ICT helping people with special needs assignment - any help please?

[Hulababy]

Hi all

As many of you know I am a teacher. I teach ICT at secondary level. Well, I was wondering if I can ask for advice on behalf of my GCSE pupils.

Firstly is this allowed? Can I simply ask for advice to be used by pupils or do I need to request permission from the moderators, etc? If so - please ignore this. If not, any helpers?

My GCSE students have a series of reports to produce for their portfolio and the first one has just been set. They are requested to produce a report detailing the impact of ICT developments for people with special needs. This means they have to talk about how people (of any age including babies, children and adults) with varying special needs use computers to help them.

They are given this quote as a thought to get them thinking (I have no idea where it comes from though, sorry):

"Approximately 10% of people in Britain have some kind of disability. For many people with disabilities, computer technology provide a lifeline to independence and a fulfilling career. The range of specially designed computer equipment is vast, for all types of disability."

The pupils report must cover the following special needs:

• sensory impairments
• physical disability
• limited mobility
• learning difficulties
• language difficulties
• multiple disabilities

I am not sure how much anyone can help here but I would be grateful for anything such as personal experience (obviously I'd make sure no personal identifyable details were passed on to students), other sources of info I could lok at, links to websites, etc.

I am posting this under Education and Special Needs in order to ensure I aim it at the right people. Sorry for the duplication and a massive thanks from myself and my pupils for anything anyone can offer.

If anyone would rather contact me off line, please do so via Contact Another Talker

Claire

Get a copy of the Inclusive Technology catalogue- I haven;t got the web address but you'll get it through google. That'll give you loads of ideas- both for software and hardware.

My autistic son (4 and a half) has just had an assessment from the LEA ICT person. She is lending the school software and hardware for his use. They are trying him with a small mouse and a trackball. If that doesn't work they'll use a touch screen monitor.

Clicker 4 is software loved by many who work with children with SN. I use it to make PECS symbols. They have their own website- it's made by Crick I think.

Thanks JimJams. I think tamum gave me the link to the first place - inclusive technology. I will contact them for a catalogue.

The information about your son is interesting too and I know a couple of my puils will be keen to focus on children. Do you mind me asking you a bit more? Please tell me if you do. I won't be offended or upset I promise

Does you son enjoy using ICT and computers? Does he get much from them - educational wise or enjoyment? Do you know what software he will use and for what?

There are a lot of programs for the visually impaired. For the life of me I can't remember the names of them at the moment, but you could try contacting any charity that deals with the blind. Also commonly avaliable programs, like dragon dictate, which translates the spoken word to text are extensivly used by the visually imapired.

Thanks slug. I have just given out the RNIB and RNID websites to the children. I am actualy teaching them this minute and trying to help them with the research. That is why I am here trying to get the link for Inclusive Technology.

ds1 adores computers. He can spot them in a picture of tiny corner of a tv screen immediately (cals them "deedan" At the moment his langage problems limit what he can do with them (as you can't teach him iyswim). He is also severely dyspraxic whcih makes using a muse etc quite hard for him (athough he's getting there). At the moment he's using toddler school -dorling kindersely at home. There's a good animal sounds game that we play together. We also have a switch it at home game where you buid washing machines and microwaves (using the mouse or trackball). As he pregresses I'm sure that computers will become very important to him (especially with his dyspraxia- typping will probably be easier than writing). We're getting there slowly. But like everything its small steps.

Any more