Task:
This
weeks readings examine how assistive technology can aid education
for ALL students; encompassing strategies for those traditionally
thought of as benefiting from assistive technology (deaf, deaf-blind,
hard of hearing, mental retardation, multihandicapped, orthopedically
impaired, other health impaired, emotionally disturbed, etc…)
as well as those with milder "disabilities" (learning
disabled, speech impaired, hearing impaired, visually impaired,
ADHD, ADD etc…). However, what are your feelings/beliefs toward
AT for the general population?
Should
these applications, services, devices, adaptations and/or strategies
be available to ALL students? Why or why not?
In
your own words define informally your definition of assistive technology.
Response:
Assistive
technology is any technology devices that enable people with disabilities
to do something they otherwise cannot.
AT
applications, services, devices, adaptations and/or strategies that
are SUITABLE for use for all students should be available to ALL
because AT is something all students can benefit from. For example,
for English language learners (ELLs) with limited English proficiency,
the computer becomes a tool for improved literacy and language development.
Software can be regulated so it runs at a slower pace if an ELL
needs this type of modification for language learning.
Today
many teaching strategies that are primarily developed for ADHD students
are used for students without ADHD because some of these strategies
work for all students. If that is the case, why not use AT that
is suitable for all students? However, I agree that assistive technology
is costly and it requires teacher training. Therefore, before enthusiastically
embracing any kind of AT, we need to make a cost-benefit analysis.
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