As some of you know, I work at a middle school as the computer everything guy. I am trying to grow into the position so I can go further up in the district.
I have 2 aids. Good kids. They help me with big projects. I also like teaching them the simple stuff like installing windows, updating drivers, replacing computer parts. When they don't have something specific to do, I let them do homework, read, or use GameMaker.
Gamemaker is a free program that lets you make simple games. I don't mind them playing games, as long as they created them!
There is a girl at our school who has severe physical disabilities. I am not sure what, but she can't walk or use her hands. Her arms and legs are so deformed she is confined to a special chair (not wheel chair).
It is kind of a cool chair--she can kick around with her legs to move. She writes with her mouth. She has an assistant who follows her everywhere. She goes to class after class starts so the halls aren't crowded.
As far as I can tell, she has no mental disabilities--but they placed her in class for the mentally disabled. I wonder if that is a common. She is not in the special ed class, but she is in the resource class.
Question at Part 2
Posts: 2445 | Registered: Oct 2004
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I was in her class the other day doing my thing (the teacher got a new computer). One of the other kids was on a computer and couldn’t get the program to work. Also, the volume icon was missing on the taskbar and he needed sound.
When he asked me for help the girl shouted out she knew how to do it. I let her help him. With a pencil in her mouth she used to type, she got him hooked up. She looked so proud and happy. I want to encourage that. I can see how computer skills could really help a disabled person—plus it might open doors for her down the road.
I could use her to install windows, drivers, making boot disks. Very basic stuff. She could also use Gamemaker to make games she might enjoy. I just had a thought that being an aid would give her exposure to something she seems genuinely interested in. It would also prepare her for the more advanced classes they offer at the high school.
A lot of what you do on computers involve pushing multiple buttons at once (ie :ctr+alt+del). Are there special tools a disabled person can use to help them navigate the keyboard? I am thinking of something she could put in her mouth to assist her?
Before I take the idea to administration and her assistant, I want to make sure it is not an aggravating experience for her. I know she can’t help with the physical installation of computers, but who knows—she may find she likes programming.
Is this a bad idea on my part? Good idea? Does it sound like I am focusing on the “disability”? Are there tools that would help her? Any ideas to I can use to guide me if I decide to pursue this? Heck, I am even open to ideas on what I should expose her to.
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posted
Look under Sticky Keys in the Accessibility Options on control panel (assuming Windows).
As to the rest, I have no informed opinion. My gut reaction says "yes," but It's very ill-informed.
If you saw someone help out who wasn't disabled in a way that made you think they were a good aid, would you pursue it?
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posted
At least one of the Windows accessibility tools allows you to "lock down" a key until another key of a given sort is pressed, making multiple-key combinations possible.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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quote:If you saw someone help out who wasn't disabled in a way that made you think they were a good aid, would you pursue it?
Yes, in fact I get to hand choose two aids each semester. I pick people I have witnessed with a sincere interest in computers (that extend beyond games) and have shown basic skills.
One aid I kicked out. He was really good, but he was getting an F in two core classes. When I found out I told the vice principal and we put him in a homework/enhancement class. I have one slot open I need/can to fill next quarter. I promised him he could be my aid next semester if he pulls up those two classes to at least a C. He is a bright could and should be able to do it.
The high school has a teacher who only accepts like 5 students. They do really cool stuff. My aids seem to automatically get in. I already had one aid come back this year and thank me.
In the highschool class they made linux boxes and set up remote access. He had to show me his computer. He logged on from my computer and was super excited to show me what he had done.
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posted
As Dag and Tom pointed out, Windows comes equipped with accessability features. It might be that this girl is already very familiar with them, and could show you how they work.
It's actually a great idea. Computers are becoming increasingly disability-friendly.
In the long run, her best bet is going to be using something like Dragon Naturally Speaking, which will allow her to operate the computer and to write using speech. I don't think you said how old she is, but I expect she'll be working with this (it's probably the best one) in the future.
Posts: 4344 | Registered: Mar 2003
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It's great that you see her potential, lem.
I'm thinking there are lots of resources out there to help you with ideas and implementation of this. Because computers for the physically disabled have been around in various forms for awhile.
You might also hook with an organization like SIGCAPH to find others that know about computer modifications for this.
Posts: 9538 | Registered: Aug 2003
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My husband, who has severe physical disabilities (just about completely paralysed, unable to speak, yadda yadda ya) is currently using the Darci USB, which allows him to type using Morse code (he uses a head switch, since he has a little head movement). They are inexpensive, too. When he still had a voice, he used Dragon Dictate speech recognition program.
And, yeah, check out the accessibility options on the Control Panel, for things like sticky keys.
Posts: 10397 | Registered: Jun 2005
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Or you could hit the shift key 5 times in a row. That brings up the sticky-keys control menu where you can turn it off and on and tell it how to work. Most gamers consider it the most annoying option in the world because some games require pressing the shift key multiple times for certain controls. Yeah. Nothing like diving into a fire fight only to realize the game just got minimized because sticky-keys felt like activating :S
Alternately, the on-screen keyboard is a handy feature that allows someone to type using the mouse. I think that might be preferable, as it doesn't change the way the computers operate. It's found under Start-> All Programs -> Accessories -> Accessability -> On screen keyboard
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