Curb Cuts and Ramps

Having read the Dunn article I just wanted to comment briefly on the idea of using technologies designed to make life easier for those with disabilities to benefit all students in the classroom.  The example of curb cuts and ramps being put in place in more and more locations in order to accommodate those using wheelchairs proved to be very enlightening.  It seems fairly mundane but one rarely considers that these changes put in place for those with disabilities have easily benefited everyone, from mothers with strollers to teenagers on skateboards.

It seems logical that disability technologies could be used in a similar way in the classroom, to both accommodate and involve students with disabilities and at the same time to benefit the learning of all students.  These technologies such as voice recognition technology and audio texts can accommodate disabled students while also widening the learned literacy of all students.  These technologies also force teachers to widen their view of what is considered reading and writing as well as what is considered student competency and achievement.  When teachers widen their views they are much more able to work towards the recognition and improvement of the abilities of all students.

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