Technology for Students with

Physical Disabilities

ChapterNine

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Overview

• Types of Physical Disabilities

• Adaptations to the Physical Environment

• Adaptive and Assistive Technologies

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Types of Physical Disabilities

• Congenital– Cerebral palsy– Birth defects

• Acquired– Injuries and accidents– Traumatic brain injuries: the leading cause– Spinal-cord injuries

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What the Teacher Needs to Know

• How to spot warning signs that the child is having a problem

• How the student’s physical limitations influence what he or she can do

• How to respond in an emergency

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Accessibility

• Classroom must be arranged so that all students can move about

• Students with physical impairments should be in the main part of the room rather than on the periphery

• Plan ahead for field trips and for physical elements to lessons

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Adaptive and Assistive Technologies

• Toys and games– Large buttons, easy to handle

• Augmentative and alternative communication– Communication boards– Voice-activated controls

• Computer access– Alternative keypads and joysticks– Special monitors and switches

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Architectural Access

• Wide hallways

• Automatic doors

• Adapted switches, pressure plates

• Universal Design principles make buildings more accessible for everyone

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Summary

• The teacher should know how to recognize whether the student is having difficulty, as well as what to do in an emergency

• The classroom should be arranged for easy mobility

• Special toys, communication tools, and computer-access devices can benefit students with physical disabilities