Effect of the Co-Curricular Activities on Social, Emotional and Physical Development of Visually Impaired Students

Abstract

The study examined visually impaired students' (VIS) interest in school-provided co-curricular activities (CoCAs) and their effect on social, emotional, and physical development of these students. Co-CAs greatly impact VIS’s social, emotional, and physical development. By fostering skill-building, self-expression, and social integration, CoCAs help these students to live productive lives. The study was descriptive hence a survey method was used. All the teachers teaching VIS in special education institutes of Bahawalpur district were the participants of the study. Collected data were analyzed by Descriptive statistics along with Pearson correlation. Results reveal that the VIS participating in CoCAs are socially, physically and emotionally strong but their participation in CoCAs is not voluntary and interest-based. Only one significant correlation between social and emotional development was observed which reveal the lack of adaptive sports choices and equipment, or environmental constraints. It was recommended that students with Visual Impairment need more opportunities to select and participate in co-curricular activities and they need special trainings to deal with all activities.