Library Information Resources Accessed by Visually Impaired Learners using Assistive Technology at the Zambia Library Cultural and Skills Centre for the Visually Impaired (ZLCSCVI) in Lusaka District, Zambia

This study investigated the library information resources accessed by visually impaired learners at the Zambia Library Cultural and Skills Centre for the Visually Impaired (ZLCSCVI) in Lusaka District of Zambia. The objective was to establish the useful library services accessed by persons with visual impairment at ZLCSCVI using the available assistive technology. A qualitative approach was employed to address the issues involved. The Case study design was used for data collection and analysis. The study population consisted of all instructors of assistive technologies and visually impaired learners at ZLCSCVI. The sample comprised 3 instructors and 17 visually impaired learners at that institution, a total of 20. Purposive sampling was used to select the participants. Data were captured using: A technology checklist, focus group discussion guide and an observation schedule. Then, it was analysed thematically. The study revealed several Assistive technologies available for visually impaired learners at ZLCSCVI. The most popular ones were JAWS, followed by NVDA which enabled learners to hear through the speakers what had been displayed on the screen. These technologies helped the learners to access useful academic materials such as books for lessons in all subject areas, solutions to assignment questions, e-mail messages, WhatsApp messages for socialisation etc. The findings implied that pedagogical strategies used by instructors of the visually impaired learners should include suitable assistive technologies such as JAWS and NVDA in order to help the VI learners perform like sighted peers. From the results it was concluded that the main assistive technologies used by the visually impaired learners at ZLCSCVI were JAWS and NUDA. These technologies enabled learners to access academic materials like books and non academic materials from computer storage media such as hard drives, CD ROM drives and flashes.