Speaker
Description
Nnenna, O. E.
FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION (SPECIAL) OYO
okoroedna64@gmail.com
Track: Inclusion, Equity and Digital Access
The growing integration of digital technologies into education has created significant opportunities for enhancing access, participation, and learning outcomes across diverse learner populations. However, children with hearing impairment in Nigeria continue to experience substantial barriers to equitable access to quality Early Childhood Education (ECE), largely due to the digital divide and inadequate availability of appropriate assistive technologies. This paper examines how assistive technologies can be utilized to bridge the digital divide for children with hearing impairment in Early Childhood Education in Nigeria while advancing inclusion, equity, and access for all learners. The paper adopts a conceptual and analytical approach, drawing insights from extant literature, inclusive education policies, and global best practices in special needs education and educational technology integration. It explores the relevance of assistive digital tools such as hearing aids, speech-to-text applications, visual learning systems, sign language-supported digital platforms, and interactive multimedia resources in supporting communication, comprehension, and cognitive development among learners with hearing impairment. The paper identifies key constraints limiting effective implementation, including inadequate funding, insufficient specialized teacher training, limited availability of assistive devices, weak ICT infrastructure, and low awareness of inclusive digital education practices. It further emphasizes the role of digital inclusion in fostering equitable learning environments that support early communication development and foundational literacy skills. The paper argues that strategic integration of assistive technologies within ECE can significantly enhance participation, engagement, and learning outcomes for children with hearing impairment. It concludes that bridging the digital divide requires sustained investment in inclusive educational technologies, teacher capacity building, policy implementation, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to ensure equitable access to quality early childhood education for all learners in Nigeria.