[NFB-NM] FW: [Nfbnet-members-list] Research participant solicitation post

Thu Oct 5 03:13:10 UTC 2017

From: NFBNet-Members-List [mailto:nfbnet-members-list-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Blake, Lou Ann via NFBNet-Members-List
Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2017 7:10 PM
To: nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Research participant solicitation post

Dear List Members:

The below research participant solicitation is being provided for
informational purposes only. The National Federation of the Blind has no
involvement in this research, but we believe that it may contribute to our
research mission.

Research Participant Solicitation:
Are you a company executive experienced in hiring and employing individuals
who are blind? Are you a VR professional experienced in offering job skills
training to individuals who are blind? Are you an expert user of smartphone
apps designed for individuals who are blind? If your response to any of
these questions is 'YES', we invite you to a study on enhancing the
employability of individuals who are blind.

In this study, a blind person is someone who relies predominantly on
non-visual senses to perceive and understand his/her environment.
Smartphones along with their built-in cameras, screen-reader software, and
non-visual apps (e.g. KNFB Reader, Seeing AI, TapTapSee, etc.) comprise a
mobile assistive technology (MAT) bundle for blind users. MAT is hailed as
an 'eye for the blind' since it affords sensing and understanding the
environment non-visually like never before.

The researchers conducting this study are Dr. Don Heath of the University of
Wisconsin Oshkosh and Dr. Rakesh Babu of the University of Wisconsin
Milwaukee. They are interested in understanding how MAT might enhance the
workplace capabilities, functional independence and employability of blind
people. Specifically, they are investigating how employers might recognize
the workplace potential of MAT-enabled blind workers for jobs within their
firm. They need help from domain experts like you in this investigation.

The study will employ three panels of domain experts - employers, VR
professionals and expert blind smartphone users. It will proceed in three
phases. In the first phase, each panel will be presented a catalogue of
smartphone apps designed for blind users, and requested to describe the
categories of capabilities these afford to blind users at the workplace. In
the second phase, the panel will rank order the list of categories based on
their relative significance to blind workers. In the third phase, the panel
will vote to establish consensus on a final rank order for the list. The
results of this study will be shared with participants after the study is
over. Any publication or presentation resulting from this study will
acknowledge the contribution of participants should they agree to be
identified. Otherwise, their participation will remain anonymous. In any
case, the contribution of participants is extremely valuable for this
research. It will help the development of an evidence-based MAT-enabled job
skills certification protocol for individuals who are blind.

The entire study will span across 14 weeks. As a part of this study, each
participant will complete 7 activities. Each activity is expected to take 35
minutes on an average. Each participant will work on an activity
independently, at a time of his/her convenience during a 1 - 2 week window.
None of the activities requires any travel, conference calls, or direct
interaction with other participants. Participation will take place entirely
via email communication between the participant and the research team.

We do not anticipate any risk to participants in this study. All information
collected will be used for the research, and will be kept confidential.
Furthermore, participation is strictly voluntary and a participant may
withdraw at any time without penalty. For additional information regarding
this study, please send your queries to heathd at uwosh.edu with the subject
line "IRB 972730". For any concern regarding treatment as a research
participant, please contact the Chair, Institutional Review Board for
Protection of Human Participants c/o Office of Grants and Faculty
Development UW Oshkosh, Oshkosh, WI 54901 (920) 424-3215. Although the
chairperson may ask your name, all complaints are kept confidential.

You may express your interest to participate by responding to a brief
questionnaire about your background. The link to that questionnaire is
included below. Completing that survey would mean you have read the above
description of the study, and that you understand your participation is
strictly voluntary. Please remember to provide the email you wish to be used
during the study. The questionnaire may be accessed by activating the
following link:
https://sites.google.com/site/delphistudypanelists/ 

Thank you for your consideration. Once we receive your response to the
questionnaire, we will get in touch with you for further guidance. 

Thanks and regards,
Rakesh Babu (Ph.D.)
UWM School of Information Studies
Northwest Quad-Bldg. B, Rm 3488
2025 E Newport Ave,
Milwaukee, WI 53211
Tel: 414-229-4707
Fax: 414-229-6699
Email: babu at uwm.edu

Lou Ann Blake, J.D.
Deputy Executive Director, Jernigan Institute
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 659-9314, extension 2221| lblake at nfb.org 

 <https://nfb.org/> National Federation of the Blind

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<https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind> Youtube

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we work
together to help blind people live the lives they want. 

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