Pros And Cons Of Compensating For A Learning Disability
December 4th, 2008

A recent trend in special education, rehabilitation, and technology is the development and implementation of assistive technology (AT) devices and services. These assist individuals in compensating for learning and/or physical disabilities. AT devices and services have many benefits for individuals with learning disabilities in regards to life span issues, environmental and academic accessibility, and compensatory strategies. Faculty members in higher education who are responsible for designing teacher preparation programs in LD must explore ways to structure curriculum to better prepare teachers to work with students who use AT devices to compensate for their specific learning disabilities. There are many pros to these devices as the users will say, but many outsiders thing that these same pros are cons.

The idea of someone relying on an outside tool for some is not believed as true learning. If one must have to use the instruction of computer technology to get the answer to a math problem of talk into a microphone to write a paper how is that learning? Many non-disabled people will argue that knowing what the words writing, reading, and arithmetic are is not enough. One should be capable of doing work with out the help of computers and other devices that "do" the work for the person. If a non-disabled student has to do the work on paper to be labeled competent in that subject, then how does another student use a computer to do the work and that is labeled competent as well. At that vantage point it is the non-disabled student who is at a disadvantage. A computer is always right. It can spell correctly and do a math problem in no time flat. How can one access this to a child who is doing things out long hand? Many people with out a learning disability can argue that both groups of children should be classified and tested separately.

For those who suffer from a learning disability, this is not the actual story. In to order work the devices that they are rendered, they must know how to use them. For learning disabled persons this is not an easy thing. This is just one more concept that will take time and countless effort to master. Many of the computer programs are very sensitive. If the person using the program cannot plug in the data correctly the answer will be wrong. The learning disabled student must know about how to organize and structure their work for it to come out correct. Without the device the student would not be capable of comprehending what is being done. A learning disability is a neurological problem inside the brain that effects what the person can perceive and understand. A simple program can help these people know what they are doing even if they are not coordinated to write it physically out. It can be argued that the concept has been perceived in order to get the data where it belonged to get to the proper answer.

There are several reasons why assistive technology enhances the lives of disabled students. It is just more than getting a right answer. It is about self-confidence, social acceptance, and feeling good about oneself. To be able to do the things so-called normal kids can do allows the disabled child to feel normal for a moment. Everyday is a struggle; they have to work much harder to get just the most basic concepts. These children have motor skill issues that can make them clumsy and awkward, which is embarrassing to them. Having adaptive equipment helps these children better express themselves with out frustration and having a melt down. This also removes the problems with gaps in communication that can make them lose friends or not be able to understand lessons that are being taught. Assistive technology is not a way to "cheat" or get away with not learning. It is a tool for all activities of daily living. One must have the concepts down in order to use the technology as it was designed. This takes time, therapy, and severe determination to succeed. It is frustrating and depressing for many student. But is this assistive equipment that has allowed them to win and be a part of the world. This will enable the learning disabled to persevere in the world and live a healthy productive life

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