Vlogging+and+Phsyical+Disabilities

For some students with physical disabilities simply accessing a computer keyboard is a major hurdle. Luckily there are numerous assistive technologies that allow students who cannot control a mouse and/or keyboard to use the same technologies as their peers. After having worked with a student who was born without arms I realize that in some cases these types of assistive technologies are miraculous in allowing this type of access but are not always easy to use. My student had been working with her head piece to track her computer mouse for most of her school career (I had her in the 11th and 12th grade) but she still worked very slowly and was often frustrated by how long it took her to complete assignments. This caused her a lot of anxiety and as a result of her pace and anxiety together she would often fall behind.

In researching the use of sites like voicethread and youtube in the classroom I think there’s an important application for students with physical disabilities - especially those who have difficulties using a keyboard/mouse. Blogging in general is proven to help students with their writing and communication. By using the same skills that blogging employs but allowing students to choose the option to vlog students are doing the same work in both rigor and content but may be doing it in less “clicks” and therefore taking away the stress of the physicality of a written assignment. It also allows a student who may prefer to communicate in writing to work collaboratively with a student who would prefer to use video. That way no one feels left out or distanced because they have a different assignment - the entire class can benefit from an option to vlog.

Reference Links Using VoiceThread to Promote Learning Engagement and Success for All Students Using Blogs in the Classroom Youtube in the Classroom[[@http://www.washington.edu/doit/working-together-computers-and-people-mobility-impairments|Working Together: Computers and People with Mobility Impairments]]