What is Assistive Technology?
Assistive technology is made or adapted to benefit people with cognitive or physical disabilities that prevent them from fully benefiting from traditional technology and systems of learning. This includes more commonly known technology such as text-to-speech devices/programs, mobility mechanisms and hearing aids. more lesser-known assistive technology includes virtual reality devices, flexible seating and organization tools. An EDtech article has distinguished between two main types of assistive technology; “high tech” including digital/ electric technology such as speaking tools , and “low tech” which refers to non-electric equipment including organization tools flexible seating (Castelo, 2020).
Why is Assistive Technology Important?
Assistive technology is a broad term for the many different types of technology that aid people with numerous types of physical and cognitive disabilities. These disabilities include visual, mobility, hearing and speech impairment, as well as other numerous cognitive, physical and developmental disabilities (Castelo, 2020). While assistive technology is most commonly used to refer to items and adaptations that help disabled individuals, it also shows up in non-disabled peoples everyday lives by means of digital clocks, organization tools, timers, etc. There are no limitations to who can use or needs assistive technology, making it a very important tool both inside and outside of a learning environment. As an educator, it’s important to be fully aware of the diverse range of needs that will arise in your classroom, and be able to provide the appropriate technology that will help all of your learners succeed in the classroom environment that you create.
Anti-Ableism
An anti-ableist mindset is essential when aspiring to be an educator. An ableist is defined as a person who believes that disabled people need to be “fixed,” or are of lesser value that people who don’t have a disability (Ableism 101). While there are more obvious aggressive forms of ableism that blatantly bring down and discriminate against disabled people, there are many forms that people may be committing unknowingly or unintentionally, including failing to provide braille alternatives or subtitles, “creating inaccessible websites,” and questioning people about their disabilities (Ableism 101). It’s important to not treat or speak to people based on their disability, but to interact with them like you would someone without a disability. As an educator or anyone else who aspires to further develop their anti-ableist mindsets, some important first steps include creating accessible lesson plans/events, never questioning someones disability, and taking accommodation requests from parents and students seriously (Ableism 101). As an educator, it is also crucial that you do your research and try your absolute best to create an inclusive and accessible learning environment. Ask and be aware of all your student’s needs, and do your research to ensure you are capable of accommodating the diverse range of needs that will arise in your classroom!
What Will I Do Now?
I will continue to develop my anti-ableist mindset by doing more research and learning how to make my future lesson plans as inclusive and accessible as possible. I will also pay more more attention to the learning adaptation sections of my textbooks, as I currently have be just scanning through the sections and writing down their whereabouts for future reference. While inclusive education is not one of my main passions, it is something that I will always hold in my mind as a future educator and pay more attention to from now on, and I’m grateful for the resources that this weeks class has provided!
Sources
- (Castelo, 2017), Using Assistive Technology to Empower Students with Disabilities: https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2020/03/using-assistive-technology-empower-students-disabilities-perfcon
- Ableism 101: https://www.accessliving.org/newsroom/blog/ableism-101/