VIDBE-Q 2025 Volume 70 Issue 3
developmental areas—including spatial and STEM-related access skills—
that appeared to be supported by these toys and games?
Methods
This study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of
the first author affiliated university to ensure ethical standards and protect the
rights of the participants. A purposive sampling strategy was utilized to select "a
sample from which the most can be learned" (Merriam, 2009, p. 77). The
researchers personally invited individuals with visual impairments from their
respective countries to participate in the study throughout fall 2023 and spring
2024. In order to participate, individuals needed to be over the age of 18 and
interested in STEM subjects, majoring in STEM, or employed in STEM fields.
The study utilized 30–40-minute semi-structured interviews virtually.
During these interviews, participants were asked questions including
• What was your favorite childhood toy or game?
• How and with whom did you play with this toy or game?
• Why did you like this toy?
• Do you think these toys/games helped you in developing skills related to
spatial and STEM-related access skills? If so, in what ways?
These questions were developed specifically for this study, based on the
research objectives and research questions. During each interview, the researchers
