We are going to begin looking at ‘Assistive Technology’. Assistive technology has gone through a complete transition over the past 10-15 years. Assistive technology has given people freedoms that they would not have had if new advances were not made with regard to technology and how it can be used.
Your first task is going to be to search the Internet for ‘assistive technology’. I think you will be amazed with the number of new and developing technologies that are out there and how the technology has helped people overcome adversities and obstacles. Think of how the quality of life for people with disabilities has improved and changed drastically because of assistive technology.
Have you ever heard of Lance Armstrong or Stephen Hawkins? Search the Internet and find out what you can about these two amazing men. Determine the obstacles that they overcame and then went on to do amazing things with their lives. Also determine how assistive technology helped the men overcome some of life’s obstacles.
Today you are to find 3 articles about people who have overcome adversity in their life . . . discuss the obstacles and what technology they used to overcome these obstacles. Post on your personal blog your findings. You will be sharing your blog URL with me and the rest of the class in our class blog tomorrow. You can NOT use my two examples (Lance Armstrong and Stephen Hawkins). There are plenty of other examples out there for you to find. When you search make sure you are looking for people who have overcome obstacles with the help of assistive technology.
Keep in mind that you are going to be doing a research project based on the information that you find today. Please make sure that you are bookmarking all of your references on Delicious or Diigo.
Please make sure you are very productive today. Don’t mess around and waste time.
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ReplyDeleteTyhari Arvay
ReplyDeleteThis is my Blog post for January 3, 2012
I researched three people Deidre Downs, Duke Fakir, and Stevie Wonder
Deidre Downs was from a family who suffered hearing loss, she was diagnosed with hearing loss when she was five years old, and had to wear hearing aids in school. she was very self conscious about herself, and decided not to where hearing aids. she was able to overcome the problem by sitting in the front row in school and by looking at the person she was talking to.
Duke Fakir was in a very popular band in the 1960 and still is today. he suffered hearing loss and did not like the way the hearing aids looked, but overcame his concern with open-fit style hearing aids, which are miniature hearings aids which are hard to see.
Stevie Wonder was born blind. this was because he was born six weeks premature and and retinas formed behind his eyes. hes never really known what its like to see, so hes able to live comfortably, he is a famous singer who has been awarde 22 grammy's ( the most of any blind soloist).
Wanda Crotts was diagnosed with polio in August of 1953. She became paralysed in the right leg. Her parents took her to Asheville to be treated. She was given a brace that encased her knee, helping her walk. In Junior High she was able to walk on her own. She was left with a slight limp and a paralyzed foot, but was still able to live a normal life.
ReplyDeleteHelen Keller one of the U.S.'s most well known women became blind and deaf after she contracted scarlet fever at 19 months. She learned how to communicate with the help of sign language and braille. At teh age of 16 with her teacher's help she passed the emissions test for radcliff college, and it was there that she typed her first autobiograpy the story of my life. when she graduated in 1904 she had learned 5 languages. Helen became a socialist and supported womens rights. she was later a star of many movies and plays depicting her life.
Glenn Woodell's leg was ripped off in a car accident when he was 21. Glenn was using a prosthetic leg and was forced to go back to school and had to give up his dream of wind surfing. After a few years Glenn wanted to try surfing again, so he bought a better prosthetic and hit the beach. in April 1994 he tried wind surfing, he spend 112 days practicing before he was abled to stay up, and he hasen't stopped since.