JOURNAL #8: Disabled Bodies, Able Minds: Giving Voice, Movement, and Independence to the Physically Challenged
Diane Curtis
This article is about assistive technology and how it makes it possible for students without full mobility to participate in class and school activities. A student names Adrian, who can’t walk or speak, but can move his eyebrow, can now speak using a computer that has rows of pictures on it. Adrian uses a headband that allows him to move a cursor on the computer screen to communicate. Adrian is a part of a program called TACLE (Technology and Augmentative Communication for Learning Enhancement. Another student Niara uses a speech generation technology equipped computer. She moves her cheek and out comes spoken words. These kinds of programs are happening all across the country. There in an ongoing effort to make sure that disabled people are included in all activities and these types of technology is helping this come true. A group called DO-IT which is the Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology group says they have little patience for districts that so not think they have a responsibility to include those with disabilities. They do not see how schools can justify not investing in tools for disabled students even with the high cost of assistive technology. The hope is that students can use their brainpower instead of their physical capabilities to go to college and on to careers so that “They can have the American dream.”
QUESTIONS:
1. Will the educational system see the value of this technology for the smaller group of students that will benefit from it? Unfortunately I do not see many districts making this a policy. It would be wonderful if we all had access to everything we needed to make students learning a priority. In today’s times unfortunately education is not a priority.
2. Would this technology make these students better members of society? The abilities that this technology allows these students to gain are immeasurable. It allows them to learn and communicate in ways that they otherwise would not be able too. This allows them to become better functioning members of society.
This article is about assistive technology and how it makes it possible for students without full mobility to participate in class and school activities. A student names Adrian, who can’t walk or speak, but can move his eyebrow, can now speak using a computer that has rows of pictures on it. Adrian uses a headband that allows him to move a cursor on the computer screen to communicate. Adrian is a part of a program called TACLE (Technology and Augmentative Communication for Learning Enhancement. Another student Niara uses a speech generation technology equipped computer. She moves her cheek and out comes spoken words. These kinds of programs are happening all across the country. There in an ongoing effort to make sure that disabled people are included in all activities and these types of technology is helping this come true. A group called DO-IT which is the Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology group says they have little patience for districts that so not think they have a responsibility to include those with disabilities. They do not see how schools can justify not investing in tools for disabled students even with the high cost of assistive technology. The hope is that students can use their brainpower instead of their physical capabilities to go to college and on to careers so that “They can have the American dream.”
QUESTIONS:
1. Will the educational system see the value of this technology for the smaller group of students that will benefit from it? Unfortunately I do not see many districts making this a policy. It would be wonderful if we all had access to everything we needed to make students learning a priority. In today’s times unfortunately education is not a priority.
2. Would this technology make these students better members of society? The abilities that this technology allows these students to gain are immeasurable. It allows them to learn and communicate in ways that they otherwise would not be able too. This allows them to become better functioning members of society.
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