Technology: Accessibility Features

 Accessibility features

Image source:https://www.cnet.com/reviews/apple-ipad-2018-9-7-inch-review/

I chose to look at the iPad for my assignment. The iPad is a common use in my classroom. Either for earnings after doing work, communication needs or to complete work in class. Thinking about my class I chose five features that help my students on a daily basis.

Image source: personal photo

I made an infographic that shows each app and what it can do for an individual with a speech disability or a vision disability. The first app is Google. I chose to spotlight this app because it is a common tool that we all use on a daily basis but it has features that can help verbal and non-verbal people or visually impaired. I discussed the microphone button. Here a verbal person can click the button and speak what they want to search. A non-verbal person can type what they want to search or place a picture in the search bar. It's a neat tool also if you do not know how to spell something, speak it then and google will search it.

The next app I chose was TouchChat. This app gets used pretty frequently in my school, as we have many non-verbal students or students that speak in scripts and we want to know more. I found this great compilation of videos that help with TouchChat. TouchChat is an app where you have options of how you want it to generate words. First, a person can type out their message if they are proficient in spelling. Second, a person could generate a picture to say a word and create sentences by touching several pictures. For example, I circled three words that would say "I want eat". Meaning I am hungry and would like something to eat.

Image source: personal photo

The last feature would be creating a script that could play out a whole message. For example, I could have a script that says "Hello, my name is XX and I am XX years old" 

Image source: personal photo

The above picture shows how a script has been saved to a button to speak different sentences. I chose the one that said their name but as you can see there are other buttons he can push to say other facts about him. Other ways we have used it is to place an order.

Image source: personal photo

Another feature I chose was the accessibility features that come with the iPad. 

Image source: https://education.apple.com/learning-center/T021990A-en_US

If you go into your settings on the iPad there is an accessibility feature. This is where you can change the font size, change colors of font, change color of the screen, change the screen resolution, change the language, turn on typing feedback, turn on talk to text, and more. The iPad truly has a ton of features for anyone with a disability. 

The next app I found and to be honest have never used but seems great for my students or others with disabilities is Be my eyes. This app connects people who are visually impaired to a volunteer that helps them see what they are looking at. This could be reading a label, helping them navigate through an unknown area, or identifying objects. This would be very helpful for students that are working on independence. It could help them navigate through life with assistance but still being able to be independent. 

The last feature I found with the iPad is Siri. I looked this up because I am not as familiar with iphones or iPads but you can go into settings and turn on Siri. Then all a person needs to do is say "Hey Siri" and you can ask a question, make a comment, ask to open something in the device or search something on the device. Pretty neat feature if you are visually impaired or if you are not sure where to find something.

All these apps benefit my students by creating independence for them in life. They are able to talk with teachers and peers or they are able to problem solve with the help of others. If you like to know more about apps to help with disabilities you can look here.