Assistive technology and leisure time of visually impaired students at the University of Zagreb

Abstract

Leisure time is important part of life for each person including visually impaired persons. Education, including studying on higher education studies, is integral and important part of young people's life. In this period of life almost everybody faces with new situations, such as independent decision - making and taking responsibility for these decisions. Making one own's desicions and taking responsibility for them in this part of life seems even demanding when dealing with visual impairment. Assistive technologies contribute to significant changes in our society and play increasing role in everyday life. Use of assistive technologies can provide new opportunities regarding overcoming the barriers, both physical and social, and improving quality of life. A questionnaire consisted of 23 items divided in 3 parts (general information, leisure time activities, aspects of quality of life) has been designed for the purpose of this research. The aim of this research was to gain comprehensive insight of assitive technology (players and recorders, electronic magnifier, electronic cane, scener, talking unit, screen readers and screen magnifiers, GPS, cell phones) use in leisure time by visually impaired students at University of Zagreb. Participants included in this research were visually imapired students (n=31). The data has been analiyzed with statistical software package Statistica 9, and the results showed the influence of assistive technology use on leisure time activities, as well as the importance and frequency of assitive technology use by visually impaired students. Assistive technologies had the most influence on fulfillment of study obligations quality, creating new contacts and relationships and organizing leisure time. Leisure time activities which are the most affected by using assistive technologies are activities for fun and other interests.