Devising a blended model of learning accessible to the training of sighted and vision impaired rehabilitation workers

To establish whether visually impaired students studying to become professional rehabilitation workers can successfully learn alongside sighted counterparts when using mixed-mode teaching approaches including distance learning. Is there any limitation on the use of on-line and multimedia learning materials for such a mix of students? The University of Central England have been developing training materials for their rehabilitation studies course which is accessible to both visually impaired and fully sighted students. This includes specially designed online materials in in-class presentation methods. Work over the past 3 years these materials have been designed and evolved with the active feedback from sighted, partially sighted and totally blind students. Various technologies and approaches have been tried and evaluated, together with a review of methods used internationally to train this group. Work has included studies of the needs of both partially sighted and totally blind students. Initial results from the first 3 years of development indicate that it is possible, and indeed desirable, to devise materials in such formats. Careful design and active dialogue with both sighted and visually impaired students is the key to producing effective learning materials which meet the needs of all students. Such methods can apply to the training of visual impairment rehabilitation skills, and also to a wider range of teaching topics.