Sight, touch, hearing – the current digital options and challenges in access to math content for learners with visual impairments

Abstract

Mathematics as a mandatory subject for maturaexams needs to be taken by all high school students, including those with visual impairments. Naczelna Izba Kontroli (or Supreme Audit Office) reported in 2012 that 45% of Polish schools had inadequate learning material for learners with disabilities. It seemed prudent to investigate whether teachers and students have options to choose from. Furthermore the author implies that for any existing digital learning aids to be effective, the best format should be established. Available solutions usually have a combination of input and output methods ranging from visual, auditory to tactile or vibro-tactile systems. The author also discusses advantages and disadvantages of traditional versus digital learning aids and teachers' views of available accessible math instructional solutions.

Keywords

• mathematics
• visual impairments
• STEM
• digital
• accessible