Abstract:

In the digital age, computers and other technologies are an important part of both personal life and studying at university. Technologies also have an important role for students with visual impairment. The visual impairment affects the way the students get information and digital technologies make it easier to access it. Thus, students with visual impairment need to learn how to use digital technologies. Effective use of digital technologies helps to promote independence in their learning and increases their chances of succeeding in the labor market.

Therefore, the staff of The Support Center for Students with Special Needs at our university decided to organize The Summer Computer School for upper secondary students with visual impairment. The content included the use of various technologies such as document scanning, OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and accessible mobile applications for users with visual impairment, and activities as text editing, programming and searching for accessible digital resources. The program also included leisure activities involving orientation in space, self-care activities, board games for the blind, and films with audio description. The participants also benefited from the visually impaired lecturers who, in addition to the professional program, presented their own experiences from their studies.

During the Summer Computer School we also carried out a case study research, which we will present in our article. The research sample consisted of eight students (two blind and six with low vision) and six lecturers (two blind, two partially sighted, two without visual impairment). We collected data based on observations, initial and final questionnaires, interviews with participants and their products. Based on the analysis of these data, we evaluate what the participants found useful for their personal life and studies. We also focus on areas that emerged as needing further development.

Keywords:

Students with visual impairment, students with special needs, digital technologies, computer science study.