About Me
Hi, my name is Sharon Stice. I'm the CTVI (Certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired) for the Joplin Schools. When not working with students who have visual impairments. I will be working to lend a hand with assistive technology needs, especially (but not necessarily) with special education staff. I have made sure that I have time available during the week to spend looking for ways that we can help students "get around" their disabilities with various forms of assistive technology.
What is Assistive Technology?
Assistive Technology (AT) promotes greater independence for people with disabilities by enabling them to perform tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish, or had great difficulty accomplishing, by providing enhancements to or changed methods of interacting with the technology needed to accomplish such tasks. AT includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices, software programs, equipment and the process used in selecting, locating, and helping students to use them.
How I Would Like to Help...
I will search the internet for AT-related information and then send you links, tips, articles, etc. I invite you to suggest topics, too. The focus of my efforts will be much wider than just vision impairments and include, for example, ESL, autism spectrum disorders, speech communication, hearing impairment, physical disabilities, students who struggle with written expression, etc. I will put information from this blog called "Everyday Tech" in district chat and the special education folder. I will also be visiting with people around the district to learn about the devices, techniques currently being used and brainstorming about ways to use AT to benefit kids. AT devices can work in many different settings with many different students. Think about how various AT items and material could help your students. Please let me know if you find something beneficial or not useful.
The first tip that I'd like to provide you is the following:
dotSUB
On dotSUB you can view, upload, transcribe, and translate any video into and from many languages. You can check it out at
http://dotsub.com/. This would seem to have interesting possibilities for ELL students, students who are hearing impaired or visually impaired and possibly other students who could benefit from descriptive video or subtitles. For instance, you could video a class activity and then put the audio description or subtitles in Spanish or Chinese, etc.
