Technology and Education of the Visual Impaired

In this course, the learner will get an understanding of the assistive technologies for people with disabilities. How visually impaired persons access print using screen readers? How print is converted in to speech and also Braille format. All these aspects are discussed in the lessons. Until recently, the visually impaired had limited access to information. The reason is that the production of format readable to them such as Braille is rather slow and expensive. However since the digital formats have come in to being, the situations have significantly changed to better.This course is beneficial to teacher trainees both general and special education, in-service teachers, special educators, teacher educators, psychologists social workers, technology person and visually impaired persons themselves. This course aims to deepen the understanding of assistive technology for the visually impaired.

  Week - I   1. Educational Technology-Concept, Importance, and Scope 2. Difference between Educational Technology and Technology in Education 3. Special Significance and Goals of Technology for the Education of children with Visual Impairment   Week - II   4. ICT - Concept and Special Significance for Teaching - Learning of the Visually Impaired. 5. ICT and the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 6. Assistive Technology for People with Disabilities   Week -III   7. Basic Considerations for design and development - Access, Affordability and Availability 8. Technologies - Addressing User’s Perspectives in Developing Adaptive Technologies 9. Roles of IIT's and the Scientific Community; 10. Universal/Inclusive Design - Concept, Advantages, and Limitations.   Week - IV   11. Screen Readers with Special Reference to Indian Languages; Magnifying Software, and Open Source Software. 12. Braille Notetakers and Stand-alone Reading Machines 13. Braille Translation Software with Particular reference to Indian Language and Braille Embossers   Week - V   14. On-Line Libraries and Bookshare 15. Daisy Books, Recordings, and Smart Phones. 16. Mathematical Devices Taylor frame and types, Abacus, Geometry Kit, Algebra type   Week - VI   17. Preparation and Use of Tactile Materials 18. Techniques of preparation and presentation of adapted tactile Maps , Diagrams and Globe 19. Low Vision Aids-Optical, Non-Optical, Vision Training Material   Week - VII   20. Thermoform and Swell Paper technology and Software's for developing tactile diagrams 21. Social Media 22. Creation of Blogs   Week - VIII   23. Tele-Conferencing 24. Distance Learning and ICT 25. E-Classroom: Concept and Adaptations for Children with Visual Impairment