The use of ict in teaching english as an additional language for blind and visually impaired: a case of study

Abstract

This project is inserted in the Applied Linguistics scope and aims at investigating how blind and visually impaired learners use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to communicate and learn English as an additional language. For the development of this topic, a literary approach will be taken, in order to review the literature in teaching English as an additional language for the blind and the visually impaired. Based on Cope and Kalantzis (2012 and 2000), Lankshear and Knobel (2008 and 2005) and Glister (1997), that analyzed the growing filed of digital literacies; this article reports to a case study which took place in the project – English for the Blinds – carried out at the Federal University of Technology – Paraná (UTFPR) from February to December 2014. In order to gather data, profiles of the students were collected and analyzed. Also, a questionnaire was applied, classes were observed, and an interview was made. By the end of this brief research, we expect to collaborate with the blind and visually impaired learner’s learning process.