Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative

Handbook for K-12 Teachers Promotes Internet Access

A new publication and World Wide Web Site produced by the World Institute on Disability (WID) promotes access to the Internet in K-12 schools for students with disabilities, students with a variety of learning styles, and those who do not speak English as their first language. The 21-page handbook titled The Internet: An Inclusive Magnet for Teaching All

Students provides practical tips, general access guidelines, resource listings and success stories of teachers from across the U.S. who use the Internet with a diverse student body.

"Having Internet access has been like having a pot of gold in my classroom," said Deborah Fell, a teacher from Urbana High School in Illinois. She uses technology originally developed for blind computer users to help students with learning disabilities. The screen reading technology, which uses a synthesized voice to read computer-based text aloud to students with visual impairments, also provides access to print materials for students who have difficulty reading because of learning disabilities. This is just one example of the multiple benefits that can be derived from pursuing strategies outlined in the handbook.

"The Internet has dramatic potential to break down physical barriers to information and be a tool of educational excellence and empowerment for disabled students," said Betsy Bayha, WID's Director of Technology Policy and author of the handbook. "Use of the Internet in K-12 education has risen dramatically in recent years. But often, teachers are not familiar with simple strategies they can pursue to integrate students with disabilities into usage of the Internet." The handbook and web site seek to fill that information gap.

Teachers working in K-12 education are encouraged to use the handbook and provide their own success stories for inclusion on the website by emailing details to handbook@wid.org.

Hard copies of the Handbook can be ordered from WID for $5. An electronic version is posted on the Web at http://www.wid.org/archives/handbook.pdf where copies can be download for free.