Exploring strategies for including visually impaired students in online learning

Area of Science:

• Education Technology
• Inclusive Education
• Higher Education

Background:

• Online learning is crucial for educational access and quality, aligning with UN SDG 4.
• Visually impaired students' inclusion in online learning remains under-documented.
• Ghanaian higher education institutions face challenges in accommodating VIS in digital learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore challenges and strategies for including visually impaired students in online learning.
• To understand the perspectives of faculty and administrators in Ghanaian higher education.
• To inform policy and practice for equitable online education.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative developmental phenomenographic study.
• Engaged 14 faculty and 6 administrators from two Ghanaian universities.
• Explored challenges and strategies for VIS inclusion in online learning.

Main Results:

• Existing university policies lack specific provisions for VIS in online learning.
• Digital technologies are available but present accessibility and usability challenges for VIS.
• Specialized support units struggle to effectively assist VIS in online settings.

Conclusions:

• Universities must develop adaptive, inclusive policies through participatory approaches.
• Capacity building for faculty and staff is essential to support VIS.
• Strategic partnerships are vital for resource mobilization to support VIS in online learning.