Spanning the Pacific Ocean through Voice-over Internet Protocol Chat with the Hadley School for the Blind–China

Abstract

Founded in 1920 (Hathaway, 1977; Trief, Decker, & Ryan, 2004; Wolffe, 2001), the Hadley School for the Blind is known worldwide for its tuition-free distance-education courses (LaGrow, Ponchillia, & Ponchillia, 1998; Wolffe, 2001) for people who are visually impaired (that is, those who are blind or have low vision). The school offers more than 90 courses (Hadley, 2006) to people who are visually impaired, family members of people who are visually impaired (D'Andrea, 1996), and professionals in the field of visual impairment (Hadley, 2004; Wolffe, 2001). Hadley serves more than 1,100 families of people who are visually impaired annually (Hadley, 2004). Instructors are available to their students via telephone and e-mail for questions and guidance (Wolffe, 2001). Hadley's web site, , provides a wealth of information for students and others who are interested in its services, including its course catalog, application forms for enrolling in Hadley, a student lounge (Wolffe, 2001), and the Internet-based discussion boards on which those who are interested in the school or issues related to visual impairment can communicate with one another. Hadley's main school in the United States serves more than 9,000 students, and the overseas school in the People's Republic of China provides vital educational services to more than 1,000 Chinese students (Hadley, 2005). The school's international enrollment spans the globe, including students from over 100 countries (Hadley, 2006). With Hadley's new e-learning initiative, international students receive course materials quickly by bypassing traditional mail services and relying on e-mail for communication and the delivery of course materials and instruction (Hadley, 2004). The southeastern Chinese city of Fuzhou hosts Hadley's expanding Chinese branch. Fuzhou is the capitol of Fujian, 1 of 23 provinces in the People's Republic of China. China also has five autonomous regions, four centrally administered municipalities, and two special administrative regions. Fujian's proximity to Taiwan and its warm-water port bring bustling trade to this subtropical province. Headed by Xia Rongqiang, the Chinese branch of the Hadley School for the Blind, Hadley-China, offers distance-education courses in English, just as does the U.S. school. Students with substantial English abilities may take any of the other courses offered by Hadley to its students. Typical courses taken by current Hadley-China students include Safety in the Home, General Science, and Health 1. Hadley-China also recently expanded to offer courses to parents of children with visual impairments; these courses are in a pilot phase. Hadley-China was founded in 1988, and its vibrancy is reflected in its continued growth. In fiscal year 2005 alone, 165 new students enrolled, representing well over a 10% increase in enrollment. This figure is particularly impressive when one contemplates the barriers inherent in studying foreign languages for persons who are visually impaired in China. Because of the dedication of Hadley's staff members, course materials are made available to students at Hadley-China in braille, so that those who can read braille can gain independent access to the courses. Students whose native language is Mandarin are able to master English braille (Braille Authority of North America, 1994)--a testament to their diligence--and the fact that such courses are made available to the students in braille increases the students' chances of learning English. Morrow (1999) noted that when learning a foreign language, it is crucial for persons who are blind to have access to braille materials. ENGLISH CHATS OVER THE INTERNET As with the birth of many innovative programs, the collaboration between Hadley-China and native English speakers sprang from a shared commitment. Xia Rongqiang, principal of Hadley-China, telephoned one of the English tutors while she was in Beijing. …