Journal #9

Disabled Bodies, Able Minds: Giving Voice, Movement, and Independence to the Physically Challenged. By Diane Curtis

The article is focused on assistive technology, and the fact that students who don’t have full mobility can still participate because of this assistive technology. The article gives examples of certain students who are benefiting from a district wide program called TACLE, which stands for Technology and Augmentative Communication for Learning Enhancement. These particular students are in a special-education class at Redwood Heights Elementary School in Oakland, Ca. They use speech generation devices to communicate, and the article cites one student who communicates with a computer using his eyebrows and another student who uses her cheek. The article also talks about DO-IT, which stands for Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology, an advocacy program for disabled students at Washington University. The article points out that through organizations like DO-IT there seems to now be more of an effort to see that disabled people be included in all activities. The article then gives the example of Lucas, who due to a birth defect has limited use of his arms and legs, but thanks to a joystick has been able to join the school band and be like everyone else. This assistive technology allows him to play the euphonium, and according to his mom has allowed him to stretch himself and her to feel like now she doesn’t always have to tell him no you can’t but rather just let him pursue whatever he is interested in.

Questions:

1. What may be the drawbacks of this kind of assistive technology?
The only real drawback to assistive technology I can see is that it may cost more than a school or district can afford. However, I am sure with grants and programs it is probably something that isn’t outside the realm of affordability. The major thing about this is that it is a necessity for those it benefits and ways to make it accessible for those people is crucial. The only minus I can see is that perhaps it isn’t in the hands of all the people that could benefit from it, and that needs to be fixed.

2. How does assistive technology benefit able bodied students, and not just the disabled students it directly benefits?
I think this assistive technology also benefits able bodied students because it gives them more interaction with disabled students and opens the lines of communication. This type of technology can allow for the able bodied students a better opportunity to interact and communicate, while also letting them realize that disabled students when given a way to communicate are a valuable and needed part of the school community.