The Experience of Students with Visual Impairment in Higher Education
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Date
2016-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The major purpose of this study was to explore the experience of students with visual
impairment in higher education. The method used was that of qualitative research approach with
case study design and also the data were collected using semi-structured interview. To this end
six students were the participants of the study. And also purposive and convenient sampling were
the sampling techniques that are selected for this research. The data were analyzed thematically
so as to respond to the research questions. The result of the study indicated that the issue of
inaccessibility in terms of academic environment and the physical environment is still the
problems that could not be solved. In addition to this, the negative attitude of the campus
community is also the other serious challenge of the students with visual impairment. Due to
these reasons different feelings were reflected; for example some students felt as pushed aside,
being limited and hopeless. These feelings happened because of having accessibility gaps, these
accessibility gaps also emerged because of not having accommodated facilities and support such
as problem of getting readers, teaching method, inaccessible notice, inadequate exam time, non-
conducive exam place, limited choice of department, inaccessible physical environment,
negative attitude of campus community and inaccessible Braille materials. Finally, based on this
findings possible recommendations have been provided
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Keywords
Visual Impairment in Higher Education