People who are blind or visually impaired are often at a disadvantage in astronomy and space science because of the ubiquity of important graphical information not accessible to them. Like their sighted peers, many blind students have a natural interest in space, which can motivate them to learn fundamental science, math and technology concepts and skills. However, the lack of appropriate K-12 resources makes it difficult for teachers and parents to engage students in science. Those who do show an interest are often discouraged from pursuing these fields (Scadden 1996). Thus, many blind students ultimately lose interest. While advancements in technology have made it much easier for people who are blind or visually impaired to pursue scientific careers, their numbers remain small (Jackson 2002, Sakaran 1995).
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