irene@inable.org This report presents the results of a nationwide survey of blind and low-vision students at schools across Kenya, completed in the spring of 2015 as part of the Mwangaza Project. The purpose of the survey was to begin to collect data about learners in Kenya with vision loss, particularly at all of the Schools for the Blind, but also at some integrated public schools. In addition to demographic information, the survey included questions about computer and technology experience, interest in computer training, and various measures of life satisfaction, psychosocial status, and career aspirations. To our knowledge this is the first comprehensive survey involving over 1500 students with vision loss in Kenya, and should serve as an effective baseline against which to assess the efficacy of computer training programs, and projects to deploy assistive technology as part of classroom education for this population. This research was supported by a grant from the USAID/NSF PEER Program, awarded to Prof. Wangari Mwai of Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya and Irene Mbari-Kirika of inABLE in Nairobi/Washington DC. The US-based research partner is Prof. Bruce N. Walker from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta, USA.
Education, Poverty Reduction And Social Inclusion (Royal Hall)
