국제한국언어문화학회

This study discusses the principles and directions crucial for the development of Korean textbooks tailored for the visually impaired. It approaches this task from the perspective of ensuring the right to Korean education without barriers, drawing insights based on actual development cases. The study begins by providing an overview of braille and the concept of visual impairment. It subsequently explores the possibilities and demands associated with foreign language learning for individuals with visually impairments. Based on the needs of blind learners and theoretical evidence, the study establishes eight principles guiding the development of Korean textbooks for the visually impaired by adapting existing materials. We then present the teaching objectives and characteristics of volumes 1–6 of the King Sejong Institute Foundation’s Korean Language for the Visually Impaired Beginning. Developed between 2021 and 2022, these volumes illustrate how the design direction was incorporated and organized in the creation of the textbooks. These results reveal the need to train teachers on how to effectively use the textbook, the potential development of audio-centered textbooks separate from braille instruction, and the need to further discuss the development of barrier-free Korean textbooks.