The Experience of Digital Accessibility to Internet-based Content among the Deaf/Hearing Impairment Students: A Conceptual Framework

Abstract:

Inclusion of students with disabilities into general education classrooms has changed over time. The deaf/hearing impairment students are no exception in getting knowledge and information from all kinds of format and sources. As internet technology and resources are becoming one of the main sources of knowledge, it is now being embedded in teaching and learning both normal and disable students.  However, not all internet resources are supported with acoustic content that meant for the deaf internet users (students), hence it is still being considered as learning barriers. The objectives of the research are to: i) to understand the importance of the internet-based content (information) to the visual learners (deaf/hearing impaired secondary students), ii) to investigate how the internet-based content being used as an information resource for visual learners (deaf/hearing impairment secondary students) and, iii) to explore the accessibility experience to the internet-based content among the deaf/hearing impairment secondary students.  The population of the deaf/hearing impaired students is minority in numbers; therefore, purposive sampling technique will be employed; involving the teachers and deaf/hearing disabilities students in selected schools around Klang Valley, Malaysia. The qualitative data generated from the semi-structured interviews and observations will be analysed following the thematic analysis approach.   The findings of this study may be used as a strategic means in developing and planning a supportive learning environment for the deaf and hearing impairment community in Malaysia. It may benefit the policy makers in constructing new strategies for the deaf community.