Barriers to using assistive technology among students with visual disability in schools for the blind in Delhi, India

Abstract

Background: Students with visual loss may benefit from assistive technology (AT) for their educational activities. Aim: To understand the barriers faced in using ATs by students who have heard of ATs and reported needing them but were not using them (acquainted students), at schools for the blind in Delhi.Methods: Two hundred and fifty students were selected randomly from ten schools for the blind in Delhi and screened for presenting and pinhole binocular distance vision using a modified 'E' chart and multiple pinhole occluder. Students were divided into two groups; 1/60 or better vision (likely to benefit from vision-based AT) and <1/60 vision, (likely to benefit from tactile/soundbased AT). Awareness of, and need for, ATs was investigated for each student with a questionnaire. Then information on barriers to using AT was obtained from students who knew about AT, felt they needed AT, but were not using them. This information was collected for a total of 42 ATs. Results: The three most requested tactile / sound-based ATs for the 250 students were talking watch, Braille typewriter and audio format. The three most requested vision-based ATs in 69 (27.6%) students who had presenting or pinhole visual acuity less than 6/18 to 1/60 were near optical magnifiers, electronic magnifiers and large keyboard for computer. Non-availability of ATs in schools was the most common perceived barrier (43% of overall responses), followed by economic constraints (20% of responses). Conclusion:Non-availability or limited possession of ATs and financial constraints were the major barriers to use of ATs among students.

Design and Development of Affective 4-Dimensional Mobile Mathematics for Low Vision Alpha Generation

“…As reported by [10] it is estimated that at least 2.2 billion people in the world have visual impairment including low vision. Furthermore, [11] also reveals that the number of visually impaired people in low-income countries and middle-income countries is four times higher than in high-income countries.…”

“…Currently, around 10% of the world's population or roughly 650 million people have some form of disability in which most of them live in developing countries [10]. Moreover, as estimated by the World Bank, 20% of the world's poorest people have some form of disability and tend to be regarded in their communities as the worst people [11]. In each of these years, it is estimated that over 1 million children with disabilities were born and unfortunately 90% of them do not attend school, particularly those who live in developing countries [10].…”

“…In each of these years, it is estimated that over 1 million children with disabilities were born and unfortunately 90% of them do not attend school, particularly those who live in developing countries [10]. Also, many of them were abandoned by their parents due to the burden of long-term medical costs [11].…”

“…We thank the Universiti Teknologi MARA for granting this research under the Research Collaboration Fund (RCF). The research could be identified through the 600-TNCPI 5/3/DDN (11) (003/2020). Our sincere gratitude also goes to all participants, experts, teachers, and students, who were involved in this study.…”

Improving assistive technology access to students with low vision and blindness in Delhi: A school-based model

“…[ 16 ] Despite the well-known benefits of ATVI, studies in India have reported poor availability of ATVI in blind schools. [ 17 ] For example, a study reported that only Braille slate, stylus, and abacus were assistive devices available at most of the blind schools (>90%). The same study reported that 11 of 52 ATVIs included in the study were available in 60% of the blind schools in Delhi with few AT trainers in these schools.…”