TEACHERS’ CONTRIBUTION IN DEAFBLIND STUDENTS’ BRAILLE LITERACY

Konstantina Spyropoulou

Abstract


Deafblindness constitutes a dual sensory impairment that is caused by acquired or congenital factors. Assistive technology has converted learning into an approachable good for them. Based on the literature review, braille turned out the most effective assistive device that promotes deafblind (DB) children’s literacy. However, education without human contribution cannot operate properly. For that reason, teachers play a vital role in children’s learning development and can act as the mediators of the provided knowledge. The educational personnel has to bear in mind that every DB child has unique necessities. Consequently, it is imperative need to teach them the suitable combination of methods and techniques consolidated with their knowledge and experience. This research study will employ the methodology of qualitative research as well as the method of semi-structured interviews with teachers of DB students, in order to discover efficient strategies of teaching braille that could build children’s literacy in the school environment.

Article visualizations:

Hit counter


Keywords


deafblindness, assistive technology, braille literacy, teaching strategies

Full Text:

PDF

References


Adams, M. J. (1990). Beginning to read: Thinking and learning about print. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

AFB, American Foundation for the Blind (2014). Braille Technology [online] Available at: http://braillebug.afb.org/braille_technology.asp [Accessed 7 December 2015].

AFB, American Foundation for the Blind (2015). Strategies and resources for teaching Braille to adults [online] Available at: http://www.afb.org/info/programs-and-services/professional-development/literacy-instructors/strategies-and-resources-for-teaching-braille-to-adults/1235 [Accessed 6 December 2015].

AFB, American Foundation for the Blind (2015). What is Braille? [online] Available at: http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/braille/what-is-braille/123 [Accessed 6 December 2015].

Barclay, L., Herlich, S. and Sacks, S. (2010). Effective teaching studies from the alphabetic Braille and contracted Braille study. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 104: pp.753-764.

BERA (2011). Ethical Guidelines for Educational Research. Available at: https://www.bera.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/BERA-Ethical-Guidelines-2011.pdf?noredirect=1 [Accessed 10 November 2015].

Braun, V. and Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2): pp.77-101.

Bryman, A. (2004). Social Research Methods 2nd-ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Bryman, A. (2012). Social Research Methods 4th-ed. Oxford: University Press.

Bryman, A. and Burgess, R. (1999). Qualitative research. London: SAGE.

Byrne, M. (2001). Linking philosophy, methodology, and methods in qualitative research. AORN Journal, 73(1): pp.207-10.

Chenail, R. J. (2011). Interviewing the investigator: Strategies for addressing instrumentation and researcher bias concerns in qualitative research. The Qualitative Report 16(1): pp.255-262.

Cohen, L. Mannion, L. and Morrison, K. (2007). 6th ed. Research Methods in Education. Routledge Falmer: London.

Cohen, L. Mannion, L. and Morrison, K. (2011). 7th ed. Research Methods in Education. London: Routledge.

Dammeyer, J. (2012). Identification of congenital deafblindness. The British Journal of Visual Impairment, 30(2): pp.101-107.

Dammeyer, J. (2014). Deafblindness: a review of the literature. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 42(7): pp.554-62.

Das, B. and Mishra, S. (n.d.) Deafblindness [online] Available at: http://www.rehabcouncil.nic.in/writereaddata/deafblind.pdf [Accessed 10 November 2015].

Denzin, N. and Lincoln, Y. (2005). 2nd-ed. The SAGE handbook of qualitative research. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

DiCicco-Bloom, B. and Crabtree F. B. (2006). The qualitative research interview. Medical Education, 40: pp.314-321.

Douglas Silas Solicitors (2015). Usher syndrome [online] Available at: https://www.specialeducationalneeds.co.uk/usher-syndrome.html [Accessed 5 November 2015].

Frederickson, N. and Cline, T. (2009). 2nd-ed. Special Educational Needs, Inclusion and diversity. Berkshire, GBR: Open University Press.

Frey, B., Southern, C., Rosier, K. and Romero, M. (2012) From Texting App to Braille Literacy CHI conference proceedings, Austin, Texas, USA. [online]. Available at: http://delivery.acm.org/10.1145/2230000/2223825/p2495-frey.pdf?ip=128.243.2.143&id=2223825&acc=ACTIVE%20SERVICE&key=BF07A2EE685417C5%2E9530128DD756F5CF%2E4D4702B0C3E38B35%2E4D4702B0C3E38B35&CFID=747140865&CFTOKEN=37504604&__acm__=1453538204_b9c91f4c7d4c82347cd880e284e9bd59 [Accessed 23 November 2015].

Gillham, B. (2005). Research interviewing: The range of techniques. Berkshire: Open University Press.

Given, L. (2008). The Sage encyclopedia of qualitative research methods. Los Angeles, California: Sage Publications.

Goulandris, N., & Snowling, M. (1995). Assessing reading skills. In E. Funnell, & M. Stuart (Eds.) Learning to read: Psychology in the classroom. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Blackwell.

Hart, C. (1998). Doing a literature review: Releasing the social science research imagination. London: Sage Publications.

Ingraham, C. and Andrews, J. (2010). The hands and reading: What deafblind adult readers tell us. British journal of visual impairment, 28(2): pp.130-138.

Ingraham, C. L. (Ed.) (2007). Transition Planning for Students who are Deafblind: Coaching from Students, Parents, and Professionals. Knoxville, TN: Postsecondary Education Programs Network (PEPNet-South), p.3-42.

Justice, L., & Pullen, P. (2003). Promising interventions for promoting emergent literacy skills: Three evidence-based approaches. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 23 (3): pp.99-113.

Kamenopolou, L. (2012). A study on the inclusion of deafblind young people in mainstream schools: key findings and implications for research and practice. British Journal of Special Education, 39(3): pp.137–45.

Koulikourdi, A. (2008). Assistive technologies in Greek libraries. Library Hi Tech, 26(3): pp.387-397.

Ladner, R. (2012). Communication technologies for people with sensory disabilities. IEEE, 100(4): pp.958-973.

Ludi, S. (2002) Access for everyone: Introducing accessibility issues to students in internet programming courses. 32nd ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference [online]. Available at: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=1158617 [Accessed 07 November, 2012].

Mason, A. (2014) Deaf-Blind Communication Technology [online] Available at: https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm14/bm1409/bm140906.htm [Accessed 21 November 2015].

McCall, S., McLinden, M. and Douglas, G. (2014). A review of the literature into effective practice in teaching literacy through braille [online]. University of Birmingham, UK p. Available at: https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:t6_AEv9YkXUJ:https://www.rnib.org.uk/sites/default/files/braille_lit_review_report.doc+&cd=1&hl=el&ct=clnk&gl=gr [Accessed 17 November, 2015].

McKenzie, A. R. (2007). The use of learning media assessments with students who are deaf-blind. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 101(10): pp.587-600.

McKenzie, A. R. (2009a). Unique considerations for assessing the learning media of students who are deaf-blind. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 103(4): pp.241-245.

McKenzie, A. R. (2009b). Emergent literacy supports for students who are deaf-blind or have visual and multiple impairments: A multiple-case study. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness 103(5): pp.291-302.

McNamee, M. J. and Bridges, D. (Eds) (2002). The Ethics of Educational Research Oxford: Blackwell.

Morse, J. M., and Richards L. (2002). Readme first for a user's guide to qualitative methods Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications.

Newby, P. (2010). Research Methods for Education. Harlow, England: Pearson Education Ltd.

Olay, J. E. (2013). Teaching the Teachers Braille: Building Equality in Literacy towards Ensuring Effective Implementation of Inclusive Education in Nigeria [online]. Research project, IGA Palacku University Olomouc. Available at: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:-7UmIBYDK-IJ:www.pdf.upol.cz/fileadmin/user_upload/PdF/doktorske-studium/2013_2014/Olayi__James_Eburikure.docx+&cd=1&hl=el&ct=clnk&gl=gr [Accessed 22 November 2015].

Orfanos, P. (2004). Educational Guide for Issues related to Deafblindness and Proposed Curriculum for the Development of Communication. Athens: Ministry of Education and Religion. Pedagogical Institute.

Parker, A. T., McGinnity, B. L., & Bruce, S. M. (2011). Educational programming for students who are deafblind. Position Paper of the Division on Visual Impairments, Council of Exceptional Children. Arlington, VA: Council for Exceptional Children.

Pasupathy, M. (2006). Overcoming Two Obstacles: Technology for Students who are Deafblind [online] Available at: http://www.tcnj.edu/~technj/2006/deafblind.htm [Accessed 23 November 2015].

Perkins School for the Blind (2015) Deafblind Program [online] Available at: http://www.perkins.org/school/educational-programs/deafblind [Accessed 3 December 2015].

Perkins school for the blind (presented by Berrier, J.) (2014). Communication Technology for Persons Who Are Deafblind [video online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QiTu26Own0 [Accessed 23 November 2015].

Peters K. and Halcomb E. (2015). Interviews in qualitative research. Nurse Researcher, 22(4): pp.6-7.

Qu, S. and Dumay, J. (2011). The Qualitative Research Interview Qualitative Research in Accounting and Management, 8(3): pp.238-264.

Rex, E. J., Koenig, A. J., Wormsley, D. P. & Baker, R. L. (1994). Foundations of braille literacy. New York: AFB Press.

Riggio, M. and McLetchie, B. (Eds.) (2008). Defblindness: Educational Service Guidelines [online]. Available at: http://www.spannj.org/resources/Deaf_Blindness_Ed_Service_Guidelines.pdf [Accessed 04 November 2015].

Rode, K. (2011). Braille as an alternative reading and writing for teenagers with visual impairment – Possibilities for organising lessons considering the research on socialisation. Project ISaR, pp.1-6.

Roe, J., Rogers, S., Donaldson, M., Gordon, C. & Meager, N. (2014). Teaching literacy through Braille in mainstream settings whilst promoting inclusion: Reflections on our practice. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 61(2): pp.165-177.

Rosmaita, B. (2006). Accessibility first! SIGCSE Bull., 38(1): pp.270-274.

Rowley, J. (2012). Conducting research interviews. Management Research Review, 35(3/4): pp.260–271.

Sanaman, G. and Kumar, S. (2015). Usher’s perspective towards assistive technologies available in NCR libraries of India. Journal of Library & Information Technology, 35(2): pp.90-99.

Sense (2012). Braille notetakers [online] Available at: https://www.sense.org.uk/content/braille-notetakers [Accessed 22 November 2015].

Sense (2012) Definitions of deafblindness [online] Available at: https://www.sense.org.uk/content/definitions-deafblindness [Accessed 21 November 2015].

Southern, N. and Drescher, L. (2005). Technology and the needs of deafblind people. International Congress Series, 1282, pp.997-1001.

Stanovitch, K. (2000). Progress in understanding reading: scientific foundations and new frontiers New York: Guilford Press.

Szeto, A. and Christensen, K. (1988). Technological Devices for Deaf-Blind Children: Needs and Potential Impact. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine, pp.25-29.

The Canadian Deafblind Association, British Columbia (CDBA-BC) (2015) Definitions [online] Available at: http://www.cdbabc.ca/deafblindness/causes.html [Accessed 03 November 2015].

Think Dual Sensory (1997). Good practice guidelines for older people with dual sensory loss [online] Available at: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107105354/http:/www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_4014374.pdf [Accessed 03 November 2015].

Thomas, G. (2013). 2nd-ed. How to Do Your Research Project: A Guide for Students in Education and Applied Social Sciences. London: Sage Publications.

Tobin, M. and Hill, E. (2015). Is Literacy for blind people under threat? Does braille have a future? British journal of visual impairment, 33(3): pp.239-250.

Tuli, F. (2010). The basis of distinction between quantitative and qualitative in social science: reflection on ontological, epistemological and methodological perspectives. Ethiopian Journal of Education and Science, 6(1): pp.97-108.

University of Southern Mississippi (2015). Mississippi Hearing-Vision Project – Deaf-Blind Definition [online] Available at: http://www.usm.edu/hearing-vision/deaf-blind-definition [Accessed 15 November 2015].

University of Washington/Bothell (2015). critical literature review [online] Available at: https://www.uwb.edu/med/medstudenthandbook/acadprogramrequirements/litreview [Accessed 11 December 2015].

van Teijlingen, E. and Hundley, V. (2002). The importance of pilot studies. Nursing Standard, 16(40), pp.33-36.

VisionAware (2015). All about Braille [online] Available at: http://www.visionaware.org/info/everyday-living/essential-skills/reading-writing-and-vision-loss/all-about-braille/1235 [Accessed 6 December 2015].

Wonderopolis (2015). How Do People Who Are Blind Use Computers and Other Technology? [online] Available at: http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-do-people-who-are-blind-use-computers-and-other-technology/ [Accessed 5 December 2015].

Wright T. P., Wormsley D. P., and Kannei-Hannan C. (2009). Hand movements and Braille reading efficiency - data from the alphabetic and contracted Braille study. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 103(10): pp.649-661.

Yadav, R. and Vermani, B. (2012). Computer and Information Technology assisted applications. International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Technology, 1(2): pp.203-208.




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejse.v6i4.3487

Copyright © 2015 - 2023. European Journal of Special Education Research (ISSN 2501 - 2428) is a registered trademark of Open Access Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

This journal is a serial publication uniquely identified by an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) serial number certificate issued by Romanian National Library (Biblioteca Nationala a Romaniei). All the research works are uniquely identified by a CrossRef DOI digital object identifier supplied by indexing and repository platforms.

All the research works published on this journal are meeting the Open Access Publishing requirements and can be freely accessed, shared, modified, distributed and used in educational, commercial and non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).