Infrared Beams and Reflective Forehead Dots

Today was a class that seemed less like school and more like an entertaining infomercial! (I happen to love infomercials by the way) Deb shared her vast knowledge and expertise around those devices that are supportive to those people with low incidence disabilities - such as blindness, MS, and other conditions that rob the body of its natural ability to function. The demonstrations she gave were excellent and informative. I learned a tremendous amount from the visual displays of the ways the devices work. Deb also was able to answer questions from the group with the ease that can only come from knowing her stuff inside and out!

I was particularly fascinated by the infrared headset that helped move the cursor based on head movement and responded to puffs of air to click. It was neat to hear that the technology for that and the reflective dots originated from the military. I also was very interested in her discussion about voice activated technology that has some of its roots in the business world. It was heartening to hear that the costs for these devices have come down considerably throughout the years and are now more affordable for those who need them.

The information she provided about the keyboards and switches was very helpful and made some of the technology I have seen around the school I teach at make more sense to me. I also enjoyed the demonstration on the simple things that we can do just with word processing programs like Microsoft Word--such as changing the background for different disabilities.
Overall it was an excellent class which really packed a ton of information into a short time. I will probably think of ten more things I want to say after I sign off this blog! I guess I will save my comments for others' blogs.

Tracy

Web Nation With Accessiblity to All

I thought about the Pledge of Allegiance today when we were discussing computer acceissibility. The Pledge promises liberty and justice for all. . .but has that always been the case? I cannot help but think about the barriers that those with disabilities have faced throughout time. I cannot recall blind or deaf students, or even students with physical disabilities attending school with me as a youngster. Where were they? I mean they had to have existed and been living amongst the able bodies children. Interestingly enough, I do recall an influx of children with walkers, wheelchairs, deafness, and other disabilities during my freshman year in high school. They left class early to avoid the crowded hallways and took different gym classes. I now realize they were brought in out of the shadows because of the original IDEA laws enacted around that time.

I wonder, though, how much progress would have been made in terms of accessibility without the advent of computers. It seems as if computes and the internet have heralded in a new age for those who used to be delagated to the sidelines. Simple features, such as the ability to change accessibility options or computer settings can make all the difference for those with vison, hearing, or physical impairments. For instance, changing the resolution of the computer screen can increase the size of everything viewed on the screen. Changes with the keys can help those with one finger, one hand, or even those who rely on mouthpieces to type, utilize the keyboard more effectively. These changes are almost magical. The beauty of computers and the internet is that it levels the playing field. When I instant message or email someone half a continent away I do not necessarily know about the abilities or disabilities of the person to whom I am communicating.

Times keep a changing. . .and fortunately for all of us so does technology. I feel as though we are merely standing on the edge of a vast frontier full of new and exciting discoveries and innovative tools that will usher in a nation and a world with accessiblity to all.

Tracy

Universal Design on a Friday Afternoon

What a wonderful way to begin the weekend! Seriously folks, after arriving a bit early for class Katy and I felt warm and fuzzy welcoming feelings right off the bat. Hot coffee and spot saves from the teacher, who could ask for more? (For anyone who might be confused about that I am refering to our placecards on our computers.) Our professor is a wise man who knows that humans are inherent creatures of habit. Placing our names on top of the computers we sat at during our first class was a nice way of acknowledging and meeting our needs.

Tonight's class was also very exciting because we got to go on wonderful field trip to the bathroom! I learned more about the universally designed signs that are posted outside of restrooms than I ever could have imagined. Now I know that not just the blind, the illiterate, children, and bleary eyed adults benefited from those signs. Those signs can also save lives during fires and blackouts and save all of us from terrible embarrassment by allowing us to quickly discern if we are about to enter the correct venue. In all seriousness though, I really appreciated the quick and innovative way Rick demonstrated Universal Design to the class through the simple signs we all often take for granted in today's day and age.

I also enjoyed the hands-on, practical activity of trying out some software to determine its feasibility for Universal Design. Katy and I found that there were definately some positve attributes about the program we chose. The software hailed itself as a program to fill in the gaps for reading--quite literally having the user fill in the gaps. While it had text-to-speech capability that was nice, as well as a highlighter for those words being read, it was difficult to navigate. Our conclusion was the students who would be able to nagivate the program best would like not require such reading support.

I am looking forward to next week and learning more about technology and its use in the special education setting. So far. . . so good. . .and very interesting.

Tracy

The Accidental Teacher

You could say that I am an accidental teacher. I never intended to become an educator and there are days that I am as surprised as my former teachers probably are that I did. When I first began college, as an older adult, I pursued a criminal justice degree with the intention of later pursing a law degree. But life has a way of interfering with our best laid plans and I had to return to the reality of employment. The only job I could find was working with children as a residential case manager. I realized that I really had a knack for working with children. A few years later I found myself looking for another job at a day treatment school for children who have emotional disabilities. I was seeking a position as a behavioral interventionist but ended up being offered a teaching position instead. I was desperate enough for a paycheck to throw caution in the wind and accept a job I knew nothing about. Fortunately for me, and my students, I also had a talent for teaching. In fact, I would say that I have a passion for teaching.

I have found my life calling in working with those children that many others shy away from. The tougher the kid, the more I want to work with them. I currently work in Sanford, Maine at the high school. I work with teenagers who have emotional disabilities in a classroom called the Learning Center. The curriculum in that class focuses on affective education--including thinking errors, anger management, character development, decision-making skills, social skills, etc. It is my intention to finish up my master's degree in Special Education and eventually open my own special education charter school.