Assistive Technology for Students with Blindness or Visual Impairments:
Abstract: This study examined the usage patterns of Assistive Technologies (AT) amongst 18 students with Visual Impairments (VI) studying at the Open University of Israel. We investigated whether the use of AT contributes to the students’ academic and socio-emotional satisfaction. Significant correlations were found between the students’ perception of the website’s contribution regarding academic and social contribution and between perception of personal capability and a high sense of hope. In examining the course website usage patterns, it appears that most of them know how to use online tasks and have good access to online distance teaching courses, yet they make moderate use of the course website. The findings reflect a high level of positive self-perception in terms of independence, success level, and ability to solve problems. This study may contribute to a deeper understanding of the various perceptions and needs of students with VI regarding the benefits of using AT.