Enabling Dreams; Building doors of opportunity for students with special needs.

Source:http://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-class-school-participation

In today’s society, we are seeing more and more opportunities for disabled students to participate in the mainstream classrooms. Assistive/Adaptive technology (AAT) that are incorporated in the lesson plans, enables the dreams of students with special needs. The technologies created today allows modifications in the lesson plans, most especially, accommodations. 

 As I have witnessed in the video Enabling Dreams (Curtis, 2005), the teachers modified their lessons in a way that prompts the students to choose between the right and wrong answer using the designated technologies according to their disability. For example, a student that uses his eyebrow muscles to answer questions. In today’s lesson plans, most teachers depend on the document cameras and the smart board. However, not all teachers have access to these said technologies due to lack of funding and limited resources. Thus, if AAT existed here on our island, there will be many special education students participating in mainstream classes and extracurricular activities. 

 According to Li Zhou et.al (2012), assistive technology helps students with disabilities develop literacy and numeracy skills, enables them to meet the objectives of the Individualized Education Program, improve course grades, and increase scores on standardized tests. With this concept, as an aspiring fully certified educator, modifications must be given an in-depth look on how SPED students can participate. One example would be if there is a deaf student who is in a choir class, yet able do sign language in a rhythmic motion, with the aid of lights that has the same pulse as a metronome. In that way, not only the student is part of the performance but also learning the concept the rhythm. 

 Overall, assistive technology offers the opportunity for disabled students to build their own door, in other words, assistive technology is the bridge to a better education and improvement for students with disabilities. Educators must include the participation of special students in their lesson plans because it portrays equal opportunities in education, provides an exposure to learning with mainstream students, and as well as socializing with their peers. 

 Zhou, L., Ajuwon, P. M., Smith, D. W., Griffin-Shirley, N., Parker, A. T., & Okungu, P. (2012). Assistive Technology Competencies for Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments: A National Study. Journal Of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 106(10), 656-665. 

 Curtis, D. (2005, February 5). Assistive-Technology: Enabling Dreams. Edutopia. Retrieved June 18, 2013. from http://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-enabling-dreams-video