Digital Access is the right, we all have, to full electronic participation in society or our community. However, many people today do not have access.
Digital Access in the United States needs to improve. There is a correlation between poverty and lack of digital access. For example, Detroit, MI has a median household income of $23,600 and 39.9% of households do not have internet access. Laredo, TX has a median household income of $35,700 and 40.2% of households do not have internet access. Both are cities with a population size over 50,000 residents. Where in Irvine, CA and Cary, NC have less than 5% who are not connected and the average household income is $97,000. That is a huge disadvantage for people who are trying to improve their livelihood. |
In some countries around the world digital access is available to all at no cost. When will we as a society realize that all citizens should be able to get digital access. Below is a map showing digital access levels in cities with population sizes larger than 50,000 residents.
What is Assistive Technology? Assistive technology can be as low tech or high tech as the student may need. AT can be any object or system that increases or maintains the capabilities of people with disabilities. With more students at Marshall Elementary with visual impariments we need to be able to adapt to their visual needs with comfort and ease. Meet Mason is a video showing different types of AT to help Mason during the school day with his visual impairment. Very similar to students we have at Marshall Elementary. The Magnifier is a quick an easy way to help our students with visual imapirment improve their computer use at school and home. |
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Below is a survey to find what you know about assistive technology and digital access. Take the survey to find out.
Survey Results
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1. How often do you use technology within the instructional day?
100% said they use it daily. 2. How often do students use technology in the classroom? 80% said daily and the remaining said once or twice a week. 3.Do your students have access to technology outside of school? 80% answered that the majority of their students have access to technology outside of school, one teacher answered that they all do and one answered that some do. 4.Do you assign online homework or assignments for students? 60% said yes while 40% said no. 5.What types of assistive technologies have your students used in the classroom? 3 On screen Keyboard 4 Text to Speech 2 On screen magnifier 3 high contrast settings 4 touch screens 3 Brail embossers 6.Have using assistive technology helped your students? 70% said yes and 30% said not sure. 7. Have you personally used assistive technology? 50% said yes and 50% said no. |