THE USE OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

The study examined the use of Assistive Technology (AT) for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in higher learning institutions in Tanzania using the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) as the case study. Objectives of the study were to: determine support services provided to PWDs, investigate the availability of AT used by PWDs, explore AT's adequacy, and analyses the relevancy of AT used by PWDs. About 173 respondents were purposively selected where there were 18 Management officials, 33 PWDs, 47 Students, 35 Trainers, and 40 DARUSO leaders. The descriptive study employed questionnaires, interviews, observation, FGD, and document review to collect data. Microsoft excel and content analysis was used in analyzing quantitative and qualitative data. Findings indicated that PWDs were provided with support services, including readers and AT, screen readers for the blind, clutches and wheelchairs for the physically impaired, magnifier glasses and CCTV for albinism had low vision. There were scarcity of AT and caretakers with inadequate skills, lack of internal AT experts hence deployed external experts. However, further studies are needed to enhance PWD adapt their learning environment.