On the inclusion of learners with visual impairment in computing education programs in Brazil: practices of educators and perceptions of visually impaired learners

• Main Authors: Leandro Luque, Leônidas O. Brandão, Elisabeti Kira, Anarosa A. F. Brandão
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SpringerOpen 2018-02-01
• Series: Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society
• Subjects: Computing education; Inclusion; Visual impairment; Blind; Perception; Survey
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13173-018-0068-0

Abstract Background Individuals with visual impairment face varied challenges when attending education programs in many fields and levels. In computing education programs, the frequent required use of charts, graphs, and diagrams poses additional challenges to their inclusion. In order to inform and to establish appropriate action plans for a more inclusive scenario, it is important to gather information from the parties involved. In this context, this work presents the practices of educators and the perceptions of visually impaired learners regarding such inclusion. Methods The practice and perceptions were gathered from a survey with 56 computing educators and with 19 visually impaired learners who have attended computing education programs. Results and discussion The results suggest educators have limited access to knowledge related to the inclusion of visually impaired learners in lectures and feel unprepared to this scenario. On the other hand, visually impaired learners do not feel included in computing education programs.