Training Facilities Provided by Special Education Schools to Students with Visual Impairment and Teachers to Use Assistive Technology

摘要

This descriptive research was carried out to explore the training facilities provided by special education schools to their students with visual impairment and their teachers in the field of assistive technology. A sample of 250 students with visual impairment and their 150 teachers was taken by using purposive sampling method from 31 special schools at secondary level of education (grades 6-10) situated in 15 cities of Pakistan. The data collected through structured questionnaire was analyzed by descriptive statistics and “independent-sample t-tests”. The results of present study reveal that most of the special schools were not providing any training for the students with visual impairment and their teachers regarding using assistive technology, software training and training for use of daily living aids, however some special school provide training for Braille to their students and teachers. Training of Walking Stick / White Cane was given to students and teachers as it is easy to do and less expensive. The results of the study highlight the need for capacity building of teachers to improve their pedagogical skills and use of assistive technologies in inclusive settings. Based on the findings, the curriculum for teachers’ training may be revised focusing on inclusion of assistive technology as a core subject.