Modifications for Education

　

　

　

　

　

　

Musical Performance Assistive Technology Education Plan

Megan Smith

EDU:620 Meeting Individual Needs with Assistive Technology

Professor Berger

July 2012

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

"Attempt the end, and never stand to doubt; nothing's so hard but search will find it out." Robert Herrick

Musical Performance Assistive Technology Plan

　

Francis Seville

Orthopedic Impairment/Temporary paralysis from waist down and broken left wrist.

First Year College Level/Musical Performance Class

Francis was in a car accident six months which left him paralyzed from the waist down, doctors say with time and physical and occupational therapy that he may regain movement in his lower spine, but at least momentarily disabled. He sustained injuries to his left hand which broken several bones, but will be required to have hand supported by cast for several months at least. Francis is both a singer and a saxophone player and an important element to the entire classroom when it comes to designing musical performances.

He is a determined boy and has continued to lead with vocal practice sessions, and has put all positive efforts forth in considering his recovery and the entire healing process. He puts as much effort forth with vocal sessions and is able to separate himself from his situation and expand and deepen himself as a vocal lead performer and developing emotional and physically challenged young man, with the power to continue with his college studies, event when it meant participating through the internet and accessing the classroom from his home when necessary for recovery and recuperation both mentally and physically.

Because of the intensity of the car accident, and the loss of the two passengers in the car, for Francis being a passenger of a friends car, and the only survivor of the crash, he went through series of emotional disabilities in addition to his new physical disabilities such as temporary paralysis of waist down, and severely broken left hand. With time he will healing with assistance both with technology and peer involvement and participation, but it will take time and effort for all elements of the accident. His family is active in assistive him with daily tasks and he is currently using a mechanical wheelchair that gives him mobility with the function of at least on hand.

Francis meets with his physical therapist three times a week for multiple exercise to help all functions of his body, including assistive leg exercises and arm exercises. He also meets with an occupational therapist and psychologists to deal with the elements of the car accident and continuing emotional issues, both allowing him access to assistive technologies in order to adjust and function successfully amongst his peers, and the flexibility to handle the post traumatic elements of the accident emotionally and physically. Both doctors allow him to attend classes as long as he is making appointments for therapy and following through with different exercises and lessons, and emotionally and physically healthy enough to handle the mobility involved with classroom attendance in a college campus setting.

Francis doctors requires that absences from class do not affect final grade, but require work from home assignment over the textbook and internet, just as the rest of the classroom, if under the circumstances he is unable to make it to the classroom. The doctors have in addition limited him to one course at a time in to not get overworked and overwhelmed. He is given campus access to the assistance bus and has help of family and friends for all types of assistance and support.

For the Assistive Technology plan, the University will provide attention participation flexibility through the ability to make up course lessons through online resources and classrooms, in cases where Francis cannot make it to the classroom . Frances will be given a lab board for his wheelchair while in the classroom, and also be given a table on his wheelchair to in addition have close and easy access to his personal laptop or I pad, giving him access to creativity with easy connections to various assistances and online assistance devices available while coping with disabilities. He will also be given bolsters and bad supports, provided by the University that allow him to be more comfortable for the entire course. We will be given a smart board, for the entire classroom in which to present lessons and musical presentation plans, that gives diverse methods of delivering the lessons to the entire course while giving each students different programs and technologies through the smart board that allow for alternative performance methods both for Francis and the entire classroom participants. The classroom will be arrange in a half circle so that the whole class can see each individual and their own strengths and talents for various performance abilities. The group will interact with projects and often break into group activities moving about and changing positions to diversify movements and activities assisting towards the course for the final performances come end of the semester. The entire plan will give Francis a fair and involved way to participate with his musical skills in the course while coping with the disability at hand.

　

　

　

　

　

Material or Method	Potential Barriers/Missed Opportunities	AT Solutions
1. Francis will not be punished for missing classes considering his condition. Instead he can use the online tools for the classroom and achieve participation through the internet when necessary	There are always setbacks to not being able to participate in classroom activities and interactive discussions. This could be frustrating for Francis when he is not able to attend or directly participate. He will not get the feel for the brick and mortar of University Education.	An online classroom system will be accessible for him from home where he can access notes and participation videos. Textbook states, “The Internet provides the most up-to-minute information on everything from news developments to books, to ordering from online companies. Today’s interactive forms of pictures, cartoons, and audio programming make the Internet a useful teaching tool for the classroom facilitator. The Internet can be a wonderful tool for accessing information for individuals with disabilities, in addition to using AT devices and software that offer the best opportunities for information retrieval in an inclusive setting,”(p. 180-181). “If there is one word that summarizes the impact of technology in the last 25 years, it is zeitgeist, the spirit of the time. The inculcation of silicon chips and microprocessors into our everyday lives irrevocably changed us from an industrial society to an informational society (Toffler, 1982). If disabled persons are to function fully in this society, they must have access to the myriad technologies that can improve communication, information processing, and learning.”(
2.Supplied with a lapboard that fits to the wheelchair as a sort of desk top, to allow access to systems from wheelchair.	There is a chance that it will not be comfortable for him, and that he will continue to feel separated from classroom peers.	Lap boards can make it easier for student to feel comfortable in wheelchair by bringing desk to them. “Lap boards can be used to help them to o do activities while sitting on a wheelchair. If they are using a table, the table must be of a height that is most comfortable for them to work on and write,” (Strategies to Reach and Teach Orthopedic Impairment Kids). Laptop Wheelchair Desk Transforms a wheelchair into a mobile workstation. Roomy storage beneath the lid for lap top computers, business files, and personal items. Durable plastic clip on the inside of the lid holds books and newspapers open. Adjustable lid tilts forward for reading and writing; lies flat for lap top use and other activities, (http://www.medicalproductsdirect.com/whaclawhde.html ).
3. Francis will have access to I pad or personal computer throughout the classroom time. He can access different assistances from the devices that he is able to discover.	Could potentially be bothersome to other students, and will have to be incorporated into lessons so that he is not isolated by the assistive technologies from the rest of the classmates.	Student will have more available to work with when handling classroom setting and technologies to facilitate to assist in remaining comfortable and productive . Textbook states, “Proper positioning helps with muscle tone, visual efficiency, postural support, and compensation for physical deficits. When the body is properly positioned, the student will have an easier time accessing the curriculum in an inclusive setting,”(p. 89). “In addition to teaching modifications providing the opportunity for students with special needs to learn successfully, they also provide students the chance to show their strengths in different ways. By asking students to show their work in different ways, they are able to demonstrate skills that might not be obvious in another technique/ guide to understanding teaching modifications,”(A Guide to Understanding Teaching Modifications).
4. Classroom Smart Board for presentation and lecture projections, to allow varieties of ways to display information, and to allow each student opportunity to engage with it and to lead the class in discussion with various smart board methods.	There are costly and only allow for one navigator at a time. It could be challenging and susceptible	Provide alternative diverse lecture and presentation methods in order to engage entire classroom and give opportunities for Francis to lead classroom discussions , participate in performances and practices Textbook states, “When determining AT for positioning within the classroom, consider where the equipment will be use,”(p .90). “SMART Technologies is an industry pioneer and global education market segment leader in user-friendly ICT products and group collaboration tools. The SMART Board interactive whiteboard is used to teach over 18 million students in more than 600,000 classrooms in more than 100 countries around the world,”(PR Newswire).
5. Classroom will be positioned in a half circle, so that each person can see each other, and we will change activities with technology varieties of exercises or and move about in different groups every half and hour and research as a group on the internet searching curiosities.	Could potentially be more difficult for him to adjust to many different changes, it may be overwhelming or exhausting and make him feel separated from his peers.	Creating alternative actives with different elements of technology accessed through research and group projects allows for the diversity of activities and allows for students to move and stretch and readjust themselves. Textbook States, “Another important rule of thumb is that the student’s position must be changed every 20 minutes. When a person sits on one part of his or her body with no change of position, the skin can experience breakdown, and debris ulcers can for. These potentially serious ulcers can be largely prevented by careful attention to good physical management,”(p. 92). Textbook continues “The internet can be a wonderful tool for accessing information for individuals with disabilities, in addition to using the AT devices and software offer best opportunities for information retrieval in an inclusive setting.”( p. 180).

　

　

　

　

Reference

Beard, L.A., Carpenter, L.B., & Johnston, L.B. (2011). Assistive Technology: Access for all Students (2nd ed.). Boston: Pearson.

Encyclopedia of Special Education: A Reference for the Education of the Handicapped and Other Exceptional Children and Adults: Technology for Individuals with Disabilities. Elizabeth McClellan. Copyright 2007. Retrieved from Website:

http://www.credoreference.com/entry/wileyse/technology_for_individuals_with_disabilities

Medical Products Direct Website: Wheelchair Accessory, Laptop Wheelchair Desk Wheelchair Accessory, Laptop Wheelchair Desk. Retrieved from Website:

http://www.medicalproductsdirect.com/whaclawhde.html

Bright Hub Website: Strategies to Reach and Teach Orthopedic Impairment Kids

Written by: Sharon Dominica Edited by: Elizabeth Stannard Gromisch Updated: 2/21/2011.

Bright Hub Website. A Guide to Understanding Teaching Modifications.

Written by: Lisa Pulsifer Edited by: Elizabeth Stannard Gromisch Updated: 7/25/2012.

Bright Hub Website: Strategies to Reach and Teach Orthopedic Impairment Kids

Written by: Sharon Dominica Edited by: Elizabeth Stannard Gromisch Updated: 2/21/2011.

PR Newswire: SMART leads interactive whiteboard category in education: New research reports SMART's global product category share at 45.7%. Author Anonymous. New York. 13 Mar 2008.