Social Economic Dynamics and the Performance of Digital Braille Technology Project in Schools in Kitui County, Kenya

Abstract

Paper and mechanical Braille writers have been used as the major medium of education and learning for people with vision impairments all across the world. Braille is a tactile reading and writing method made up of 6-dots that represent alphabets, numerals, and symbols. In recent years, digital Braille devices with refreshable Braille displays have been developed, which is known as Digital Braille technology. Digital Braille technology is the use of refreshable Braille devices for writing, reading/access to written material by persons with print disability. This Braille technology has been in use in developed countries and now it is being implemented in developing countries including Kenya. However, due to different variables such as socioeconomic, there has been a limited uptake of this technology in Kenya; consequently, in an effort to better understand how social and economic variables impact performance, this study of in several Kitui County schools, students use digital braille technology. This study sought to answer three questions: (1) What role does household income have in the success of the Digital Braille technology initiative in Kitui County, Kenya? (2) How does school infrastructure impact project performance in specific schools in Kitui County, Kenya? (3) How does social support impact the project's effectiveness in specific schools in Kitui County, Kenya? The descriptive research design was used in this investigation. A descriptive survey approach was used in this inquiry. Teachers of these students, non-governmental organizations carrying out the Braille project, and county officials from the relevant ministry were among the 130 people who participated in the poll. This study's sample size is 104. Stratified random sampling was used to identify research beneficiaries. To collect data from participants, the study team used a survey form and an interview schedule. To gather data, the researcher utilized a drop-and-pick strategy using questionnaires; participants were given time to fill them out at their own leisure and then collected later. The data acquired in the field was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. To establish the link between the independent and dependent variables, the following model was used. The formula was developed using a regression equation (Y = β0 + β1X1 + β2X2 + β3X3 + β4X4+ ε). The study discovered that the overall independent variable, socioeconomic dynamics, has an impact on the performance of Braille technology in school