Assistive Technology
Children with special needs also need to have their rights upheld by being given the opportunity to obtain an education that is fundamental to their functioning in their society, (WHO, cited in EDTK 20130, unit 6, p. 1) The teacher is to make effort or responsibility in creating an environment that is inclusive for children with disabilities, thus providing them with a fair chance of learning. Hence inclusive education needs to take into consideration these elements: Teacher, classroom and the curriculum, (Kibria, 2005, Merritt, 2001 and Kirschbaum & Flaunder, 1995 cited in EDTK 2030, unit 6, pp 177-178). Surely the teacher’s attitude, classroom organisation /design and the curriculum’s inclusive content will help to remove the barriers that exist about children with disabilities in the classroom, but there is something that can help the children to learn from the contents of the curriculum within the class. By now you are asking what that is. And the answer is: Assistive technology, which helps students to learn, in that they are able to deal with the challenges they have due to the disability. Also assistive technology is not just limited to electronic device but rather anything that can help students with their challenges. For example it can an equipment, procedures on how to assist the students, it can be an electronic device or software (Allen, 2015 and EDTK 2030, unit 6, p. 182). Therefore in selecting an assistive technology that can be used with children I have chosen an electronic device called the Document Camera, (Neese, 2015) which converts printed text to speech. I have chosen this assistive tool because in the classroom there are children in the classroom who are visual impaired as well as learning (reading) disability as such this tool will help such children to overcome their challenge by reading to the same text that the other children are using in the classroom, thus being fully a part of the group. I will for example, in-corporate the tool as follows:
The children will be given a reading comprehension exercise where they have to read the book ‘The Pea and the Princess’ after which answer the questions. The children with the impairments: Visual and cognitive, (EDTK 2030, unit 6, p. 177) will be able to have the same book attached to the computer where the page is photographed automatically and read to them. Hence, all children could turn the pages and ‘read’ together, this way no one is left out.
References
Allen, E. (2015). Assistive Technology for Students with Multiple Disabilities. St. John Fisher College, pp. 2-35. Retrieved from: http://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1300&context=education_ETD_masters
Assistive Tech RSL's Channel. (2013). What is assistive technology. [Video]. Retrieved from: https://youtu.be/SIm2MuJUCTE
EDTK 2030: Information and Communication Technologies in Education. (2013). Assistive technologies in education, unit 6. UWI Open Campus [Essential Reading].
My Smart Spaces. (2009).SMART Document Camera - Further Education. [video]. Retrieved from:https://youtu.be/IW2MtDIwsao
Neese, B. (2015). 15 Assistive Technology Tools & Resources For Students With Disabilities
My Smart Spaces. (2009).SMART Document Camera - Further Education.