Every student in a classroom should have the same opportunity for the same access to learning opportunities, knowledge, and experiences. That is why different forms of assistive technology are so crucial for inclusive classrooms. But, when I thought about assistive technology, I have to admit my mind went right to the extreme programs and tools for those individuals with more far reaching handicaps. I thought about programs like the kind of thing Stephen Hawkins uses that records his eye movements to allow him to type and then reads what he has typed for him. I did not immediately think of the programs that are already installed in my own computer that are also intended to be assistive technology and could easily be integrated into the classroom.
When I began looking through the programs on my own laptop, I was fascinated by how many different applications and settings my computer has to accommodate for learning difficulties. One of the first things that struck me was the accommodations for the hearing impaired. I have a good friend who's older sister is hearing impaired. Laurie spent her time at JMU as a student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders department and then got her Masters in Special Education. Laurie was inspired by her sister and now works in an early intervention program with preschoolers with similar handicaps. I knew Laurie's sister was an interior design major and completed school, I also knew that Laurie spent time chatting online with her sister. One of the most interesting things I found under system preferences then universal access and the hearing tab was the ability to have the screen flash when it the computer would normally have a sound effect as an alert.
One of my favorite things from my practicum experience last semester was the use of iChat in the classroom to have the students share their problem solving strategies on their math problem of the day. An assistive technology as simple as the screen flash could allow a student to know their partner(s) is ready to share something with them. This assistive instrument is not the only option for those with with hearing impairments. There is also options to change sounds, volume for both input and output with recordings, and an option to minimize ambient noise. Some individuals with hearing impairments have difficulty with certain pitches or distinguishing which sounds they are supposed to be paying attention to from the background noise. These simple adjustments can mean all the difference for a student to be able to experience the same things, like iChat, informational videos, or any number of other things that would other wise exclude students with hearing impairments.
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I never really thought of how something as simple as changing the volume and sounds in an application could be considered assistive technology. To me, changing the sounds in a program like iChat has always just been something fun to do and make it more personalized, but I can see how it would be helpful to someone who has trouble hearing at certain frequencies. The screen flash could also be a good way just keep noise down in the classroom. However, I would be a little concerned about using iChat in a classroom, just because I think things could really out of hand. Obviously it worked out in your practicum class, but I think the teacher would have to be very observant to make sure the students stayed on task.
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