دور التقنيات المساندة الخاصة بالمكفوفين في تمكينهم الاجتماعي من وجهة نظرهم
The aim of the current study is to explore the role of assistive technology in social empowerment of blind children. The sample was purposefully selected using the stratified random sampling method. Participants (n=164) were blinds recruited from both the catholic bishopric school in Irbid and Ashola club in Amman using the descriptive survey method. A questionnaire was developed to estimate social empowerment of the blinds. Findings revealed a significant role for the various assistive technology devices for blinds including speech aids, mobility aids, home modifications, and learning/gaming devices in their social adaptation with mean score of the overall instrument (m=3.60) and estimated moderately, where (t=13.58) which was statistically significant at (α ≤0.05) denoting that blind children view the assistive technology as playing a significant role in their social empowerment. In addition, there were no statistically significant differences attributed to gender, age, or education level of the blinds. The researchers recommend qualify teachers of blind children on using the assistive technology, provide their children training on using them, and supply blind children with the assistive technology devices irrespective of where they live. (Published abstract)