eLearning Portal for Persons with Visual Disabilities: Case of Low Vision

Abstract

ABSTRACT As the adage goes “Disability is not inability”. We live in a world whose population comprises of persons with disability. Despite this fact, such persons are well useful in a countries economy provided their needs are well taken care of. For instance, education should be made available to all irrespective of their physical form. With the increased advances in technology today, there is dire need to consider persons with disabilities, so as to ensure that their interests are also factored in. Narrowing the cases of disabilities to that of visual disability, and the scope of education/learning to that of eLearning, one realizes that unless special considerations are factored in to the design of eLearning platforms, persons with visual impairments may never benefit! Reason for this project! This project implements an eLearning platform that is usable by persons with low vision. This has been achieved by incorporating technological advances such as: use of text with the highest possible contrast; use of varying font size; among other customized HCI effects. Moreover, use of complicated, decorative or cursive fonts has been avoided, as well as italic text and capital letters, which can be difficult for users with reading impairments. To add on these, the implementation includes a sound output which is a key aid for persons with low vision. Conclusively, this project supports the fact that eLearning is possible for persons with low vision, provided that all the necessary technological advances have been considered.