My students need the touch screen and endless educational apps to help them show that even with profound physical and intellectual disabilities they can do so much!
My students are challenged with profound physical disabilities that make it difficult for them to access technology such as, desktop computers. The Apple iPad provides accessibility and portability. Students can be independent users and learn with technology that doesn't discriminate or label.
My students are seventh, eighth, and ninth graders with profound physical and intellectual disabilities and medically fragile conditions.
A 12-month schedule, technology instruction, occupational, physical and speech therapies as well as related services; such as, Adaptive Physical Education, Art Therapy, Music Therapy, multi-sensory integration and Hydrotherapy are part of their curriculum. My class is a diverse group with some students working on sight words, telling time, letters, numbers, colors, etc. Others are working on remaining alert and manipulating objects. iPads are amazing for my students because they cater to almost every facet of learning, therapy, communication and engagement. Apps are available for many early concepts(i.e. colors, shapes, etc.) through to letter, number and word recognition/matching, word to picture matching for those students working on these areas. For the other students there are apps to stimulate the user to elicit responses and invite exploration.
My Project
The Apple iPad is the one device, the one technology that keeps improving to support all learners. The iPad allows for multiple learning opportunities for all of our students regardless of their disabilities. The sensitivity of the touch screen, the availability of appropriate, leveled educational applications and the availability of accessibility features for my students with disabilities makes it an obvious choice to use in my classroom but one that we can not afford in our budget.
My students have had the opportunity to work on a borrowed iPad and it was amazing the strides they took in that little amount of time.
One student who could not use a pencil was able to use the stylus. Another student lit up when he was engaged with a multi-sensory App. I am thankful that there is a device out there to help ALL my students but I need help to get it for them. Please help my students by contributing to my project!
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