Building on the work we did in June 2012 to train four Kenyatta University students with visual impairments to use iPods and keyboards to read and create documents, we had these four students train 10 additional students with visual impairments using iPad minis and keyboards. Within two days, all of the students were checking and sending email messages, listening to music, checking Facebook, along with reading and creating documents using the assistive technology. We are working with the Directorate of Disability Services and the Department of Special Needs Education at Kenyatta University to find funds to purchase more equipment so more students with visual impairments can make use of this equipment.
The four students who have been using iOS equipment since June told us how much the equipment has changed their lives, from supporting their academic work to allowing them to check the color of their socks (using an app). All four students reported that they are able to be much more independent than they were without the equipment.
CaptionSammy exploring an iPad mini
CaptionSilas feeling the Speed Dots (raised dots on a screen cover to orient one's fingers to certain locations on the screen)
CaptionSammy helping Hellen and Samson learn how to use an iPad
CaptionBeatrice and Lucy assisting Mary
CaptionJob and Thomas exploring their iPad minis
CaptionEric listening to the VoiceOver feature on an iPad mini
CaptionDennis listening to the VoiceOver feature on an iPod
CaptionFatuma looking at a Braille document to find the top
CaptionSammy assisting Hellen and Samson
CaptionAlan helping Job learn keyboard functions
CaptionPatrick assisting Lydia with tapping on an iPad mini screen
CaptionEric taking a photo of Dennis using the camera feature
CaptionJoe and Alan talking with Prof. Mbugua, director of Disability Services at KU
CaptionSammy sharing with the group about what the iOS equipment has meant to him over the last six months
CaptionSilas sharing how the iOS equipment allows him to be more independent
CaptionFatuma and Hellen listening to the VoiceOver feature on an iPad
CaptionPatrick assisting Lydia in setting up her email on an iPad mini
CaptionProf. Mbugua talking with Sammy
CaptionMary and Samson listening to the VoiceOver feature
CaptionSilas uses keyboard commands to navigate on an iPad mini
About Joanna Masingila
Joanna Masingila is Dean of the School of Education and Professor of Mathematics and Mathematics Education at Syracuse University. She was a Fulbright Scholar to Kenyatta University in 1998, and since that time Syracuse University and Kenyatta University have an institutional linkage.
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