Using an iPad as an assistive device to improve technical literacy: trial usage with an Emirati student

This paper presents a case study of the use of the iPad 2 by a blind student at Sharjah Women’s College, Higher College of Technology. Emma was finding it difficult to read, write, understand normal graphics, use her computer without a great deal of assistance and use the complex equipment that she needed to be familiar with in her classes in order to work through her assessments. In addition, her increased workload at college was creating physical stress, with the strain on her eyes leaving her increasingly tired when conducting normal exercises, and mentally stressed, with the extra work she had to conduct to compensate for her blindness. As a result, I was asked to work with Emma and recommend assistive technologies, literature and graphics, and help with technical language tuition. As a primary tool of assistance, I recommended using the iPad 2, as it appeared to have a broad range of available literature, and included accessible software to enlarge text, change the color of the interface and provide a synthesized voice.