Today I had a great conversation with an EA. He works with an autistic student, and this student has a homework block the same time that a deaf student has his homework block. I have been letting this deaf student use my iPad for different activities during the day, and recently purchased iASL (translates written English into video ASL).
Yesterday, the EA and the deaf student struck up a conversation. On the iPad. They talked for half an hour. How cool is that? This EA had never before "spoken" to this student and was surprised with all that the student had to say. Using the iPad has helped the student go from using it to taking photos to communicating with others in a matter of a few weeks.
I had the opportunity to take this student to Networking Day at the Manitoba School for the Deaf in October. We had an hour ride together until we picked up his EA interpreter. What to do during that time? Listen to the radio? Drive in silence. No way. He took out his cell phone and typed out questions. To respond, I used Dragon Dictate on my iPhone (no, I wasn't texting and driving) so that he could read my answers. We had a great conversation on the way to Winnipeg and on the way back. In fact, when we got back to town, he signed that "time flew". It sure did.
It is so awesome to see how technology opens up a world of communication for all individuals, as it has for this deaf student.
That is exciting that a whole new world of communication has opened up for this student.
ReplyDeleteThat is really interesting! I love to hear about technology working to make a better world for people.
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