Introduction

“High-tech” assistive technology (AT) plays a critical role in the lives and educational experiences of students with visual impairments (i.e., those who are blind or have low vision). However, little is known about how these students actually use AT within their educational programs. Methods: A survey examining AT use and services among 51 students with visual impairments addressed their personal characteristics, device characteristics, device usage, AT assessment, and AT instruction. In addition, 12 teachers provided perspectives on their district’s AT services and policies. Results: Students primarily used commercially available AT to access print. Some variations in use were found between elementary and secondary students. Instruction of devices was highly aligned with students’ device use. Discussion: High-tech AT can meet diverse needs among students with visual impairments. Individualization of AT selection and services remains essential. Implications for Practitioners: Educators should consider AT for a broad range of student needs, promote device use at home, reflect on their instruction, and pursue professional development in this area.

介绍

“高科技”辅助技术 (AT) 在视力障碍学生（即盲人或视力低下的学生）的生活和教育经历中发挥着至关重要的作用。然而，对于这些学生如何在他们的教育课程中实际使用 AT 知之甚少。方法：一项针对 51 名视力障碍学生的 AT 使用和服务调查调查了他们的个人特征、设备特征、设备使用、AT 评估和 AT 教学。此外，12 位教师就他们所在学区的 AT 服务和政策发表了看法。结果：学生主要使用市售 AT 来访问印刷品。在小学生和中学生之间发现了一些使用差异。设备说明与学生的设备使用高度一致。讨论：高科技AT可以满足视障学生的多样化需求。AT 选择和服务的个性化仍然至关重要。对从业者的启示：教育者应考虑 AT 以满足广泛的学生需求，促进在家中使用设备，反思他们的教学，并追求该领域的专业发展。