Morocco November 12, 2012 Name of Student: Johnny Sweetheart Disability area: Visual Impairment Age/Grade: 6th grade 1 1 years old Description of the learner: Johnny is totally blind in both eyes. This is a defect from birth and there is no hope for correction. Johnny Is a very bright and ambitious student. He does not let his Impairment affect the quality of his life. He Is completely self-dependent.
He uses his walking stick to get from class to class and because the school is equipped with an AT eating, Johnny is able to make to the correct class by using the Braille directly under the room numbers. Johnny is an honor roll student and he would say that his greatest strength Is the ability to hone in on his other senses, Johnny Is a fantastic saxophonist, in fact he is self-taught thanks to his ability to hone in on his sense of hearing. It is important to Johnny that he is able to play in the school band.
Johnny’s parents are his biggest supporters. They knew that his visual impairment would make even the simplest task difficult for him. They want Johnny not only to receive a laity education but they also want him to have a great experience with his passion for music. Their biggest concern is of course Johnny’s well-being. The school is two- stories so it is important that there is an elevator for Johnny, as they fear he may fall or be pushed down the stairs due to being In a hurry to get from one class to the other.
Johnson parents also worry that Johnny will not make It to the right classes and that he may get lost. The school is equipped to help those with visual impairments. The classrooms and offices have Braille directly on the door underneath the room number or office name. Johnny’s parents want him to be able to interact with other students and gain the social skills that are necessary In everyday life. It Is Important that Johnny’s teachers are prepared to assist Johnny. All of Johnny’s written assignments will need to be in Braille, as he will not be able to read the text.
Accommodations may need to be made for him as he will be reliant on the elevator and feeling the doors for the correct room so there may need to be some allotment for time from class to class. The goal of this AT plan is to make Johnny’s educational experience pleasant and stimulating. It is the goal of the teachers and the school to accommodate Johnny and provide a safe learning environment. It is the goal of the teachers to make sure that Johnny receives a quality education and help him hone In on his other senses as he has already done thanks to his love for music.
Materials and methods: I Potential Barriers/missed opportunities: I AT solutions: I 1 OFF benefit using a downloaded voice synthesizer or screen reader. “Many voice synthesizers and screen readers are available for purchase from companies or nongovernmental organizations or are available for free use on the internet. These programs allow access to internet websites” (De Freesias Elves, Monitor, Rubella, Exasperate & De Cervical, 2009, p. 149). A program such as Textually http:// whom. Next. Com may benefit this student greatly. 1 2.
Keyboard I The student will not be able to see the keys on the keyboard I This student would benefit from a keyboard that is designed for the blind. It is a Galatea Braille Keyboard, http:// www. Maxis. Commits keyboard is easy to use and will replace the traditional keyboard. 1 3. Printed materials I The student is not able to read the materials or textbooks that are provided to the class. I This student would benefit from materials and text being printed out in Braille. The student would benefit from the American Printing House for the Blind http://www. App. Org and National Braille Factory http:// www. Reallocation. Com Both of these companies provide material that is printed in Braille to help assist the student. “Braille is a communication system of touch that allows the persons who are blind to read, review, and study the written word. It consists of raised dots in a six-cell configuration, and each configuration represents a letter in the alphabet” (Beard, Carpenter & Johnston, 2011, p. 136). | 4. Pen and paper for taking notes I Since the student is totally blind they are not likely able to e the paper and may not know how to correctly write letters let alone read their notes afterwards.
I A note taker device will benefit this student because the student will be able to use the device which utilizes the students voice and outputs the notes in a Braille format. Such devices include Note-Taking Device Translate HTTPS:// www. Ms. Du/-?m]h/tactic. Tm and Braille Sense Plus http://enabler. Com | 5. Dictionary I The student will need a dictionary to look up vocabulary words but will be unable to read the text. I This student would benefit from a dictionary that has speech output.