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Fortune database entry no.
11
Book:
Magazin:
Project Description:
Internet Resource:
Area(s) of Application:
Social and Vocational Integration
Relevant Player(s):
University
Thematic Issue(s):
Training / Methods
Example of social and vocational integration combined with the
education of visually impaired or blind people
Abstract:
At the University of Linz blind students are offered special
support and equipment. It was the first attempt in Austria to
invent 'Computer Science for the Blind' at a university.
In 1991 the Institute for Computer Science at the Johannes Kepler
University in Linz planned to support visually impaired students
in a technical and in a pedagogical way. By means of new computer
technology (Computer Science for the Blind), the educational
endeavour tries to facilitate a university curriculum under
equal conditions and in the same time as for the sighted students.
Presently, courses in General Computer Science, Computer Science
for Economists, Law, and a special preparation course for students
without university qualification are attended.
It is planned for the future that, by the use of the technical,
pedagogical and social know-how, the entire educational scope
of the university shall be accessible to the visually impaired.
The main part of the support activities is the digital preparation
of all studying materials by tutors who are students in an advanced
semester. Materials that are already obtainable in digital form
are converted to a format suitable for the visually impaired.
During the project 50% of all tasks are done by blind and visually
impaired and 50% by sighted persons. The guideline of integrating
persons with a visual handicap in every step of the project
and dividing the work on both groups (sighted and blind persons)
goes through the whole process of the project. Actually there
are three sighted and three visually impaired or blind persons
working at the institute.
Name of Institution
Johannes Kepler University Linz
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