B is for Blog

Remove the Stumbling Block:  Fair Isn't Always Equal

Over the weekend I viewed some informative videos  showing the accessibility options in various technology platforms... well, I never even knew before last week that accessibility options even existed, I'm embarrassed to say.  I have iPads, PCs, classroom Chromebooks, and an Apple/Mac Air computer, although I don't own an Android tablet.  I teach kids with special needs and those with specific learning disabilities and didn't even know that accessibility options existed, even though I own and have access to 4/5 of the style of devices... geesh!  I sure am glad I took this course! 

Each platform has some similar features, but there are also vast differences.  The most striking thing to me was how many options the iPad has included at no additional cost.  They are easy to access and apply with a few taps of easy to follow buttons.   Android seems to be making an effort to have similar options to the iPad, including such things as the Talkback feature for those with vision challenges and switch access links, which is great to know, although Android's supports are less plentiful.   Apple computers also have loads of easy to use and apply options. There are so many to list for a variety of user needs, but all attempt to level the playing field for access for a variety of users.   PCs and Chromebooks, which is the direction our board has went, are quite limited in options and confusing to navigate or cost additional fees to download, but one can hope that over time the availability of options will increase.  I appreciated Barb Welsford saying that apps are constantly expanding and that something like eye gaze may even become available.   Amazing!  I have learned how to web search accessibility apps over each platform and also have videos to refer back to in my resource practice to aid individual students, which is awesome.  Students with vision, hearing, physical and learning challenges can have their needs more widely met with accessibility options.  

Today in class Tracy and I finished our Book Creator assignment.  We have also just made an awesome resource for my career access program and her BIRT program.  How cool is that!  My top take away was how applicable the app was for a huge variety of ages.  While we were using Book Creator for MS and HS, Holly and Aleicia were able to design activities for primary students!  I also learned how to interface the app through Showbie with my computer to upload graphics... and it was easy peasy... or as they say "Down Under" "easy peasy lemon squeezy".  We also learned Book Creator is really forgiving and easy to go back and edit... we added our title and author names after we had published it the first time and it still was ok letting us go back and add changes.  A winner for sure!  No wonder it won an App of the Year award for 2015!