\"The purpose of this study was to analyze the current status in braille education, and ICT and assistive technology usage in young children and students in special schools for students with visual impairments; and to suggest future improvement strategies for providing appropriate education for the young children and students as early as possible.
For this purpose, first, literature review was carried out to help with developing questionnaires for this study and suggesting improvement strategies. Second, a survey was conducted with the teachers of young children and students in 12 special schools for students with visual impairments.
This study put together the findings from literature review and survey, and presented the following improvement strategies for providing appropriate education with students with visual impairments as early as possible.
First, in order to improve Braille education, introduce the development of education program for the Braille readiness of young children with visual impairments, professional development program for teachers at special schools for students with visual impairments, specialization of the pre-service program for the teachers of students with visual impairments, clarification of time for Braille education in curriculum, development of supplementary materials and textbooks for Braille education, implementation of Braille education to students with low visions, and research on appropriate methods of Braille education for students with multiple disabilities.
Second, in order to improve ICT and assistive technology usage in the education of students with visual impairments, introduce revising related-regulations including Act on Special Education for Disabled Persons, Etc.,ablcuring the for ety of ICT materials, increasing in-service training for kindergorten and elementary special teachers in the area of ICT and assistive technology, enlarging assistive technology support for students with visual impairments, developing and disseminating assistive technology for students with low visions, and so on.
Key words : Visual Impairments, Braille Education, ICT, assistive technology usage\"