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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal'><b><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>From:</span></b><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> NFBNet-Members-List <nfbnet-members-list-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>dandrews920--- via NFBNet-Members-List<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, November 22, 2024 11:02 AM<br><b>To:</b> nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [Nfbnet-members-list] Participation Request: Accessibility of Higher Education STEM Courses<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>Research Participation Request: Accessibility of Higher Education STEM Courses: Perspectives of Vision Impaired Students<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;line-height:105%'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;line-height:105%'>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.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>Research Title: <span style='font-size:13.0pt;line-height:105%'>Accessibility of Higher Education STEM Courses: Perspectives of Vision Impaired Students<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;line-height:105%'>Being conducted by: Lamar University<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2>Purpose of the Study<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of blind or visually impaired higher education students in STEM courses in the United States during the last few years. The research questions are as follows:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>1. What methods and accommodations are vision impaired higher education students experiencing from instructors to make STEM courses accessible for the vision impaired in the United States?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>2. How effective do vision impaired higher education students perceive disability services offices are in assisting blind or low vision students succeed in STEM courses in the United States?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>3. What support methods do vision impaired higher education students believe would be most effective for higher education STEM courses?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>4. How do blind or low vision higher education students perceive current <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'> assistive technology?<o:p></o:p></p><h2>Role of the Participants and Anticipated Length of the Study <o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Initially, participants will answer a demographic questionnaire. Upon examining responses, 10 individuals will be selected to participate in semi-structured interviews. The questionnaire may take 10 minutes. Interviews may take 45-90 minutes. Interview transcriptions will be sent to interviewees for their review.<o:p></o:p></p><h2>Proposed Participant Compensation<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Yes, Respondents to the questionnaire will have a chance to win one $50 Amazon gift card. Interviewees will have a chance to win a second $50 Amazon gift card.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>"Inspired by having a blind student in her College Algebra class, Margie Torres Nowlin, in Fort Worth, Texas is now working on a dissertation which seeks to know about the experiences of blind and vision impaired students in higher education STEM courses. Students do not need to be STEM majors and may have completed or attempted to complete a STEM course in the last few years. Respondents to the survey will be placed in a drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card, and those invited to participate in an interview who complete the interview will be placed in a second drawing for another $50 Amazon gift card. The survey link follows: <a href="https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/N36gCER6DYc3y6DvFNfvH7JI3x?domain=forms.gle" target="_blank" title="https://forms.gle/U1Rct1hxNfrgBbcP8">https://forms.gle/U1Rct1hxNfrgBbcP8</a><o:p></o:p></p><h2>Link or Instructions for Participants to Enter the Study <o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Fill out the google form at the following link:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><a href="https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/N36gCER6DYc3y6DvFNfvH7JI3x?domain=forms.gle" target="_blank" title="https://forms.gle/U1Rct1hxNfrgBbcP8">https://forms.gle/U1Rct1hxNfrgBbcP8</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>OR send responses to the following questions to Margie Nowlin at <a href="mailto:mnowlin@lamar.edu">mnowlin@lamar.edu</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>emailed to <a href="mailto:mnowlin@lamar.edu">mnowlin@lamar.edu</a> or by phone call at 817-999-2535.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>1. What is your name?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>2. What is your age?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>3. What is your gender?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>4. How long have you been visually impaired?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>5. Have you been diagnosed as legally blind? If yes, answer no to question 6.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>6. Have you been diagnosed with low vision? Low vision refers to a condition where a person's vision cannot be completely corrected using traditional methods like glasses, contact lenses, medication, surgery, magnification devices, or assistive technology<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>6. Do you read Braille?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>7. What STEM courses (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) have you taken or are you currently taking?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>8. What year(s) were you enrolled in these courses?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>9. At what institution did you take these courses?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>10. Did you take these courses online or in person?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>11. Are you majoring or planning on majoring in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) field?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>12. If selected, would you be willing to participate in an interview?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>13. If so, what is your preferred contact information?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Thank you for completing this survey. If selected, you will receive an informed consent form, and your identity and institution will remain anonymous.<o:p></o:p></p><h2>Contact the following individual with any questions <o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal>Margie Nowlin<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>817-999-2535<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><a href="mailto:mnowlin@lamar.edu">mnowlin@lamar.edu</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>