USE OF TECHNOLOGY AMONG VISUALLY IMPAIRED TEACHERS

Today’s scenario is on the basis of technology. Technology is not only meant for sighted people it is a boon to differently abled also. The visually impaired individuals mostly opt for teaching position and a number of teachers are working at school and collegiate level. The emergence of reading machines, personal computers with speech or Braille output, on-screen magnification, closed circuit televisions, improved magnifiers of various sizes for various purposes, and many other technological developments have contributed to some blind people moving into jobs that they previously could not do without sighted assistance. Today’s classroom is very challenging to any teacher due to diversity of student population. Assistive computer technology and empowerment: the vocational experiences of blind and visually impaired New Zealanders, Williams, Wendy Elizabeth (2003) reported that the technologies compensate for the information access limitations of the blind and visually impaired and promise eventual empowerment. The study was conducted in Bidar and Kalaburgi districts of Karanataka with Descriptive Survey design. The sample comprised of 60 Visually Impaired teachers each 30 from school and College/University teachers. As many studies indicated that application of technology enhances the work performance of the visually impaired persons. The present study also revealed that Use of Technology by college teachers are better than school teachers and there is no difference among male and female and teachers working in Bidar and Kalaburgi districts of Karanataka .