Learning That’s Special, Inclusive and Empowering

We continue our deep-dive across the spectrum of special education for another month, aiming to elucidate actions, efforts and insights from the field, where education is for all. Which brings us to the most relevant trend within special education in the now – an education for all that is tech-enabled.

Various policies and practices have come into play in recent times as a result of discourse on special education. Gone are the times when special needs would only be met in alternative modes including special schools and home-schooling. This includes the imperative demand that children have diverse needs and have the right to the highest quality of education, and should have the opportunity to gain an education together.

In the digital disruption that has taken over the world, all aspects of our lives are ruled by this element and education isn’t left behind. Paper notebooks are becoming obsolete and thin laptops are taking over. Technology today can make anyone’s life easier if used aptly, from taxation, to assignments to developmental and learning needs, the need for technological evolution has never been greater. Within special education where there is a need for nuanced training methods, digital tools help enabling this in a strategic and powerful way.

Tailor-made for All

Technology helps in many ways, and of the major enhancements comes in the way of personalised learning experience. Assistive technology helps provide customised learning experiences to learner. It employs various techniques including Virtual Reality, essay writing tools, screen readers, voice recognition software and so much more.

Virtual Reality helps many students avoid stressful situations, by providing them non-threatening virtual environments and then getting them slowly accustomed to handle chaos in real life situations. Learners with motor disabilities also get a chance to manipulate objects which they can’t in a real-world scenario. Touchscreen devices can help with visual learning and help learners with motor impairments with coordination. Students with reading disabilities comprehend better with the help of text to speech devices.  There is software created to enable learning experiences based on each individual student’s fluency and progress.

EdTech and Physical Barriers

Technology is a spectacular tool to help overcome barriers brought by mobility and physical impairments. These are some aspects that many take for granted. There are students who use walkers, wheelchairs, mobility aids and so much more throughout their routine and technology can help make it easier for them to navigate their spaces each day.

Physical limitations can cause students to find it hard in participating in hands-on tasks. Intuitive technology usage from wireless keyboards and gesture-based recognition tools can help create a more unbiased learning environment for them.

Technology can help them maintain some functional abilities for them. A telecommunication device, electronic note maker, voice-activated computer, large print books, switches and controls which are all-height accessible, tactile material for visually impaired learners, advanced hearing aids and pencil grips, all of these can help students in very many ways.

Sensitive to All

Learners with autism, social anxiety, ADHD, Down Syndrome and other disorders can highly benefit from EdTech. Technology helps them have a learning environment at par or close to, with other learners. It helps accommodate their individual learning limitations and provide equal opportunities. It provides them with greater independence, improved connection with teachers and peers, lesser anxiety, better academic performance and a more comfortable and effective communication.

Potential Limitations

Creative EdTech in special education is a considerably new initiative and has to battle negative stereotypes of its own. Many a times it’s not able to meet the wide variety of learner needs and not focus on unique needs. It also isn’t able to combat the lack of resources and budget constraints.

Even user-friendly technology may need time to be implemented in classrooms. Teachers will have a learning curve of their own when tasked with using them. There is also the persistent challenges of equitable access, limited awareness and inadequate infrastructure.These challenges need focused efforts from educators, policymakers and tech advisors as well as the community at large for it to make a big difference.

The Indian government has launched initiatives such as the Accessible India Campaign and the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) with the goal to create barrier-free environments and improve access to education for children with disabilities. Schemes such as Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) provides financial assistance for acquiring assistive devices, further facilitating inclusion and empowerment. These steps are just the beginning and there is a lot of ground to cover.

As a community it should be our collective motto to ensure that no child is left behind and has the opportunity to flourish, irrespective of their abilities.