One child's use of assistive technology

This is a qualitative study of one student’s use of assistive technology in the public school system from preschool to fourth grade. The data collected for this case study include interviews, participant observation, field and diary notes, video tapes, and other documents including school records and a teacher memoir. Throughout the study, the goals were to stay open to and reflect emerging patterns rather than to fit data into previously determined categories. The report describes how Michael--with cerebral palsy that affects his speech and prevents his standing or holding a pencil--used computers, augmentative communication devices, and other electronic technology. On one level the report becomes the story of a student who moves from a separate special education facility into an elementary school where he is integrated fulltime into a fourth grade class. Discussion and conclusions explore (1) types of support he required, (2) barriers to technology use as well as problems of "abandonment" of technology acquired, (3) the effect of integration into general education on his use of technology, and (4) how providing assistive technology influences and changes teachers’ roles.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Education

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Administration and Supervision of Special Education

Department dc:contributor.department

Administration and Supervision of Special Education

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1992

Author dc:creator

• Nelson, Bonnie E.

Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair

• Billingsley, Bonnie S.
• Nespor, Jan K.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Jones, Philip R.
• Burton, John K.
• Romano, Lewis

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-02052007-081240

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/37322