Evaluating the utilization of assistive technology tools and services to students with special needs: A study of federal university libraries in Nigeria

Abstract

The study is an empirical examination of the availability of assistive technologies and services to students with special needs. The study applied descriptive survey research design with a sampled population of 200 respondents drawn among certified librarians in forty five federal university libraries in Nigeria. With the help of self-designed questionnaires, data were collected and analyzed using frequency, simple percentile and mean and presented in charts. The outcome of the study shows inter-alia that the libraries lack major assistive technologies to facilitate assistive services to students with special needs and that inadequate funding; lack of infrastructural support, absence of inclusive library policies, as well as weak collaboration with relevant stakeholders were major challenges faced by the libraries. It is recommended inter-alia that government should adequately equip the libraries with contemporary assistive technologies, and the libraries should apply user-centered service design principles while collaborating with disability-oriented bodies and organizations.