This qualitative study explored the perspectives and experience of New Zealand O&M instructors in the use of tactile maps with people with vision impairment. In-depth, open-ended, and semi-structured interviews were used to gather information from four participants, who were qualified O&M instructors. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Three inter-related themes emerged from the data that effected the O&M’s tactile map usage: (1) the tactile map and the O&M instructor, (2) student needs and experiences, and (3) time and resources. Microcapsule and thermoform maps were the least used map medium, with collage map techniques used frequently by half of the participants. The most preferred tactile maps were ready-made tactile map kits, and instructors drawing directly on the students’ hand or back. Tactile maps were used mostly by the participants to meet the orientation needs of motivated students, who were blind, had no visual memory, or did not use their vision for orientation purposes. Tactile maps were considered a vital orientation tool when the participants were teaching such students, and the participants did not believe Global Positioning System (GPS) applications would fully replace tactile maps. However, in general, the participants revealed that tactile maps were used infrequently as an orientation tool in New Zealand because of caseload makeup, limited time, and limited resources. In order to increase the use of tactile maps, tactile map resources may need to be more readily available. In addition, further research is needed about the characteristics of people with a vision impairment, who benefit from tactile maps, along with the effect of tactile maps usage on an O&M instructor’s caseload and time, so that O&M instructors can plan accordingly and people with a vision impairment can continue to benefit from this important orientation tool.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.