Impact of Assistive Technology on Acquiring Learning Competence among Learners with Visual Impairment

Abstract

Assistive technologies for teaching visually impaired students encompass a range of tools and strategies designed to accommodate varying levels of visual function. The study was carried out to evaluate the use of assistive technology for students with visual impairment. Objectives of the study were to explore the use of assistive technology for students with visual impairment, ascertain the awareness related to the use of assistive technology for students with visual impairment, and to pinpoint teaching strategies by using the assistive technology to improve the learning skills of students with visual impairment. The population of this study was consisted of all the teachers of students with visual impairment of government special education schools of the district Faisalabad. In sample size, there were 50 teachers of the government special education schools of the district Faisalabad. A structured questionnaire containing 20 questions was developed for the collection of data from the teachers of public special education schools of visual impaired students of district Faisalabad. The research tool was developed under the supervision of research supervisor and collaboration with faculty members of the campus. The questionnaire was distributed by researcher herself and all the requisite information was explained to the respondents. The entire questionnaires were collected back at the spot. The collected data was tabulated, analyzed, and interpreted in the form of mean and standard deviation. The study revealed that Braille, tactile maps and glasses were the mostly used assistive technology by the students with visual impairment in the classroom. It was inferred that a great number of the respondents were highly using the audio books, tactile maps, refreshable display and effective use of audition for the learning of students with visual impairment. The assistive technology was considered playing an important role in education, helps to resolve the educational problems, and it also helps to achieve the desired educational outcomes for the students with visual impairment.