Unlocking Potential for Enhanced Teaching and Learning of Students with Visual Impairment in Uganda’s Public Universities: the Role of Assistive Technologies

Abstract

PCF10 Sub-theme: Promoting Equity and Inclusion // Enrolment of students with visual impairment (SVI) in Uganda’s universities is increasing amidst limited awareness and capacity of educators to effectively support their learning despite the existence of policies aimed at improving their learning. Makerere University in partnership with Kyambogo University; the National Council for Higher Education and the Uganda National Association of the Blind is implementing a project to address the staff capacity constraints to support SVI in two public universities. // The goal of the project is to build capacity in public universities to provide an inclusive teaching and learning environment for the SVI through effective usage of assistive technologies. The project adopted a combination of a qualitative interpretivist and Design Based Research to analyze the contexts in which public universities provide education to SVI; and secondly, to train staff and SVI in using selected assistive technologies to support the teaching and learning of SVI. A Situational analysis was conducted from three public universities with a sample of 29 students with visual impairment, 17 teaching staff, 09 academic leaders (Dean and Heads of department) and 18 administrative staff. // A three-week blended learning training was developed based on the data from the situational analysis and offered to 40 staff members from two universities. The trained staff are implementing action points from the training in their practices. SVIs in the two universities have also been oriented to the assistive technologies. The papers share findings from the project this far. // Paper ID 7483