Computer-Based Compensatory Augmentative Communications Technology for Physically Disabled, Visually Impaired, and Speech Impaired Students

1989 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duane F. Shell ◽  
Christy A. Horn ◽  
Mary K. Severs

Compensatory Augmentative Communications Technology is the use of computers and related technology to augment written or verbal communication. In this paper we describe augmentative writing systems for physically disabled and visually impaired students and augmentative communication systems for nonverbal speech impaired students. The components used in creating augmentative systems are detailed with specific examples of the systems used in the Educational Center for Disabled Students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Issues in assessment, system selection, and training and system limitations are discussed.

Author(s):  
Juliana Samuel Kamaghe ◽  
Edith Talina Luhanga ◽  
Michael Kisangiri

In the past decades, the world has experienced major changes in the advancement of learning technologies which has enabled learners to engage in their learning activities anywhere. The penetration of mobile phone internet users in Tanzania has been increasing from 2 million in 2011 to 23mil in 2017 The adoption of mobile-based learning (M-learning) for students who are visually impaired in Tanzania has become a major bottleneck since most of the e-learning contents assume that learners have sight and thus include a lot of visualizations. This causes visually impaired students in higher learning Institutions (HLIs) to face challenges such as technical knowledge gaps. Lack of skills and inaccessibility of online contents, which then lead to drop out of the university. The aim of this study is to determine the awareness and usage levels of existing mobile assistive technologies for visual impairment, and the remaining challenges that visually impaired students face, when using such tools on smartphones to access m-learning content from HLIs. in Tanzania. The research was conducted an observational and contextual inquiry study at three major HLIs. We found that 67% of respondents did not have knowledge of m-learning assistive technologies, and their technology barriers for visually impaired students. Also, knowledge, accessibility of Assistive technology and affordability can hinder the adoption of m-learning in Higher Learning Institutions


2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (121) ◽  
pp. 12-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Peters ◽  
Craig Smith

Provision of accessible copies of textbooks to visually impaired students has an important role to play in supporting them in their studies, including at university. Recent legislative and copyright licence developments have allowed libraries to supply textbooks to their students in a form best suited to their needs. Whilst these developments are welcome, actually obtaining accessible textbook for visually impaired university students is neither simple nor straightforward and is often a laborious and time consuming process. The University of Chester has provided accessible books to visually impaired students since 2011 and established an Alternative Formats Team in 2012 to manage this service. This article describes the processes, usage and challenges of this service, as well as providing a brief description of the RNIB resource Load2Learn.


Author(s):  
Maleeha Rafiq Ahmed ◽  
Muhammad Asif Naveed

This research aimed to explore the actual situation of information accessibility for university students with visual impairment at higher academic institutions of Lahore, Pakistan. This research adopted a qualitative research design using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to investigate the proposed phenomenon. The participants were recruited with purposive sampling from higher academic institutions for data collection. Face to face interview of 15 visually impaired students was conducted using an interview guide. The participants were debriefed for data authentication and verification at the end. Each interview was transcribed and analyzed carefully using IPA. The results indicated that these students utilized interpersonal relationships as the primary source of their academic information. The other available facilities for information access included the internet, disability resources center (if available at the institution), and the university library. The major barriers in accessing needed information included: format barriers, navigational barriers, technical barriers, ICTs illiteracy, and financial barriers. The university administration, especially libraries, should consider students with various disabilities while designing information infrastructure for its community. This research can be used as a guide by library staff in designing need-based information services for students with visual imprisonment. This research would be a worthy contribution to the existing literature as only a few studies were conducted in Pakistan.


Mousaion ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lungile Seyama ◽  
Craig D. Morris ◽  
Christine Stilwell

Based on a study for a master’s dissertation, this article reports on an investigation of the information seeking behaviour of blind and visually impaired students. It investigated whether the services provided by the University of KwaZulu-Natal on its Pietermaritzburg campus (hereafter UKZN-PMB) accommodated the information seeking behaviour of blind students and those with visual impairments. The theoretical framework for the study was Wilson’s (1996) Model of Information Behaviour, Belkin’s (1982) Anomalous Stat of Knowledge approach and Oliver’s (1996) Social Model of Disability. Blind students and those with visual impairments, the subject librarians from the Main Library and the Disability Unit (DU) Co-ordinator were surveyed. The study revealed that the students exhibited information seeking behaviour that included the DU staff as an indispensable part of information access. Recommendations include developing a strategy to implement the UKZN disability policy and allocating a sufficient budget for the purchase of assistive devices or, preferably, incorporating principles of universal design in the information system.


1991 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
pp. 222-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.J. Sanspree ◽  
C. Allison ◽  
R.M. Gargiulo

This article describes the Vision Outreach Project—a one-year pilot project for training teachers of visually impaired students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The project used video modules to provide distance education in rural and urban areas and incorporated students’ evaluations of future topics that are needed on videotapes to supplement classroom instruction.


2011 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 36-41
Author(s):  
Muhammad Waseem Zia ◽  
Farhat Fatima

The aim of this study was to identify the digital library services for visually impaired (VI) students, studying in the University of Karachi. The VI students have the same information needs as that of sighted people but digital information services are not available for them. The VI students have been facing problems in searching information on the internet because they can not use computer and internet without the support of a helper or some specific software or hardware. The researchers collected data by interviewing VI students. The findings show that the VI students had a keen interest in using digital information through digital libraries because they were aware of the importance and usefulness of digital information and wanted to get benefit of that in their education.


2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Adenrele Haastrup

In this descriptive survey, an effort was focused on investigating the challenges faced by visually impaired students of the University of Lagos.  The population for the study comprised of male and female visually impaired students on a regular full-time programme of the University.  A total of forty-two students representing 93.3% of the population (46) were involved in the survey using quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. Data were collected using a self- developed and validated questionnaire named Visually Impaired Students Study (VISSS) (r=0.89), two focus group discussions (one male and one female) and an in-depth interview. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics to present data while inferential statistics of Chi-square was used to test the hypothesis. Information gathered through the FGD and IDI were treated using content analysis method.  The study statistically revealed that: the University of Lagos provided a conducive learning environment for students with visual impairment.  However, respondents were of the opinion that a lot more need to be done in the following areas of challenge: lecturer-student relationship; delivery of lecture; and conduct of examination including venue and invigilation.  The study recommends employment of staff (academic and non-academic) with a background in special education; and training of lecturers in interacting with students with visual impairment. In the interim, dialogue/interaction between the university authority and students with different types of impairment should also be scaled up.   Keywords- Visual Impaired, Students, University of Lagos, Conducive learning environment, hostel accommodation, Response to complaints


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