Students with visual impairments deserve equal access to educational materials and have a legal right to accessible materials. Despite national initiatives, policy committees, and guidelines, students and teachers face barriers to getting accessible materials. The purpose of this presentation is to share the results and recommendations from a national study that explored the critical role and proficiencies of teachers of students with visual impairments (TVIs) in acquiring digital accessible instructional materials (AIM). Acquiring materials encompasses all the steps involved in getting materials from the classroom teacher to the student, such as gathering, adapting, and teaching so that the student can access and use the materials with or without assistive technology. A concurrent mixed-methods transdisciplinary approach surveyed TVIs across the US to understand their technology use, self-reported proficiency, and experiences acquiring AIM. The study also assessed TVIs’ skills in applying digital accessibility best practices through inaccessible digital document simulations. During the session, participants will have opportunities to share experiences from the field and reflect on their competencies in applying digital accessibility best practices.
Presenter
Dr. Huyentran Vo
TVI, COMS, CVRT, CATIS
Dr. HuyenTran Vo is a dedicated educator with over a decade of experience as a licensed Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI), Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS), Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT), and Certified Assistive Technology Specialist (CATIS). She is passionate about integrating technology and fun into her lessons for learners of all ages. Her expertise encompasses public schools, schools for students who are blind, outreach programs, and adult service programs.
