Developing effective strategies
Strategies need to address more than educational needs in
order to see success
"It appears that the best educational tool for people with disabilities is
patience. Self-esteem, building on strengths, advocacy for a student's
disability, and increasing the awareness of other staff and students are
paramount. These students need to gain respect from others by having
knowledge about their rights as a student with a disability. Often, individuals
have struggled their whole life not having been diagnosed with a disability,
but knowing that learning was more difficult for them." 1
"Their disability has a psychosocial, a technological, and an educational
impact. Any approach that successfully works with these students will
address all three of these parameters." 2 Practitioners should: consider
learners' needs for support and the types of strategies that may meet their
needs; acknowledge their previous experiences of frustration; and consider
possible accommodations and access to appropriate assistive technology. All
of these factors must be recognized and considered to develop the best
training plans possible.
Psychosocial assistance pertains to building self-esteem, motivation and
independence. Often adults' self-esteem may be low due to previous negative
experiences with school and possible ongoing struggles with employment.
Many adults may not understand why they struggle and accept their
difficulties as a lack of "smarts".
Technological assistance pertains to the use of technology as an
accommodation, a tool for organizing and/or developing skills. Often
technology is used to help compensate for specific learning deficits.
|