Trying Technological Teaching

Recently, I read an article by Diane Curtis entitled, “Disabled Bodies, Able Minds: Giving Voice, Movement, and Independence to the Physically Challenged.” (http://www.edutopia.org/assistivetechnology)This article included a series of stories of physically disabled students who, through the use of technology, were able to succeed in the classroom or in another area of their lives. They included a student with cerebral palsy, and two with extensive disabilities limiting the use of their limbs. One of the limited mobility students uses a headband that can read his eyebrow movements in place of a mouse in order to use a computer and thus communicate with his teacher. The girl with cerebral palsy uses a similar setup based on her cheek movements that allows her to communicate with her teacher. These are two examples of how using new approaches to putting in information can help two previously excluded students to use technology as a communication tool. The third student was one with limited mobility who plays the euphonium. A musical instrument specialist and engineer worked together to create a joystick that he could use in place of his fingers to push the keys on the instrument. This student has struggled for years to find activities that he can take part in with other students. With the help of these specialists, he is now able to do so in the band room. All of these stories are incredible to read about, because they allow kids who have historically been excluded from most activities and classrooms to be an integral part of those activities and classrooms. These breakthroughs give a whole new set of possibilities to special needs children. As Sheryl Burgstahler, director of DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology), an advocacy program for disabled students at the University of Washington, says, ”Students can now use their brainpower instead of their physical capabilities to go to college and then on to careers so they can have the life all of us want to have.”