Facilitators' Engagement in Advocacy towards Inclusion of Adults with Disabilities in the Literacy Training Program in Gedeo Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study aimed at investigating facilitators' engagement in advocacy towards inclusion of adults with disabilities in the literacy training program in the Gedeo Zone, Ethiopia. A mixed-methods approach with the explanatory sequential design was employed. The study involved a sample of 214 facilitators by using stratifying random sampling technique. A Likert-type scale questionnaire was administered to the facilitators with a response rate of 98.6% (N = 211). In addition, a total of 13 respondents (3 principals, 3 supervisors, 3 adults with disabilities, and 4 experts) were selected purposively for interview based on their active participation in the program. The quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 23, while the qualitative data were analyzed using narrative analysis. The results from both the quantitative and qualitative strands revealed that facilitators are engaged in advocacy services by providing awareness-raising training to speak up about them, by sensitizing the community, by working collaboratively with the colleagues and the local government to make the training environment accessible to all adults. Pearson's correlation coefficient for providing an awareness-raising training (r (211) = 0.683∗∗, p<0.01), working collaboratively with colleagues (r (211) = 0.754∗∗, p<0.01), working collaboratively with the local governments (r (211) = 0.766∗∗, p<0.01), and participating in the community sensitization programs (r (211) 0.821∗∗, p<0.01) showed that the items are statistically significant and positively correlated.