There are many challenges faced by the teacher with special education students within their class, but through the use of modern technologies, it is possible to work to ease and even negate many of these challenges. One such technology that may be utilized by a special education teacher is the use of speech synthesizers, or screen readers, such as the Jaws program, which allows for the visually impaired to have the information on the computer screen read to them, providing them with information regarding not only what they are mousing over, but the ability to complete activities on the computer without needing a third party present to read that material to them (Raskind & Stanberry, 2013).
Technology has allowed for students with both physical and cognitive abilities to excel in ways that were not previously possible. Online learning does not discriminate against those with disabilities, either physical or cognitive, but actually works to assist students with disabilities in getting ahead in life. Technology and online learning give disabled students the ability to utilize e-textbooks instead of physical textbooks, decreasing the amount of weight, the strength needed, and space that is needed in order to be able to carry around textbooks, or even read and manipulate textbooks (Duggan, 2013). By being able to utilize the necessary programs, from magnifiers, text to talk programs like Jaws, and talk to text programs, like Dragon, combined with the ability to complete their online learning within the comfort of their own homes in an environment that is both familiar and comfortable to them, online learning has allowed students with disabilities to not only complete their education to the highest level desired, but provided them with the means and ability to do so in the most independent manner possible (UDI Online Project, 2010). In addition, this works to decrease the need to rely on others, allowing the individual to be as self-sufficient as desired.
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- Duggan, F. (2013, April 28). Technology makes higher education accessible to disabled students. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com
- Raskind, M., & Stanberry, K. (2013). Assistive technology for kids with ld: An overview. Retrieved from http://www.greatschools.org
- UDI Online Project. (2010). Students with disabilities and online learning (Technical Brief # 04). Storrs: University of Connecticut, Center on Postsecondary Education and Disability. http://www.udi.uconn.edu
