INFLUENCE OF REPEATED BRAILLE READING AND READING SPEED ON COMPREHENSION SKILL OF STUDENTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT IN IBADAN SOUTH-EAST OYO STATE

Abstract

Literacy skills (reading and writing) enhance opportunities in life.  This is no less true for individuals with blindness and fluent in Braille.  Unfortunately, because of technicalities and the expensive nature of Braille machines and papers, coupled with its accompanying stigmatization, person with visual impairment are at increased risk of reading failure and its devastating consequences.  Previous studies largely focused on adjustment, academic achievement of students with visual impairment, while there is paucity of literature on repeated Braille reading and reading speed. The study, therefore, examined the influence repeated Braille reading and reading speed had on the comprehension skill of students with visual impairment in Oniyere Grammar School, Ibadan, Nigeria. The design adopted for this study is the survey research design of the correlational type.  Purposive sampling technique was used to select the study area and the respondents. This is because the school (Oniyere Grammar School) is with high population of students with visual impairment.  A self developed comprehension passage transcribed into Braille was used as instrument for data collection.  Data were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and multiple regression analysis at 0.05 level of significance. 

Significant relationship exists between repeated Braille reading and comprehension. The study further shows that reading speed significantly influences comprehension (r=0.919).  There was significant composite effect of independent variables on the dependant variable (R2=0.990). There was relative significant contribution of the independent variables to the dependent variable (B=0.859, t=33.427).  However, reading speed indicates the more potent contributor followed by repeated Braille reading (B=0.150, t=5.822). Repeated Braille reading and reading speed influenced comprehension skill of students with visual impairment in Ibadan South East, Oyo State, Nigeria.  Therefore, teachers of students with visual impairment should encourage constant and continuous Braille reading which will aid reading speed and enhance comprehension of any given task.