Information seeking behaviour of students with disabilities at the Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation Library, Kyambogo University

Abstract

This study on the information seeking behaviour of students with disabilities at the Faculty of special needs and Rehabilitation library Kyambogo University aimed at investigating the information seeking behaviour of students with disabilities to establish strategies for improving their information seeking practices for improved information access.The study attempts to identify the Information needs of students with disabilities, explore their information seeking behaviour, challenges they encounter and establish strategies for improving information seeking practices of students with disabilities at the Faculty of special needs and Rehabilitation Library Kyambogo University. Using a qualitative survey research design, the research was conducted among students with disabilities. The population of the study was 30 students with disabilities which included the visually impaired, physically impaired, and those with hearing impairments. Data was gathered from respondents using Questionnaires, interviews, as the main tools, document study and observation. The findings of the study indicated that SWDs seek information for: Reading, Research work, Discussions, Preparing notes, General awareness, and Personal development such as learning more about developmentrelated issues. The student‟s sought for information from text books; this was followed by contacting friends, discussion with teachers, use of emails and lastly discussion with librarians. The challenges they encountered included information communication barrier, attitudinal barriers, poor library structures, inappropriate information formats among others. The study recommended strategies for improved information seeking practices in order to enhance information access through training library staff, provision of accessible information formats, improved Internet services, among others.