My classroom consists of students with moderate to severe disabilities. They learn functional skills, and we adapt the general education curriculum to fit their needs. One of the biggest challenges my students face is being able to access technology in a meaningful way.
My students have disabilities ranging from speech and language impairments to cerebral palsy, autism, and related developmental delays.
They attend some classes in their public school, but spend a portion of the day in my classroom learning functional academic skills. We work on communication and independence, with a huge focus on technology. Unfortunately, however, we do not always have materials available at a level that is both meaningful and engaging to high schoolers who require a significantly adapted curriculum in order to make sense of their world.
My Project
The addition of an ipad mini and protective case will give my students the ability to use touch screens to access applications engaging them in functional activities, such as communication, vocabulary development, and recreational interest development. There are many free applications for students such as the ones in my classroom, but we cannot use them without the related technology. I hope that with the addition of the ipad, more students who cannot physically go to our traditional desktop computers will be able to access valuable skills related to their curriculum.
The addition of the new educational software with a focus on science will help support my students in learning concepts related to the general education curriculum, but at a level that is simplified to their ability levels. It is my hope that this software will give my students an opportunity to be more independent by using the computer and to learn some of the key concepts other students are learning in their classes.
Every day, my students are working hard to make sense of their world and access it in a way that is functional given their unique challenges.
Funding this project means helping students with special needs explore and access their world in new and meaningful ways.
More than half of 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
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