The ‘shadow pandemic’ in online learning: perspectives of visually impaired students from Ghana and Egypt
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Date
2023
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Disability & Society
Abstract
The emergence of COVID-19 accelerated the integration of digital technologies in teaching and learning to expand access to
education. However, one cannot ascertain if someone is visually impaired
Students learning online benefited from this innovation, a phenomenon this netnographic study explored. Social media tools
were used to interview 12 visually impaired students from a
Ghanaian and an Egyptian higher education institution. Analysis
of the data revealed multiple ‘shadows’ in the students’ experiences. The findings further revealed that the studied institutions prioritized physical access and also used lopsided
crippling discourse. Lastly, the support systems that enhanced
The studies of visually impaired students came to light. The
study findings have consequences for this cohort of students.
so this study recommends agile and futuristic policies to
reverse the trend. Finally, it is recommended that the capabilities of faculty and staff be enhanced to effectively
accommodate visually impaired students in virtual spaces.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
covid-19, visually impaired students, learning online