In class we have discussed sensory impairments before and the vision simulations seemed very similar to those we have done in the past. I did find the hearing simulations extremely interesting as I feel we have not discussed those nearly as much as the vision ones. I also have personal experience with someone with a hearing impairment, as my father is legally deaf due to fighting in Vietnam and an accident at work. The simulations gave me an appreciation to what he hears when he is in certain situations. He has always complained about background noises before but until I listened to the simulations of the party I could not imagine what he meant. I can now see how background noise could drown out any conversations that are happening and how it could make a person want to avoid noisy situations. I also now realize why he misses so many things during group conversations because everything must sound so muffled. I have always though that just talking louder to those with hearing impairments would allow them to hear you but if they can only hear muffles, I imagine that they will just hear louder muffles.
The simulations also made me realize how much a little extra noise in a classroom may affect students with hearing impairments. So many students shift in their seats, tap their pens and fiddle with whatever is in front of them that they are constantly making noise. This excess noise could be very detrimental to a student with hearing impairments and could ensure that they miss what is really going on in the classroom.
The refreshable braille reader could be very helpful to those with vision and hearing impairments. Originally when I looked at it I didn’t think it was necessary. I didn’t understand why students couldn’t just have the screen read to them. Now I realize that it is another tool to help them and if a student is both visual and hearing impaired that they would not be able to hear the screen reader. This machine would ensure that students would still be able to access information on the computer
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Gifted and Talented Students
In elementary school I remember three students getting pulled out of class once a week to go to the enriched program. To me, at the time they were the ones who were the advanced readers, straight A students and the goody two shoes. These early memories have definitely shaped my opinions on students who are gifted and talented. As I have grown as an educator I knew these perceptions were wrong but this week’s reading have truly changed my thoughts on these students.
The main reason for a change in my perceptions was the list of myths about gifted and talented students. I had never really thought about how gifted and talented students may suffer in school. The reading I completed from PruFrock Press “Surviving or Thriving?” showed how some gifted students can survive in the regular classroom and some can not. This reading also solidified my beliefs on why gifted and talented students fall under IDEA. IDEA is meant to assist students and give them the best environment to perform in. A “normal” classroom is not always the best environment for these students to learn in, as many of them are not receiving the support they need. These students are being mislabeled as ADD, ADHD, ED and other labels because they are misunderstood. These students need to be challenged and the best way to do this is to allow them to receive services under IDEA. Without the support of IDEA it may be easy for schools to not provide these students with services but IDEA forces them to do so.
The main reason for a change in my perceptions was the list of myths about gifted and talented students. I had never really thought about how gifted and talented students may suffer in school. The reading I completed from PruFrock Press “Surviving or Thriving?” showed how some gifted students can survive in the regular classroom and some can not. This reading also solidified my beliefs on why gifted and talented students fall under IDEA. IDEA is meant to assist students and give them the best environment to perform in. A “normal” classroom is not always the best environment for these students to learn in, as many of them are not receiving the support they need. These students are being mislabeled as ADD, ADHD, ED and other labels because they are misunderstood. These students need to be challenged and the best way to do this is to allow them to receive services under IDEA. Without the support of IDEA it may be easy for schools to not provide these students with services but IDEA forces them to do so.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Week 4
This past weekend I took a trip up to Burlington, Canada to IKEA to get a dresser. While I was there I noticed something that was missing in terms of adaptions for those with disabilities. While we were loading the car we were forced to carry the cart, with the dresser, off the curb, as there was no ramp. At first it seemed odd to me that there was no ramp at a location where people were moving boxes and lifting heavy things. After a discussion about this, while lifting the boxes, I decided to Google if Canada had a disabilities act. Canada currently does not have a law that is similar to the American's with Disabilities Act (1990.) Apparently there is one in the works but it has been in the works since 2005 and has not been put into law yet. I am shocked by this discovery and their lack of Disabilities Act. According to the website Canadians With Disabilities Act it does not seem to be a high priority to legislator in Canada.
This experience has made me realize how important Universal Design is to everyone. By making places accessible to anyone it makes it easier for everyone. Hand rails, curb cutouts, ramps, elevators etc. make it easier for everyone to move around buildings and are often taken for granted by many. It wasn't until there wasn't a curb cutout that I thought about how nice it is to have them. The Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) is a great piece of legislation that is making the lives of those with and without disabilities easier and it is a shame that not all countries have similar regulations.
This experience has made me realize how important Universal Design is to everyone. By making places accessible to anyone it makes it easier for everyone. Hand rails, curb cutouts, ramps, elevators etc. make it easier for everyone to move around buildings and are often taken for granted by many. It wasn't until there wasn't a curb cutout that I thought about how nice it is to have them. The Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) is a great piece of legislation that is making the lives of those with and without disabilities easier and it is a shame that not all countries have similar regulations.
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