Assistive Technology: Starts with Teachers

           In my philosophy of education, I state that it is my belief that students learn best through active participation and interaction with their peers and the instructor through the use of different teaching and learning strategies.  This should not only be my creed because it is something all educators must take into consideration. Every student who walks into the classroom has a preferred style of learning or some sort of need on the teacher’s part to assist them daily in the way they learn. Sometimes, certain students require more assistance than others due to disabilities. This is where the accommodations of Assistive Technology, commonly known as AT, plays a vital role. Getting access to such devices, however, is probably the biggest challenge for students with disabilities and those working with them.

            In the video, Assistive Technology: Enabling Dreams, Dr. Sheryl Burgstahler of the University of Washington Disabilities Opportunities Internet-working and Technology Program says, “Even though there is a lot of technology available for people with disabilities, it isn’t implemented that much in our school systems today and there are a lot of reasons for that. One is that people who work with students with disabilities, this could be teachers, lab managers, parents, often aren’t aware of the technology that is available for them, and then technology is not always included in the planning process.” Assistive technology has been progressing at the same rate as other types of technology. The problem is that people who need them have no idea that such devices exist or where to even look for it. When this happens, students with disabilities are educated at a slower-rate and the contents of what they are learning are watered down to basics to accommodate them. It is my belief that the fault, in these situations, lie with the school system and its educators. Educators should be able to assess a student’s needs within the first few days to first few weeks of class and find appropriate accommodations.

Technology has different purposes, but its users are all equal. 

            In another sense, I believe that educators are sometimes not informed of the various AT devices available for their students. This is why I believe that a course that provides instruction

on assistive technologies and methodology for all teachers should be required. According to Terence Cavanaugh of the University of Florida, “To provide more extensive experience and education to instructional and educational technology specialists concerning assistive technology, a course should be devoted to the presentation of the basic concepts and applications of assistive technology.” When educators are familiar with AT devices and how to apply them in their classroom, students who are in need of them will be able to benefit from them. According to Special Education teacher Ann Marie Pulcini in the Assistive Technology: Powerful Solutionsfor Success preview video, AT devices empower students with disabilities because it accommodates them and makes things easier or more at their level.

            Once teachers become familiar with AT devices and how to incorporate them in their instruction, the earlier students can learn how to use them. In the video Assistive Technology: Enabling Dreams, Redwood Heights Elementary School teacher, George Rehmet, asserts, “By introducing ids to technology early, it gets them better prepared and makes it easier down the road and then they can spend the later years of their school years focusing on content material and the curriculum.” This goes back to my belief that some teachers water down content material for students with disabilities because they have no AT devices to help their students grasp everything as efficiently and effectively as other students do. There is a need in our education system to detect early students with disabilities and get them the appropriate AT devices needed to help them learn so that they can begin learning how to use these devices at an early age. When this is achieved, the content material for students with disabilities would be at a higher level and students will be able to get more out of their education than just watered-down basics. Students with disabilities should not be treated any different than students without disabilities. If they need assistance, we should help them. However, they should never be made to feel like they have fewer opportunities than others do.

            I believe that teachers should be able to adjust their teaching strategies to accommodate the variety of learning needs their students have. Instead of just special education teachers, all teachers should be required to take some course that provides information and instruction on the use of AT devices in their classrooms. Teachers, together with parents, should work together in detecting each student’s needs, if any, at an early age to get them the necessary help for them to move forward in their education. Technology is moving the world forward, and we must not be held back to all traditional aspects of education. Students are more diverse than they were back then, so we must use technology to accommodate diversity, especially for special needs students. In the words of Dr. Sheryl Burgstahler, “Technology has changed all of our lives but for these students, technology truly changes their life and the opportunities that they’ll have in the future.”

References     

           

Cavanaugh, T. (n.d.). The Need for Assistive Technology in Educational 
            Technology. Jacksonville, FL: University of North Florida. Retrieved 
            from file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/article_17778.pdf

Edutopia. (2010, July 28). Assitive Technology: Enabling Dreams [Video file]. 
            Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXxdxck8Gic

Natprofes. (n.d.). Assistive Technology: Powerful Solutions for Success preview 
            [Video file] Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faepVmPsRvQ