Kim Shibley

ISTC 301
Assistive Technology
March 26, 2015

1. From visiting the websites and viewing the videos in Part I of the assignment, what
information did you learn about assistive technology for disabled individuals?
What I really learned is that technology can be a lot more innovated and intricate than a
normal wheelchair. The horn that the boy in the band plays is so specific that it is really
amazing. I also watched a curb cut episode about an eyegaze system. These technologies
address specific needs, and not only those that are in general. Each persons needs are
different, so it is many times necessary to find out exactly what an individual must have
to function properly.
2. Were there any sites, products, or resources that particularly impressed you and that you
want to remember as you prepare to become a classroom teacher?
I enjoyed http://atto.buffalo.edu/ because it was so simple. I do not know a lot about
assistive technology, so it was nice to read something so plain and attached to a story. It
made it seem a little more real and understandable to me. I also loved the videos, because
it shows reality. Those are the children that I will be teaching and supporting. I need to
understand how to best help them.
3. What promises/potentials does technology provide for students with diverse learning
needs?
It opens a door for them to be actively engaged in learning materials. Without the proper
technology it is many times hard for certain students to be fully involved in the class. If a

student is not fully involved, then there is a large chance that they will not learn what
they are capable of learning. They may not learn anything at all. If technology keeps them
actively involved in their own education and enables them to learn, then it becomes a key
for their progress.
4. Have you ever had a personal experience with a student or other person who has used
some form of assistive technology to help them function in learning or everyday life? If
so, describe what you observed from that experience in terms of meeting the special
needs of those individuals
I have a very good friend named Jon Evans. I do not know if he has cerebral palsy, but it
seems very similar. He sits in an automated wheelchair which he maneuvers with a
joystick. He cannot grip anything very well, and his speech is disabled, but we hang out a
good amount. The one problem is that the chair cannot go up any sudden bumps or drops.
This means that he cannot access any stairs while using the automated chair. It is also
extremely heavy and hard to transport. His father had a van for his chair, but has since
had to junk it and the lift machinery with it. If we go somewhere where there are no
elevators or stairs then we have to bring the foldup chair. His father holds onto him and
helps him up stairs while I carry the chair.
5. From this assignment, what will you carry with you as you prepare to become a teacher
one that will, most likely, face the challenge of meeting the needs of special education
students along with non-disabled learners?
I think that I will be more aware that students needs must be met. The goal of education
is to teach, and if a student cannot learn, then I must adapt my methods. I need to learn to
be an enabler rather than someone who just lets people pass through.