Assistive Technology for Visually Impaired Students

     Having interacted with two blind students at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, I wanted to learn more about how they navigated a sighted world without asking intrusive questions.  Therefore, I researched the matter, and while much of the assistance offered to them is "low tech" in the form of audio recordings of lectures and the use of other students as readers, some exciting technology exists that can really "speed up" the intake of information.  For example, a Braille printer can help individuals completely devoid of sight, but the price tag is rather shocking (prices range from $1,800 to $80,000 for a high volume machine).  A graduate student at Vanderbilt explained how frustrating it is to lag behind her fellow students in completing assignments, at the mercy of various devices, and how technology like screen readers with speech or voiceover for her laptop, iPad, and iPhone level the playing field considerably.  I appreciated the way she further explained that all students have goals, and visually impaired students want to exercise the greatest amount of independence possible, and these superior devices allow them to do just that.  I think that this type of technology is a worthy investment for educational communities like universities in order to ensure that these students succeed.
     Another interesting point the website raised was the issue of advocacy.  The problem with allocating funds for this technology is that there are relatively few students on campus who are visually impaired.  Nevertheless, I think that an argument could be made that this technology allows them to compete with their peers.  I think that these students and their families should speak to the administration and ask that they make specific requests of their most generous donors for this technology; these individuals may not even be aware that such a need exists.  I recently saw a blind student almost run into a chair; we should all be more sensitive to the challenges others face and join them in asking for help that will make them enjoy their college experience even more fully.
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