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

[Denise Robinson]

Very well said Dr V


Denise M Robinson
Sent from my iPad

On Mar 6, 2013, at 8:28 PM, DrV <icdx at earthlink.net> wrote:

> 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.
> 
> 
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