Strategies for improving the utilisation and maintenance of assistive technology (AT) for education of students with albinism in Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria

Purpose The study intends to explore strategies to improve the utilisation and maintenance of AT for educating students with albinism in Nigerian universities, specifically focusing on overcoming factors that affect their effective utilisation and maintenance. Methods The research employed a descriptive survey design and used descriptive cross-sectional survey type of quantitative approach. The study adopted a proportionate sampling method to randomly select a total of 109 respondents. The sample consisted of 73 students, 15 lecturers, 15 facility maintenance staff, and six management-level staff. A validated survey titled “Maintenance and Use of Assistive Technology for Teaching Learners with Albinism at FUOYE” was used to collect the data for this study. This survey had a reliability coefficient of 0.78 using Cronbach Alpha on the SPSS; therefore, it can be considered reliable. The means, standard deviations, and Welch ANOVA were used to analyse the data gathered from this study. Findings The hypothesis tested using Welch ANOVA revealed a p-value of 0.053 which was greater than the alpha (0.05) threshold for statistical significance showing that the null hypothesis was not rejected, indicating that the means across all four groups (Students, Lecturers, Maintenance staff, and Management) are not significantly different. Therefore, there is no significant difference in the mean ratings of the respondents on factors affecting the effective utilisation, maintenance, and strategies for ATs in the practical education of students with Albinism at FUOYE. Originality The study, by pinpointing the unique factors outlined above, has yielded fresh perspectives that reveal the challenges encountered by this demographic. Besides that, it not only identifies major issues but also suggests solutions, such as creating a separate budget for AT and better training, which together extend the knowledge base of AT in educational settings. Theoretical and practical implications This study presents a cohesive theoretical framework to facilitate agreement among groups composed of diverse constituents on how to reach consensus on the selection and/or use of assistive technologies (ATs). The framework also highlights the central role that collaboration plays in creating an effective decision-making environment. Practically, the organisations should develop an AT-specific budget; ensure that consistent resources are allocated toward the procurement of necessary tools and training; implement additional training options using both workshop-style sessions and continuous education to empower users and support staff; and collaborate more effectively with vendors by providing customised solutions and higher levels of product/service support that result in higher levels of user satisfaction and the better meeting of user needs.