I use technology daily in my class. Being a special education teacher, I use input and output devices as a form of communication for my students. We have adaptive switches for students who have physical disabilities. There is so much different types of technology that I cannot begin to imagine. Picciano states in chapter 3,"For a variety of other challenges including hearing, speech, and multiple disabilities, technology is also being used to provide the primary means of communication. Special education students are able to have computers in their homes, on their wheelchairs, and in minivans, in addition to the classroom. For many of them, especially those with severe physical disabilities but unimoaired brain functionality, the computer can become the primary means of communicating with the world around them,"(Picciano, 2014, p.40). It amazes me how these students can use technology and how far it has come. I don't know where these kids would be without technology to show us what they know and a way to communicate. God is good.
I was intrigued by the amount of technology in the special education classroom. It amazes me how some of these children respond to the different types of technology and how quickly they learn to use them.
It takes a special person to work with those children who have special needs. I volunteered with Easter Seals one summer and realized during that time that I couldn't do that. The kids stole my heart, and I realized how fortunate I was to have two healthy children that were not special needs children. I salute you for what you do!
I have read studies that talked about the success that is being enjoyed within the special needs community with the use of the iPad. The interesting part of the studies I read was that the successes could not be duplicated with desktops, laptops, or even with some of the other tablets due to lacking apps that were heavily geared towards special needs students. I would be interested to see who steps up to give an alternative that is effective with the special needs students.
Herbert, M. (2010, November 1). The ipad -- breaking new ground in special education [Apple's iPad has received an unanticipated reaction from the autistic community.]. District Administration. Retrieved from http://www.districtadministration.com/article/ipad%E2%80%94breaking-new-ground-special-education
Holmes, A. (2014, February 22). Special education students use ipads to improve communication, learning in the classroom. Retrieved from AL.com: http://blog.al.com/breaking/2014/02/special_education_students_use.html
White, S. (2013, February 1). Apple ipad an excellent fit for special education. Technology Guide, Lifestyle/Features. Retrieved from http://www.technolgyguide.com/feature/apple-ipad-features-unique-capabilities-as-a-tool-for-special-education/
Hi Adrienne,
ReplyDeleteI was intrigued by the amount of technology in the special education classroom. It amazes me how some of these children respond to the different types of technology and how quickly they learn to use them.
It takes a special person to work with those children who have special needs. I volunteered with Easter Seals one summer and realized during that time that I couldn't do that. The kids stole my heart, and I realized how fortunate I was to have two healthy children that were not special needs children. I salute you for what you do!
I have read studies that talked about the success that is being enjoyed within the special needs community with the use of the iPad. The interesting part of the studies I read was that the successes could not be duplicated with desktops, laptops, or even with some of the other tablets due to lacking apps that were heavily geared towards special needs students. I would be interested to see who steps up to give an alternative that is effective with the special needs students.
Herbert, M. (2010, November 1). The ipad -- breaking new ground in special education [Apple's iPad has received an unanticipated reaction from the autistic community.]. District Administration. Retrieved from http://www.districtadministration.com/article/ipad%E2%80%94breaking-new-ground-special-education
DeleteHolmes, A. (2014, February 22). Special education students use ipads to improve communication, learning in the classroom. Retrieved from AL.com: http://blog.al.com/breaking/2014/02/special_education_students_use.html
White, S. (2013, February 1). Apple ipad an excellent fit for special education. Technology Guide, Lifestyle/Features. Retrieved from http://www.technolgyguide.com/feature/apple-ipad-features-unique-capabilities-as-a-tool-for-special-education/