Alternative Formats Availability and its Utilisation by Visually Impaired Students in Nigerian Secondary Schools

Abstract

Visually impaired students need alternative format in braille, talking books and large prints to function like sighted students. Because few materials get converted into these formats, the availability and consequent use of alternative format for study and leisure by visually impaired students has been of concern. This study reveals the availability and use of alternative formats by visually impaired students in Nigerian Secondary Schools. The study is a survery and it purposively focused on southwestern, Nigeria. Using total enumeration technique, data were collected 123 students from six purposively selected secondary schools in southwestern Nigeria. A questionnaire having two rating scales on availability and utilisation of alternative format with reliability scores of á = 0.77 and á = 0.73 respectively were used. 104 (84.5%) of the instrument was correctly admistered. The study found, that braille (77%), talking books/tape recordings( 65.4%) are not readily availabile while large prints (96.2%) are not available. Braille is the most requently used on dailly basis (91.3%) followed by talking books (34. 6%) while large prints are not used. There was no significant positive relationships between alternative formats availability and its utilisation in the selected libraries. The study recommends increased transcription of information materials into alternative formats for the students, adequate funding from government and donors and the building of a balanced collection of alternative formats in the school libraries.