ASSESSING THE RELEVANCE OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTIONS: A CASE OF UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM IN TANZANIA

Authors

  • Josephine C. Ngonyani Tutorial Assistant, Tanzania Public Service College, Tanzania
  • Cosmas B. Mnyanyi Senior Lecturer in Educational Psychology and Special Needs Education, The Open University of Tanzania, Tanzania

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejse.v7i2.3712

Keywords:

assistive technology, persons with a disability, higher learning institutions

Abstract

This paper assesses the relevance of assistive technology (AT) used by persons with disabilities enrolled in higher learning institutions (HLIs) in Tanzania. Assistive technology in its general sense is meant to support persons with disabilities (PWD) in managing their daily activities, including participation in teaching and learning. The study was descriptive in nature and used a cross-sectional research design. A total of 173 respondents participated in the study; 18 Management officials, 47 students, 35 trainers, 40 Dar-es-Salaam University Students Organisation (DARUSO) leaders, and 33 PWD. Among the 33 PWD; (10) visually impaired, (5) low vision, (7) physically impaired, (3) albinism, (7) hearing impaired, and (1) speech impaired. The study revealed that AT was provided conforming to the kind of a disability and that training was for new AT users. The training covered topics related to simple maintenance and repair of AT. The challenge was related to the shortages of AT experts and AT courses for training, caretakers and other professionals. The study recommends the establishment of AT courses for developing a cadre of AT specialists for conducting rehabilitation services.

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Author Biographies

  • Josephine C. Ngonyani, Tutorial Assistant, Tanzania Public Service College, Tanzania
    Josephine C. Ngonyani has a Bachelor Degree in Computer Science from St. Joseph University in Tanzania (2013). In 2017 she was registered and certified as a Technical teacher by the National Council for Technical Education (NACTE) of Tanzania. She is currently finalizing Her Master of Science in ICT (MSc-ICT) at the Open University of Tanzania, researching the use of assistive technology for Persons with disabilities in higher educational institutions in Tanzania. Her job experience includes working as a tutorial assistant at Tanzania Public Service College (8 years of working experience).
  • Cosmas B. Mnyanyi, Senior Lecturer in Educational Psychology and Special Needs Education, The Open University of Tanzania, Tanzania
    Dr. Cosmas B. Mnyanyi Is a senior lecturer in educational psychology and special needs education at the Open University of Tanzania. He has over 30 years of teaching experience and has worked in disability studies for over 18 years in specifically in assistive technologies. He has been heading a section supporting students with disabilities at the Open University of Tanzania for over 10 years now. (ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-9391-4455 website: www.out.ac.tz)

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Published

2021-04-28

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2021)

Section

Articles

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