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ERIC Number: ED253018
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1984-Jul
Pages: 88
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
A Project to Make Apple Computers Accessible to Blind Children. August 1, 1983-July 31, 1984.
Sensory Aids Foundation, Palo Alto, CA.
The report describes a project designed to test the feasibility of adapting off-the-shelf educational software to a speech synthesizer compatible with Apple personal computers for visually impaired students. Fifteen visually impaired children were administered pretests and posttests for auditory discrimination, computer literacy, keyboard proficiency, spelling, and language. Students then participated in general computer literacy instruction and instruction with either the spelling or language arts program. Results revealed that software selection was difficult in that very little software lent itself to adaptation. A program was developed that successfully increased students' typing skills. Spelling and language programs were evaluated, and computer attitude measures revealed a decrease in enjoyment scores (perhaps revealing that initial scores were inflated due to unrealistic expectations about computers). With computer experience, a decrease in anxiety about computers was evidenced, along with an increase in feelings of efficacy. Extensive appendixes include copies of assessment measures, sample forms, and descriptions of the three major software programs evaluated. (CL)
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Special Education Programs (ED/OSERS), Washington, DC.
Authoring Institution: Sensory Aids Foundation, Palo Alto, CA.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A