Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
As a former Assistive Technology Specialist, I have experienced first hand
the impact accessible instruction can make on the lives of students
and their families
Today I hope to illustrate this impact to help you understand the importance of making
our instruction accessible to all learners.
I'm here today with a former
student of mine, Laura, and her mom, Nancy.
Can the two of you describe to me what it was like when a teacher
didn't
understand your need for accessible instructional materials and, therefore, didn't
provide you what you needed?
[Laura speaking] I would get really frustrated
and angry when the teacher didn't give me materials that were accessible to me. I would get tired more
quickly
My aide would have to read me worksheets then scan the questions for me to
answer.
Some of my mainstream teachers would think my aide was answering the questions, and not me.
I would be more independent if my materials were accessible.
[Nancy speaking] and once she started elementary school working with the
special ed teacher, physically impaired teacher and the speech therapist
there,
they did not
want to use the computer,
and after
about five months of talking to them, I just went into the school district and
set it all up for them so that they would have to
do the programs and do the access with Laura
and it worked really well for a while.
[Amanda speaking] Laura, do you remember all the times,
all the hours that were spent scanning materials so that your textbooks and
worksheets
and teacher-created materials could be in a format that you could access and use?
[Laura speaking] I remember it did take a long time, so I didn't have the materials when everyone else did.
It wasn't something that could be done at the spur of the moment.
Everything had to be planned.
[Amanda speaking] think about how much easier it would have been if those materials had been accessible in the first place.
Can you describe to me what it was like then,
Laura and Nancy, when
a teacher did understand
your need for accessible instructional materials
and did provide
you with what you needed?
[Laura speaking] I felt relief and understood when my teacher would take the time and effort to make my materials accessible for me.
I had a lot more energy,
and I felt people valued my opinions and me,
as a person.
[Nancy speaking] For me, it was that I wasn't angry all the time then.
I didn't have to be Laura's advocate. I didn't have to be her speech therapist
or her teacher. I could be her mom,
and that is what I wanted to be was her mom.
[Amanda speaking] So Nancy, what steps should districts take to ensure that students who need
accessible instructional materials have a positive
experience in school?
[Nancy speaking] I think one of the first things that the
school districts need to do is to
make sure that
anybody that they hire
really has the willingness to learn
assistive technology.
If they don't have that willingness,
it's going to take a long time for the
teacher to learn, and also to teach the student.
The school district
will need to provide some type of
professional development for their staff, as far as
assistive technology.
[Amanda speaking] Legislation such as IDEA continues to set mandates for
schools to provide accessible instructional materials to all learners.
Yet, we continue to see schools struggling to do so.
Ultimately, it's in our hands as education professionals to make a commitment to
ensuring all students receive the education experience they rightfully deserve.
Please make this commitment by following this link and pledging to advocate
for, support, and ultimately create an accessible instructional environment in
your classroom, school, district,
or organization.
By staying committed and working together, we are sure to make a lasting
impact on the lives of all students.