I guess the part of this assignment that interested me
the most was technology access for students with disabilities. I
have taught 7th and 8th grade computer classes for the past six years and
I have had every special needs student in my computer class that has past
through our junior high. It hasn't always been easy adapting lessons
for a downs syndrome student or adapting the hardware for a student with
MS, but I have always tried. I have ordered and used software and
hardware from Don Johnston and other companies specializing in adaptive
hardware and software.
I think the most rewarding part for me is the excitement
in the student's eyes when they succeed on the computer. Right now
I have a Downs Syndrome student and a student labeled EMH in my computer
classes. The great thing is they are doing the same assignments as
my regular ed. students in the computer lab. The assignment might
not always equal the quality of others without disabilities but when you
consider the students without disabilities have been using computers since
kindergarten and the students with disabilities haven't always had the
adaptations they have needed or a teacher willing to adapt the lesson for
them, the resulting assignments are the greatest achievement in my eyes.
I have found that when the special needs students are doing same computer
assignments as the rest of the class and with the help of the computer
or specialized hardware or software they are so proud of their work.
The first article I read was called "Frequently Asked
Questions about Access for Students with Disabilities"
http://www.resna.org/tap/aet_sfaq.htm . The article talks about
how technology access differs for students with disabilities to students
without disabilities. It then goes on to answer the questions:
how student access can be delivered, input and output device add ons can
help more than just the student with disabilities, school's legal responsibilities
for providing technology access to students with disabilities, and how
schools can find funding for providing access to students with disabilities.
I really liked this question and answer article it provides
answers to questions about the schools responsibility to students with
disabilities and also provides links to get more information in each area.
The second article I read was called "Distance Education
for Students With Learning Disabilities."
http://coen-nt1.idbsu.edu/ip524/tb-su98/alichten/alichten.htm#Learning
The purpose of this web page is listed as
"The purpose of this web page is to help you better understand the wide
range of needs
and possibilities for Distance Education and Students with Learning Disabilities.
This
Trailblazer page will assist you in making decisions for students with
learning disabilities
who may desire to use Distance Education for higher learning."
This web page goes through many different topics of educating
students with learning disabilities using Assistive Technology and Multimedia
and Adaptive Technology. Each area has links with it that gives the
definition for the topic and statistics and resources for that area.
I found it very interesting to see how higher education
is dealing with distance education for students with disabilities.
They recommend the use of screen readers, multimedia programs, and training
for special education professionals.