Kids are amazing!

I'm going to attempt to re-post some thoughts that I thought I shared last Thursday...but I think are sadly lost in cyber space.

As a Special Education Facilitator, I spend my day working with children who face personal struggles on a daily basis.  I see how hard they work to make individual progress within our diverse classrooms of today.  In addition, I see how hard teachers work to support them and still...I find myself constantly reflecting and questioning..."What else can I do to help our students on their educational journey?"  "How can I support teachers and support staff to help support our students?"  

I will be honest when I say that they are days I feel defeated....defeated due to the lack of financial aid and resources that I have readily available...but then I stumble upon an article like this and I am uplifted. 

 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/how-kids-outsmart-learning-disabilities/article4567663/

What an amazing, positive outlook Anthony Vo; a 22 year old second year medical student who has learning disabilities has on life and his educational journey he is embarking upon!  He says, “It doesn’t come down to how gifted you are or how smart you are,” ... “but how much you want to get to where you want to go.” 

WOW!  It reminds me of the Dr. Seuss book titled "Oh the Places You will go!"   Positive and inspirational!  Just what I needed after a challenging day!

...and although I have always believed that early intervention is important and crucial to all students who may be struggling by giving them the tools necessary to reach their maximum potential....it was definitely reinforced after reading this article and seeing my students who I work with on a daily basis.  I see their determination, perseverance, motivation and willingness to always try their best, despite their personal struggles.

For me, if technology can assist students...then I will continue to spread the word to colleagues to ensure that all students have equal access to the curriculum in our classrooms today...even if my personal opinions are not exactly seen the same way.    

Thanks everyone!
  

Technology is a wonderful thing!

I have no idea where my Thursday post has gone....perhaps Barb might know...but since then, I have super exciting news!!!  

I have a little girl at my school who is in Grade 3 and globally delayed.  She has many daily challenges but you would never know it with her infectious smile, easy going, happy personality.  She is fully integrated in a beautiful class; where the teacher and students fully accept her.  There is actually a class schedule for daily helpers because all students eagerly want to be Camryn's buddy. 


Anyways, Camryn uses a variety of modalities to communicate with people within her world on a daily basis including gestures, verbalizations, pointing and an iPad with Picture Card Plus and Proloquo2go apps.

Camryn's questions she used to initiate conversation with staff and peers were, "Are we going to gym?" and "Are we going outside?"  She has asked these questions for approximately 2 years: sometimes they were audible and pronounced with some clarity other times they were not. 

We have always felt that Camryn wanted to say more, so we programmed other questions into her communication programs and after months of repetition....Camryn asked me "How are you?"  Her SSP and I instantly cried and jumped for joy!  In addition, we called Mom and she cried too!  With a quivering voice, Mom asked us to try and record this amazing progression on her iPad!  It was definitely an exciting day! 

I can't wait to see and hear what other amazing things this beautiful little girl has to share.  In addition, I can't imagine what opportunities she would be missing out on if the "right" to technology was not given to her. 

Here is the link to explore additional information on Picture Card Maker Plus app.

(http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=D-td1N3vYs3sHM&tbnid=iehsEGr16ERmSM:&ved=0CAMQjhw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.appannie.com%2Fapps%2Fios%2Fapp%2Fpicture-card-maker-plus%2F&ei=N1FgU7biE4Kh2QW2_4C4Dg&bvm=bv.65636070,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNH0al8fe3-I5J2hLinkRAk5MjosXw&ust=1398907456552261

WOW! We have come a long way!!

Last night I put my son to bed and finally got a minute to watch the web seminar about Learning Disabilities.  WOW!  What a great source of information! After the seminar, I spent hours loading different apps and playing around with them on the iPad.  I kept thinking about various students at my school who could benefit from the apps shown.  I was super excited!!   


For me....it is amazing to think about the assistive technology that is available for individuals today.  I thought the laptop was a great tool...and it is...it has its purpose...however, the iPad is a
fantastic device!  The different apps designed for it is mind boggling and wonderful!  Paperport Notes, Readiris, Panther Math....and many more!  Knowing this device enables individuals to independently utilize a variety of apps, making their learning experiences in our diverse classrooms much more accessible and rewarding. What a gift?!!!     

I can't imagine how students with LD felt about school and themselves prior to AT???  In the past, these students were the ones who were called to the back table to sit with teachers in order to get assigned tasks in the classroom completed.  Sometimes, depending on the day...this opportunity was not doable...someone or something took the teacher's attention away from that student....and he/she sat at their desk with an assignment that they could not complete.  These students were the ones who were disengaged...behavioural...and even worse, these students were the ones labeled by staff and/or parents as perhaps 'lazy and/or stupid'. 


If only these students had what is available today...an education system that is aware of the varying abilities, learning styles and needs within our diverse classrooms, a variety of AT tools that meet individual needs so that these students can demonstrate what they know and a society that is more educated about disabilities...more compassionate, more empathetic and accepting.  Today, with AT and the spread of knowledge about various disabilities, opportunities for students who have a disability are endless!  Barriers are being broken and society as a whole is reaping the benefits!   

Now....I am not saying we are perfect.  We still have work to do!  But... we have come a long way! 

Amanda Video Response

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnylM1hI2jc

WOW!!  What an amazing video...very powerful!  As I watched the video I thought what a beautiful voice...Amanda's humming was very soothing and sounded like a song!  I got the impression that she enjoyed music...I guess that is perhaps why she  made all those sounds with the many objects she touched...she rubbed, she scratched, she crumpled, she jiggled etc. 

I thought that it was interesting that Amanda stood in front of a window during the recording of this video.  Windows are often been used as metaphors.... which is why it made me think how lucky those who viewed this video...including myself... were to get an opportunity to look into 'her world' and learn how those living with disabilities are just like you and me...they have thoughts, opinions, emotions, etc.    

'Presumed competency'....these words are very interesting.  I guess for many people seeing Amanda, they would have no idea just how intellectually deep her thinking is unless you had the opportunity to chat with her.  There were many things that Amanda said that resonated with me, but I especially loved her comment about our language and hers...how "failure to learn your language is seen as a deficit...failure to learn my language is so natural...causes people to tend to officially describe people like us as mysterious and puzzling."

Her choice of words is very interesting and...sadly I think that her comment is not too far from the truth.  However, luckily for us...assistive technology has given Amanda a voice...a powerful voice. Together, assistive technology and Amanda are providing people with a better understanding of a person living with autism.   It is educating many people who had preconceived ideas about what Amanda was capable of.  AT has enabled her to demonstrate her knowledge and skills and convey her emotions.  Most importantly, AT has given Amanda the platform needed to hopefully help change the misconceptions about persons with disabilities and begin to break down walls that have become barriers within our society when it comes to viewing persons with disabilities. 

Seeing the many ways AT is being used to give voices to those who, in the past, were silenced,  makes me think about my brother Kenny.  He is special needs.  Like Amanda, he is non-verbal.  Over the years Kenny has used a variety of modalities to communicate with family and friends including gestures, vocalizations and pointing.  However, I have always wondered many, many things. 

Growing up in a family of 6 kids........I often wondered what Kenny's voice would sound like...would he sound like my Dad or my brother Todd or my brother Darren...would his voice be deep or would it be high ....I often wondered what he wanted to say, especially when the entire family sat around the table eating or around the camp fire chit-chatting in the summer :)  ...I wondered what comments he would make about important issues happening in today's society? 

On occasion, I have dreams where my brother has a voice.  It is very deep but quite and calming.  I love those dreams!  Perhaps someday he will be given the appropriate tool he needs so that he will be able to express himself...and I would finally get to hear his perspective...his voice!  That would be very cool!  Perhaps I will gain a better understanding of an AT tool that could open the door to 'his world' so that he can share with me some of the answers to my 'wonderings' I have always had.

Oh what a night!!

Well, I had my first Assistive Technology class this week and I must admit....I was a bit apprehensive.  I am definitely not a well versed techie....I have a laptop and an iPad and can maneuver around both these devices quite easily.  In addition, my role as a Special Education Facilitator requires me to be able to use a variety of programs and AT tools to ensure all students can access what is being taught in today's classrooms so that they can show their knowledge and understanding using the most effective and appropriate means available.

But, technology is changing on a daily basis.  Acknowledging this, I thought that taking this course...Assistive Technology 569.69... would surely be beneficial...surely I would gain a better understanding of how I can better support staff and students in our diverse classrooms of today?!!

Well, after our 3 hour course I will admit that I'm feeling a bit more optimistic than earlier because in those 3 hours I learned how to maneuver around Blackboard Collaborate a bit more....I wrote on the white board for the first time and helped my group create a Wordle...it looked really good.  Thanks everyone!!!  I also learned how to move the audio/video box to a different spot on the screen.  Very cool!!!...and tonight I spent a few hours creating my first blog!  YUP!   I said hours!  LOL!!  I got lost a few times maneuvering my way around blogger.com....deleted info that I didn't want to so I had to start again and had a couple of other mishaps.  YIKES!!!  Still, I'm thinking this is a pretty good start. 

Now, after a few days of reflection about what was presented throughout our first class some quotes resonated with me.... Professor Welsford stated in her presentation Wednesday night that "The curriculum should be adaptable to individual differences...not the other way around."  I had never thought about it that way before.  It definitely made me think!  It made me think about the youtube video titled "Animal School; Raising Small Souls".  I love this youtube video.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJeyNywDxPc  It sadly shows the ramifications of education systems not adapting to meet individual needs. 

Another quote that made me think is... "Fact: Traditional curricula have the "disability" because they only work for certain learners."  This quote makes sense for me because when you think of the delivery of curriculum, it is solely up to teachers to be creative and implement it in such a way that meets the needs of all learners in a classroom...not just the a few auditory learners, or a few visual learners, or a few kinesthetic learners.  The curriculum needs to be adapted to meet the learning styles and needs of ALL students. 

Looking forward to the weeks ahead and applying the new found knowledge I gain from this class and the people in it.  Thanks everyone! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

should be

adaptable to

individual

differences...not

the other way

around