Tactile maps for visually impaired individuals to enhance Orientation and Mobility skills at the Khon Kaen School for the Blind

Abstract

This participatory action research aims to: (1) investigate the issues related to enhancing skills for familiarization with the environment and mobility (O&M); (2) explore strategies for enhancing O&M skills; and (3) develop a strategy for enhancing O&M skills using tactile maps for visually impaired individuals within the School for the Blind in Khon Kaen, located in Ban Ped Sub-district, Mueang District, Khon Kaen Province, through a collaborative approach. The target group consisted of 15 individuals selected purposefully for their involvement and expertise in producing educational media for the visually impaired, including: (1) administrators, teachers, and instructors specializing in O&M; (2) administrators and staff from the Center for Educational Technology for the Blind; and (3) visually impaired individuals. Research instruments included questionnaires and in-depth interviews to assess the usability of tactile maps for 10 visually impaired participants. Data analysis involved both qualitative analysis from in-depth interviews and quantitative statistical analysis of the usability assessment results. The findings revealed that: (1) the School for the Blind effectively implements teaching and training in O&M skills; therefore, administrators seek to develop media to assist visually impaired individuals in navigation; (2) the exploration of strategies for enhancing O&M skills indicated that the media should possess appropriate qualities, specifically tactile maps in the thermoform format; and (3) the development of the O&M enhancement strategy using tactile maps demonstrated that visually impaired individuals showed significant improvement in their understanding of map usage during the second testing phase.