EXAMINING THE INFORMATION NEEDS OF HEARING-IMPAIRED STUDENTS: A CASE STUDY OF SPECIAL SCHOOLS FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED IN JODHPUR

The study investigates the complex information needs of hearing-impaired students in special schools, highlighting significant challenges they face in accessing suitable information resources and services. It reveals that these students encounter numerous obstacles when trying to obtain information from libraries, which complicates their educational experience. Despite the critical role of assistive technology in enhancing the learning environment for students with disabilities, the research indicates that such technologies have not significantly advanced library services tailored for these students. Many hearing-impaired students remain unaware of the assistive tools available to aid their information retrieval. The findings suggest that while the resources provided by school libraries are beneficial for academic pursuits, the inability of students to effectively utilize these resources due to various barriers remains a pressing issue. The study concludes with practical recommendations aimed at improving library resources and services for hearing-impaired students, emphasizing