Selecting an assistive technology for visually impaired students in higher institution

Abstract

In higher institutions, many visually impaired students including educators are increasingly challenged with selecting the most appropriate assistive technology for learning and teaching. As a result, few visually impaired students enrol in computing and engineering courses with practical sessions. As the challenges persist, some of the enrolled students drop out of the courses or institutions, and others perform poorly in their academic pursuits. This study was undertaken to examine the factors that influence the selection of assistive technology for visually impaired students. The qualitative approach was employed, and the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory was used to guide the analysis in examining the influencing factors. The analysis revealed governance framework, contextualisation, and methodology approach as the critical influence factors. These factors have significant implications for improving the academic performance of visually impaired students.