Using technology to create an Inclusive Classroom

Implementing technology will not just benefit those who are disabled, but I think everyone will really get something out of it. Technology wasn’t created just for people with disabilities; it was created for many different reasons which I won’t get into. But by including more technology in your classroom I think it would help create an environment where everyone would benefit and learn more. As a teacher, it is part of my job to help educate all students in the best possible way. Using technology, and many different sorts of it, I believe will help me achieve this.
Universal Design is not just one common way to teach, but it is actually many different ways to help teach so it reaches everyone’s different ability levels. This website gives a great example of how like speakerphones and closed captioning helps everyone, not just those who are disabled. I know plenty of people who use closed captioning a lot and they have no hearing impairment, they just like to see what is being said. Universal Design uses a lot of technology to help environments and society become more inclusive.
Section 508 is a law that was enacted in 1998 by congress. It is an amendment to the Rehabilitation Act that states that electronic and information technology should be available for people with disabilities. This means that everyone, including federal agencies will have to follow the guidelines and sections of 508 when creating new technology. Hopefully with this law, new technologies will be made to better assist the disabled. It will also help change old technologies to make them more accessible so that people can better obtain and learn from them
Obviously, one technology that I think I would most definitely need in my classroom is a computer. This is something that every classroom should have. It has so many uses that go above and beyond just helping someone with a disability. You can do research on it or you can have it read a book aloud to you. Another technology I would use in my classroom is a Smart Board. I think these are truly incredibly useful in so many different ways. It also makes a good visual for anyone. Another technology that I may want in my classroom is a Tango. This would be useful especially with an autistic child, but could be helpful in early learners. One last technology I would like to use is the Touch Math book; these had great lessons in them that I think would be applicable to many different ranges of students.
I think by using some, maybe not all of the technologies I talked about it would help make my classroom more inclusive. It would have students learning on different levels. I would also be approaching how I taught students in different ways so that it fits the needs of all. I think creating a classroom modeled around Universal Design will benefit everyone including myself. Also, as a teacher, it is part of my duty to comply with the section 508 and make sure I am helping meet all students’ needs.