[blindkid] Computers, Electronic Note-takers & i-Devices in the Educational Setting

[DrV]

My 2 cents & change :-)  :


As many have nicely expressed, it is not an either/or issue.


I will preface with different people will have different preferences ‹
strongly so at times & I respect those opinions & choices.
 
Our family has come to realize that there is no ³best² or single tool that
gives students with visual impairments everything they need. Different tools
provide different levels of accessibility, sometimes strikingly so. What
information is ³visible² on a given website can vary depending on the tool
used to access it; the same website may look very different to a student
using a braille notetaker versus an iPhone versus an iPad versus a laptop
with JAWS or other screenreader versus a Mac laptop.
 
My 10th grader, who for so many years has successfully relied heavily on his
BrailleNote, this year came to the realization that to be successful and
independent in 2013 & beyond, he needs to be proficient with multiple tools:
an accessible laptop, an electronic braille notetaker, and an iOS device.
Any one or 2 of these devices alone does not allow him to completely and
importantly efficiently independently access to his entire curriculum; each
of the devices has its clear advantages and limitations. (Both boys also
used Perkins Braillers on a daily or near-daily base, and both carry around
a slate & stylus in their BrailleNote pockets too :-)
 
Thus my personal feeling is that to optimally succeed in school, blind
students need to be able to independently use a computer/laptop, an
electronic braille note-taking device & an i-device/tablet-type device ­
effectively (as well as a Perkins & slate & stylus). Students may be able to
get by with less, but will be more likely to excel & optimally perform with
all the options. My kids love the portability & versatility of their
electronic braille note-taking devices & there are many times where a
portable braille display with i-Device or laptop just would just not be as
functional. 
 
>From an educational standpoint, as far as i-Devices go, while I am an
i-enthusiast, an iOS device is only one tool in the toolbox, and not
everything is accessible with it.  VoiceOver is amazingly accessible, but if
wouldn¹t say it is flawless - certainly has it limitations. For example,
VoiceOver doesn¹t recognize links, video & won¹t open docs in the
educational Edmodo app ­ to access those you need to use a computer with a
screenreader.  & VoiceOver has major issues with foreign languages if one
wants to not just listen (sound nice) but use a braille display.
 
Having used both an iPad & iPhone to access the same information with my
kids, these devices are not exactly equivalent. For many things there won¹t
be any real difference, but for some websites & some activities, one may
actually be preferable over the other. The default mobile version of
websites on an iPhone (or streamlined version of an app - like Edmodo) is
frequently more user-friendly, while the iPhone¹s mobile version restricts
access to potentially important information & webpage links at other times
(like our high school website) that do show up on an iPad.  Another
consideration is that some apps are only available on specific devices. Thus
while i-devices provide a nearly equivalent experience, there are times
where an iPad might be preferable and the opposite is true as well.


My son's BrailleNote's braille display died last nightŠ The turnaround time
to repair may be 3-4 weeksŠ It's a major bummerŠ but at least he has other
options, which while not optimal, will be functional in the interim.