Closing the Digital Divide: Laptops for Special Learners
Help me give my students laptops. Laptops are essential tools that enable these students to access tailored educational resources and develop crucial digital literacy skills.
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Project
Imagine a classroom of bright, eager 6th graders, each with unique learning challenges, receiving intensive individualized support in a small class setting. This is my classroom at P369K, a Title 1 special needs school in Brooklyn. With a crucial 8:1:1 student-to-staff ratio (8 students, 1 teacher, 1 paraprofessional), we provide the focused attention these students need to thrive. Our students face disabilities ranging from autism and learning differences to emotional challenges and English language learning needs.
Currently, our outdated and unusable iPads prevent these students from accessing essential learning tools.
Laptops would transform their learning experience, providing access to speech-to-text software for struggling readers and writers, engaging literacy programs, and opportunities to develop vital life skills.
Although our students are in the sixth grade, I strive to equip them with practical skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. To provide the quality education our students deserve, we urgently need laptops.
The laptops would serve multiple essential purposes. They accommodate our students' diverse learning needs. They provide access to programs that use speech-to-text technology to assist with reading and writing. Laptops help with decoding, segmenting, blending, initial sounds, and more. Students get to create PowerPoint presentations. They help students learn to type and use Microsoft Word. they enable students to send and receive emails. Laptops provide opportunities for students to develop real-life skills such as writing resumes, applying for jobs, and researching various career options.
By supporting our classroom with a donation of laptops, you will be directly contributing to the personal and academic growth of our students and helping to bridge the digital divide they face.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Edwards and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
