Overcoming Accessibility Barriers for People with Severe Vision Impairment in Web-based Learning Environments: A Literature Review

What Is Known about Assistive Technologies in Distance and Digital Education for Learners with Disabilities?

“…The texts were processed through content analysis and organized by categories according to the type of publication and type of study objects, which are presented in the results section. Empirical articles [30] PubMed [31] Eric [32] WOS [33] Scopus, WOS [34] PubMed, Scopus, WOS [35] Scopus [36] Scopus, WOS [37] IEEE, Scopus [38] Scopus Teacher centered [39] Eric [40] Scopus [41] Scopus Prototypes and design [42] IEEE [43] IEEE [44] PubMed, WOS [2] PubMed Systematic and policy reviews [26] Scopus, Eric [45] Scopus [46] Scopus [47] WOS [48] PubMed [49] IEEE…”

“…Similarly, do ref. [49] state that understanding and recognizing the demands of people with severe visual disabilities in web-based learning environments, can help make the leap between learning educational content and trying to understand how web sites work (p. 7).…”

“…Likewise, it is worrying that in almost two decades of research, the challenges and development of material conditions for inclusion through assistive technology in distance modality are not reflected in scientific production. Many of the difficulties reported not only in the reviews by [48] and in [2], cannot be fully corrected in more current experiences or in fully valid reviews such as that of do [49]. The low magnitude of scientific production prevents generating findings that contribute decisively to the development of technologies, educational designs, and public inclusion policies to make the educational experience of students with disabilities using distance education modality fairer and more dignified.…”

“…[2] Limited Mobility [29] Visual disabilities [30] Deafness [32] Deafness [33] Visual disabilities [34] Visual disabilities [35] Blindness [36] Visual disabilities [39] Brain Palsy [42] Deafness [44] Cognitive disability [37] Blindness [46] Visual disabilities [48] Blindness and Deafness [49] Deafness…”

“…Technology Addressed [2] Drones; Virtual Reality [26] Augmentative and alternative communication [29] Haptic Virtual Maps [30] Text Messaging [31] Virtual Advance Placement (program) [32] Complemented videoconference [33] Alternative videoconference [34] Interactive Tutoring Platform [39] Collaborative distance consulting service [42] Sign language recognition and translation system [43] Complemented videoconference [37] Distant Learning Management Systems, TelEduc, WebCT [46] Web-based Learning Environments [48] Blind/Deaf Communications API [49] MOOC Note. Documents without a specific technology addressed were excluded.…”