Photologue @theuostimes7
Under the influence of COVID-19, all universities across the country are maintaining an online teaching system. However, the online lecture system, which considers the visually impaired and the deaf, is still insufficient. Blind people use PCs and smartphones using screen reading programs. The program reads the symbol on the screen or the alternative text entered in the image. They have to play record lectures on the university's website, where there is no way to play the lecture alone because there is no alternative text for the blind. While they were able to get help from their helper students when they went to school normally, communication with the helper is also limited under the online class system.
Deaf students cannot keep up with the class without simultaneous sign language interpretation or subtitles. Even if some subtitles are provided, it is difficult for them to keep up with the progress because it takes time to produce subtitles. There is also a problem with the lack of sign language interpreters. Compared to the Seoul metropolitan area, where there are relatively a lot of sign language interpreters, local governments lack professional sign language interpreters. In addition, sign language interpretation is also supported in lectures in which professors upload videos separately, not real-time lectures, but limited manpower is again a problem. Classes where professors upload videos of lectures are supported by promising time with sign language interpreters. In this case, two to three hearing-impaired students who take the same course should receive translation assistance.
As such, the online lecture system is causing difficulties for the disabled. The Ministry of Education is offering guidelines for applying for disabled students to each university, but it is still focused on offline classes. As online classes are expected to expand after COVID-19, we hope they will now actively manage online accessibility for the disabled.
