Innovation in Language Learning
Enhancing Language Learning for Blind and Vicually Impaired Learners: New ICT Frontiers in Europe
Alan Bruce, Universal Learning Systems (Ireland)
Abstract
The right to effective multilingual competence has often been restricted for those with experience of disability centred on blindness and visual impairment. Partly this is to do with the impact of legacies of segregated and ‘special’ schooling. Those with disabilities were denied rights of access and participation in all European countries. The education that was provided was often sub-standard, merely vocational or constrained by the fact that all special education was located in the primary school sector (this restricting access to secondary and, by extension, university level education for most blind populations). This effective discrimination against blind and visually impaired students was powerfully evidenced by the almost non-existent participation of blind people in university programs and in the professions.
ADOLL (Accessible Design for On-Line Learning) is a European project funded under the Lifelong Learning Programme, which addresses gaps in language learning resources for blind and visually impaired people. In particular, the project deals with the creation of a multilingual online application for language learning accessible to unsighted and partially sighted computer users. The ADOLL project is an ambitious one that spans a number of critical and specific areas in relation to the characteristics and needs of its non-standard target group. Multilingualism has been seen, quite rightly, as a right for all European citizens, underscored by the need for social and vocational mobility in a unified social and economic market.
The ADOLL project is located in this context. It takes as its defining learning element the acquisition of other languages. The project is based on the fact that access to quality language learning courses is often quite problematic for those with visual impairment or blindness. The key concept was to combine accessible learning materials, facilitated by advanced ICT supports, in an innovative manner to allow the acquisition of key world languages for blind learners: Spanish, Russian and English.
The aim is to explore the latest opportunities provided by new learning technologies and to ensure compliance of the innovative e-learning application with the international accessibility standards. Special attention is paid to the compatibility of the e-learning platform with assistive devices widely used by blind and visually impaired people. The project includes active involvement of blind users and experts in the field of language teaching to ensure constant feedback regarding accessibility of the application and appropriateness the learning content. It should be noted that considering the learning needs of the visually impaired, ADOLL seeks to apply methodologies of universal design to ensure that the product will be usable by as many people as possible regardless their ability.
