Discovering Assistive Technology - Assistive Technology Hardware Solutions Module 2

1. Browsing through various on-line sites that offer assistive technology was very enlightening. I believe many of the students at my school would benefit from many of the items. Touchscreen computers, enlarged keyboards or keyboard overlays, adapted mice would all support students on my campus. I found the YouTube clip of graphic designer, Leigh-Anne Tompkins, very eye-opening as to what can be accomplished through assistive technology. The DynaVox is also an amazing piece of assistive technology. I can't even imagine what a difference this technology is bringing to it's users. Not being able to communicate, must be extremely frustrating. People with Cerebral Palsy and Autism and stroke victims will benefit from the DynaVox.
2. We have several students on our campus who may benefit from having a touch screen computer station in the library or an adaptive keyboard. It may make our catalog more accessible to them. We only have one ADA catalog station. We have increased the font size on that particular computer but adding a touch screen would benefit many of our students. One of my co-workers would definitely benefit by changing from her regular mouse to a switch mouse as she suffers from carpal tunnel syndrome. We could also assist some of our students by switching a few of our computer work stations with enlarged keyboards, joysticks and adaptive mice.
3. I am not aware of how our school or district technology plan includes assitive technology. I plan to make some inquiries as I have never been included in the process of developing our school plan. I have read other comments posted on the calibk12 listserv regarding the inclusion of teacher librarians on both the school and district technology committees to lend a voice in the development of the technology plan. I have never seen our school's plan. It's time to see the plan and request to be included in the future development of the technology plan. Afterall, I oversee much of our school's technology and teach students how to use it as an effective research tool. From there I can work on developing a plan that includes the use of assistive technology, too.
4. I did not find one website particularly helpful over another. The websites gave me background knowledge of what is available to assist various needs of our physically challenged students and co-workers. My view might change when I find myself in need of actually purchasing the technology to equip my computer workstations for students. I definitely will call on these resources to assist any teachers that may need to outfit the computers in their classrooms to assist any of our students.
5. I never really paid attention to the types of assistive technology hardware that were available to support physically challenged students and co-workers. The two video clips demonstrated what can be accomplished when students have access to this technology. I do recall one of our students who has cerebral palsy received something similar to a DynaVox. The technology didn't give her a voice but she was able to type out what she wanted or was feeling. That was a big freedom for her. Now that I know about the websites, I'll be able to keep up on what is available for our students and share this information with others who might not be aware of what is available.