The Benefits of and Barriers to Computer Use for Individuals Who Are Visually Impaired
By Gerber, Elaine; Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, Vol. 97, No. 9, pp. 536-550Publication Date: September 2003
Article presents data from four focus groups of assistive technology (AT) computer users to understand how individuals who are blind or have low vision gather information about AT, and the kinds of information needs that they may have. Two of the focus groups were conducted at the annual conventions of organizations of consumers of services for people who are blind or have low vision, namely the American Council of the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind. The third focus group was conducted at the international conference of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, while the fourth was with subscribers to the American Foundation for the Blind’s publication, Access World: Technology and People with Visual Impairments. All of the groups were moderated by the author and were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative analysis software called the Ethnograph. The participants were asked to list one way in which computers were either most helpful or most frustrating. A variety of responses are discussed through interview transcripts.
Published by: AFB Press (Website:http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=46)
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) (Web Site: http://www.afb.org )
This publication is included in the library of the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), accession number J46556
