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Dear List Members:<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
Research Participant Solicitation:<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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
<a href="mailto:heathd@uwosh.edu">heathd@uwosh.edu</a> 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.<br>
<br>
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:<br>
<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/delphistudypanelists/">
https://sites.google.com/site/delphistudypanelists/</a> <br>
<br>
Thank you for your consideration. Once we receive your response to the
questionnaire, we will get in touch with you for further guidance. <br>
<br>
Thanks and regards,<br>
Rakesh Babu (Ph.D.)<br>
UWM School of Information Studies<br>
Northwest Quad-Bldg. B, Rm 3488<br>
2025 E Newport Ave,<br>
Milwaukee, WI 53211<br>
Tel: 414-229-4707<br>
Fax: 414-229-6699<br>
Email: <a href="mailto:babu@uwm.edu">babu@uwm.edu</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Lou Ann Blake, J.D.<br>
Deputy Executive Director, Jernigan Institute<br>
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<br>
(410) 659-9314, extension 2221|
<a href="mailto:lblake@nfb.org">lblake@nfb.org</a> <br>
<br>
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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. <br>
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