Reflection #10: The Brail Typewriter

What? Not too long ago, I met a little girl named Kortni.  She is beautiful and sweet, but can hardly see.  Extra large copies of worksheets are made for her in poster-size so she can participate in classwork just like other students.  She is only in 3rd grade and her eye sight is getting worse every year, so she has learned to write in brail with the help of special tutors provided by the public school district.  When I observed her last week, I was blown away by the power of technology in aiding her education.  Specifically, I was amazed by her ability to use the Brail Typewriter.

So What? I've realized several things through this experience.  Firstly, what a lovely gift it is that public schools can provide extra assistance to students who need it - for free!  Kortni is just as smart as other students and perhaps has a great calling in her life; but she can't develop intellectually like other students unless she has extra physical help to see her math problems, see the colors on the SMART Board lesson pictures, and write her story in a way that she would be able to read it later.  I hear a lot of negative talk about NCLB and it is understandably frustrating to exert so much energy into seemingly futile students.  However, in cases like Kortni's, I think the promises and provisions of NCLB are simply beautiful.  Secondly, I've grown to appreciate the unique skills that special needs students have which others don't.  Using the Brail Typewriter is a complex task!  With only six buttons, Kortni and her para-educator have to know which combinations will produce which letter, number, symbol, etc.  And then to be able to read the dots, it's incredible!

Now What?  I'll be careful now in the way that I think and speak (and write) about NCLB.  What if Kortni were my daughter and I had to hire and pay tutors to train her to learn brail, assist her in using technologies, provide tailored materials for her studies, etc.?  I will also be more aware of the resources available to such students.  If I know that there are special typewriters for sight-impaired students and unique technological methods to help them participate in the same activities as the rest of the class - only then, can I achieve the task of leaving no child behind.