and support. The findings urge the importance of implementing the existing provisions while introducing relevant public policies and social awareness.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Shlomo A. Deshen, Blind People: The Private and Public Life of Sightless Israelis
    (SLIIT Business School, 2021-06) Suraweera, T.
    Shlomo A. Deshen, Blind People: The Private and Public Life of Sightless Israelis (Suny Series in Anthropology) Paperback, State University of New York Press, 1992– August 17, 1992, $ 32.46, 214 pp.
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    PublicationEmbargo
    Teacher attitude and ICT integration in the class room: Case of sri lankan schools
    (Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, 2017-01-26) Suraweera, T.; Wickramasena, A.; Jayalath, T.; Ariyadasa, S.
    Although Sri Lankan education authorities have taken many initiatives to enhance the ICT integration in schools, only minor improvements are seen in its use in the class room. With the view to addressing this issue in the long term, this research aims to review the critical dimensions influencing the usage of ICT for teaching within the classroom. Based on past research, this research attempts to comprehensively examine three factors, namely, personal skills, personal factors and organizational factors. Data gathered through in depth interviews of fifteen school teachers representing twelve schools have been analyzed in this qualitative study. The results show that the teacher attitude happens to be the critical driver of ICT integration within the classroom, while ICT skills of teachers and organizational factors play only a supporting role. It is also seen that the emphasis of the education authorities have been placed mostly on the latter two factors and not much on the attitudinal improvement