High-Tech or Low-Tech? Impact of Assistive Technology in School Settings for Students with Visual Impairments: Review of Research

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the impact of assistive technology (AT) on the reading and writing performance and the social life of students with visual impairments (VI). Seventeen studies carried out between 2000 and 2019 were reviewed. Results showed that using the advanced features of AT devices such as braille notetakers and Mountbatten Brailler helped developing reading and writing skills of students with VI through revising and editing writing. Also, the use of mainstream devices like laptops and cell phones with screen readers promoted social interaction because of portability and inconspicuousness. Results were classified according to the common characteristics of the findings of these studies, such as the advantages and disadvantages of AT. The advantages of AT were improved reading and writing skills, increased access to the Internet, and better developed social lives. Barriers that impacted on the use of AT were cost of equipment and a lack of training.