Blog One AT

History has shown us that people who have disabilities including those that are physical, emotional, and educational have been discriminated against when it comes to their disabilities but also their ability and the access that have when it comes to learning. It affects the person disabled and even those around them. The documentary called Freedom Machines it became clear that there is a lack of supplies and effort to those who are trying to overcome disabilities in this film. The 90 year old women had trouble hearing, and even with a hearing aid she could not constantly hear well enough. When she got help it seemed like the women helping here was there just for show, the solution she came up with was so simple that it seemed that they did not try to fit her correctly the first time. Even those who attended a high school, there was numerous times where adjustments needed to be made because the school was not fit with the proper technology or equipment or training to deal and teach a disabled student appropriately. Since the Americans with Disabilities Act passed, disabled people are beginning to see more opportunities that they deserve and that they and their parents and benefactors are striving to achieve for them. Now that companies such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft are getting behind Assistive Technology to make their programs compatible with brail, and a read back software to help students who cannot see or hear or just struggle overall. Thankfully the Federal Government rules and regulations offer those who are disabled assistance when it comes to receiving an education. All of the new technology can help students who are disabled, allowing them to learn and gain their independence; it allows them to be their own person. Even if it requires them to struggle though the work on their own, they are still doing it on their own which is a big factor. The documentary I referred to earlier called Freedom Machine and all the individuals that were focal points were extremely motivated. Clearly from my standpoint they were way more motivated to succeed and be successful students than I ever have been. Now we have electronic spellers, dictionaries, calculators, text reading software, speech recognition software and more improvements as time goes on. These are all things that will allow people who are disabled to grow. Another key is that the teachers also adapt and are able to incorporate these technologies to their class when they are dealing with a disabled student. However, that is a key to becoming a teacher in the first place, being able to adjust to special situations that come up and to be willing to learn, and always be learning.