10 years ago who would have known that visually impaired individuals would be using the Internet to access information? The Internet is a phenomenal source of information. With the help of Braille displays and screen reader programs visually impaired individuals are able to go online and access email, research tools, textbooks, and also gain entry into library references such as periodicals. It is important for technology to evolve. It is also imperative that adaptive technology be changing and advancing often. As the Information Superhighway progresses it may become difficult for the visually impaired to access some information. Some websites use graphics but do not use text to describe the picture. This makes it almost impossible for screen ready software to encode images. Therefore it is necessary that certain guidelines be met to ensure people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else when it comes to technology. Even though adaptive technology is the future and is necessary in the progress of people with disabilities, it is not cheap. Schools have a difficult time purchasing everyday technology for the classrooms. Most can’t afford the new advanced adaptive products. These products can range anyw
I was not aware of the computer programs available for the visually impaired until I read this article. I think that it is so remarkable to think that someone that is visually impaired is able to do the same work as someone without a disability. I also think that these new technologies will make that person have a better understanding of the material covered in the classroom and I also think that this could motivate students. Visually impaired students may have felt left out before not being able to access this wide variety of information by themselves.
I think using email could help these students stay connected and create a social network between themselves and other visually impaired students. I have tutored a student at JCC that was visually impaired and I know that the screen magnifier helped us tremendously. Tutoring would have much more difficult if I could not have scanned pages from the text, notes and handouts from class. The use of the magnifier also made it much easier for her to organize her schoolwork and keep up with the other students.
I think that this article relates directly to my future as a teacher and to the schools of which I will be working in. Technology is such a huge part of our education systems now.
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