Blog Post 12

Assistive Technologies for Vision and Hearing Impaired Children

This video was very touching. I feel as if the educators should step up for the disabled children. Not only are we gaining experience, and pushing our own limits, but we are becoming the gateway into their future. Imagine teaching a child how to read braille. How awesome would that be to know you helped that child? Of course teaching children without disabilities is something you should be proud of as well, but disabilities bring on challenges and it would be incredible to overcome those challenges. 

Apple Accessibility Tools

Apple is by far one of my favorite companies. Not only have they created the top selling phones, computers, and tablets in the world, but they also go the extra mile. Say you are blind, or have a hard time seeing. Apple has created many ways where you can still use technology. They have created voice over, where the computer or other electronic source reads to you. Also, they have made it easy to enlarge your cursor and text and make the contrast higher or lower as you choose. Apple helps their consumers with hearing impairments many ways as well. They have an app called Facetime that is automatically stored in your Apple product. You can physically see the other person on the other side so they can sign to you. They have also created a screen flash, where your computer screen with flash at you when it needs your attention. And of course, like many other products, Apple offers closed captions where someone can read whatever is being played.

The Mountbatten

The Mountbatten is something I have personally never heard of before I watched this video. It is a device that types braille onto a piece of paper, while telling you what you are writing. This is also helpful for someone who does not know braille. Not only is it a way for the blind to use technology in a classroom, but it also saves files, transfers files, and receives files.

iPad usage for the Blind

In this video, Wesley Majerus is teaching everyone in the audience and watching the video how to use the iPad from a blind persons point of view. He showed us how to unlock the iPad, how to navigate around his home screen, how to use iBooks, and much more. The iPad will read out loud to you to help you to be able to access the apps. I found this very interesting and cool to be able to learn how to use voice over. 

Having a great time teaching mom what her deaf/blind child is learning on the iPad

In this video, a mom is learning how to use the iPad using voice over, as her child does. A cool thing I learned about voice over is that when you use the keyboard on your iPad,  you drag your finger across the keyboard as it tells you out loud what letters you are scrolling across until you come across the letter you need. 

Special Education Blogs

As I was scrolling through the special educations blogs listed on this website, I came across the assistive technology blog. From this, I learned that Apple just launched sixteen new apps made specifically for individuals with autism. You can find them under the Education tab, where you will find a special link for Autism Awareness.