Microsoft® Word is the world's most popular word processing software application, and files created with Word (typically ending in .DOC or .DOCX) are common as a means of distributing materials over the web, including materials used in education.
Some students with disabilities have difficulty taking notes. For example, a student with an auditory processing problem may take few or unclear notes. Physical and hearing impairments may also limit speed and make note taking difficult. A note taking accommodation is intended to provide information that the student would have gotten on his own, if it were not for his disability. Common ways to provide note taking accommodations include the following:
Captions provide equivalent text for individuals who are unable to hear the audio portion of a video presentation. Open captions are part of the video and can not be turned off. Closed captions, however, are contained with a separate text track and can typically be toggle on or off as needed.
It is helpful to have a process to follow when determining appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities. DO-IT at the University of Washington has developed a model process and a Student Activities Profile form for creating effective accommodations. It can be used by any instructor and is composed of the following four steps:
Although each situation is different and the student is the best source of information regarding useful accommodations, the following are some accommodations that should help to make the laboratory safer for students with visual impairments and all of the students in your class:
Although each situation is different and the student is the best source of information regarding useful accommodations, the following are some accommodations that should help to make the laboratory safer for students who are deaf and the other students in your class as well:
Many individuals with different types of disabilities have difficulty accessing the information in graphs, charts, drawings, and three-dimensional models. For example, a student with a visual impairment may be unable to visually extract the information in a graph. A student with a mobility impairment may be unable to physically manipulate a three-dimensional model. A student with a learning disability may have difficulty decoding the information in a graph.
There is often confusion over the terms "hearing impaired," "hard of hearing," "deaf," and "deafened," both in definition and appropriateness of use.
The keyboard can be the biggest obstacle to computing for a person with a mobility impairment. Fortunately, those who lack the dexterity or range of motion necessary to operate a standard keyboard have a wide range of options from which to choose. Pointers can be held in the mouth or mounted to a hat or headgear and used to press keys on a standard keyboard. Repositioning the keyboard to the floor can allow someone to use his feet instead of his hands for typing.
Yes, and there are several options you can choose from.
