Lived experiences of students with blindness learning and using Braille at Haramaya University in Ethiopia

Abstract

This study focuses on the lived experiences of students with blindness in learning and using Braille for academic purposes at Haramaya University, Ethiopia. A descriptive phenomenology design was employed, and eight students with blindness were purposefully selected to be the sample for this study. Data were collected using substantive interviews. A digital audio recorder was used to capture the voices of respondents. The data were translated into English using Google Docs and Google Translate (supported by VB audio virtual cable). Then, the data were coded, themed, and analyzed using QDA Miner Lite software. Thematic analysis was used to analyze collected data. There are three main themes and seven subthemes among students with blindness based on their actual experiences learning and using Braille for academic purposes. These are characteristics of blind students who have learned Braille and are using it for learning; contributing factors for knowing Braille and using it; benefits of using Braille; impacts of knowing but not using Braille for academic purposes; reasons for knowing but not using it for learning; factors influencing not learning using Braille; and characteristics of blind students who did not know Braille. The practical intersections of students with blindness knowledge of Braille and their use of it for academic purposes influence their lived experiences. The study encourages and advises administrators of academic programs, curriculum and software developers, and policymakers, including practitioners, to consider Braille interpretation service issues to increase participation and meet the needs of students with blindness during teaching–learning programs in the study area.