There needs to be some consideration for the accessibility of mobile devices such as mobile phones and PDA's. These devices are generally small in size which is a large feature of their mobility. This can present accessibility issues for students who have disabilities. For example a student with a visual impairment may find it difficult or impossible to view the small screen on a mobile device or a student with reduced manual dexterity may not be able to operate a device with small buttons. These issues need to be addressed before a mobile element could be introduced to the institution or there is a high risk of excluding members of the student population which is not acceptable.
Sarah Dawson
Student representative
Hello Sarah - you raise a very caring concern for students with a disability and good on you for looking out for them. Can I just caution you though, for some students with a disability, their mobile phone is one device that helps them enormously as it has functionality that makes it very accessible for them and 'evens out the playing field', helping them feel just like everyone else. Please look into this before you (even with the best of intentions) actually close down a great idea for ALL students, including those with disabilities!! This is one way of making their learning MORE accessible, not less! Thank you for your concern though! Sam Cameron (parent)
ReplyDeleteI have studied this topic to post graduate level and I can assure my research has been done! As you state the functionality of mobile devices can indeed help SOME students, but it can also disadvantage others as I was quite justifiably pointing out and as this article from JISC TecDis on the accessibility issues for the users of PDA'S demonstrates: http://www.techdis.ac.uk/index.php?p=9_5_6_18. Your dismissal of my arguement seems somewhat short sighted.
ReplyDeleteWhat am I to tell the parents of hearing impaired school children who want to bring their children to our institution when they are old enough? They tell me that the textual elements of mobile devices are their only realistic way of interacting in many study contexts and of staying in touch with each other and the outside world throughout the day. If they are not accommodated in an institution like ours, will they have to go to their "own" institution?
ReplyDeleteSteve Taylor
Administrator (in favour)