No Child Left Behind?
Originally posted August 12, 2008
By 2008, all states must test all children for standard language, math and science skills. These results are to be reported publicly. What about visually impaired children? Many of them spend hours learning braille, orientation and mobility, assistive technology, living skills and occupational therapy. They spend time learning these skills and forego learning the skills being assessed. Some children spend additional hours learning subjects that sighted students receive instruction on during regular hours.
In my case, there were no courses available to teach mobility, assistive technology or living skills outside of special institutions. I was not sent to the Michigan School for the Blind. My parents thought it best for me to receive the same education as my brothers. I attended public school and was passed along and left behind. I did receive new technology low vision aides in middle school. This helped me participate and catch up. The 1960’s had little to offer visually impaired students outside of specialized institutions. There were no expectations for me. My parents wanted me to have the same experience and if I could overcome, I would be the better for it.
The pendulum has swung to the other extreme. Children with visual impairments are to be offered the same learning experience as sighted children. One way of doing this is through distance learning. Computer technology that follows accessibility standards can level the playing field and give visually impaired students the same learning experience.
- Courses must be accessible via screen reader and assistive technology.
- Linked web material must be accessible.
- Multimedia must have alternative information.
- Web 2.0 synchronized content must have audible queues for the visually impaired student.
- Visually impaired instructors must have lesson creation process accessibility.
- Audio and video players must have keyboard accessibility.
Distance learning can be done at any time, allowing visually impaired students the ability to attend regular courses with their sighted peers. This gives visually impaired students the opportunity to participate in standard assessments.