The Benefits of Virtual Technology in Education for Children with Special Needs

The amount of people who live with disabilities is a controversial number. Depending on what law and diagnostic tools used, a person may have a visible disability, or one that may lie beneath the surface of his or her appearance. Some people believe that the term “disability” is merely a label use to hold back, or prescribe helplessness. Meanwhile, individuals who have been properly diagnosed with disabilities struggle to maintain respect and acceptance every day. In plain language, there is a lot of misunderstanding between people with disabilities and those without. It is firstly important to get everyone on the same page regarding the definition of disability.

This article focuses on the many forms of technology in relation to special education. The article discusses the “high” and “low” forms of technology that is available for students with special needs to help “bypass” or “compensate” for their disabilities. The article goes on to survey the current status of assistive technology for the special education population. In the end, the article uncovers that the use of assistive technology for the special education population is promising though uncertain. Assistive technology has proven to be beneficial for students with learning disabilities, as it would empower them to work beyond their normal capabilities (Lewis, 1998).

The education model is used the school setting. The main focus is to allow the student who is disabled to participate in school and adapt to the school environment through special education. Each student’s educational need is met through individual therapy and treatment. It is free for the student with no obligation of pay from the family.

This writer was given an assignment of researching three questions related to learning disability. The three questions are: 1. what is a learning disability? 2. How do individuals with learning disabilities process information? and 3. What challenges are related to how these individuals process information? This writer has learned a lot about learning disability and special education all throughout this course, during this research, and during observation time in the classroom. Special education, a program developed in order to provide a free, appropriate education to all students, even those with special needs, was

Learning disabilities are becoming more and more common as the years go on. According to the life span development book “of all the children in the United States, thirteen percent from three to twenty-one years of age in the United States received special education or related servers in 2011-2012.” That is three percent higher than the amount of people with learning disabilities from 1980-1981. Studies have been and continue to be conducted to determine why learning disabilities are becoming more prevalent in American in recent years.

This paper will analyze virtual reality to explain what VR is and any drawbacks it may have, how and how much it is being used in education currently, how it is benefiting disabled learners, who are able to have access to it, and what a future with VR may look like.

It’s the 21st century and the world is experiencing an all time high in innovations in technology. These innovations in technology have helped the world break many communication barriers. Cellular phones make it easy to call anyone around the world with the press of a few buttons. Webcams and computers are used to help one video chat and send emails all in the matter of a few minuets. Due to these innovations many people with disabilities find it easier to communicate as well. This new technology has led to a greater acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities in society. For example, deaf people can use Facetime to call each other and sign through there. There also have been many applications developed for our hand held devices to

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines an Autism Spectrum Disorder as a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges (Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), 2014). Included in the term ASD are autism, Asperger’s, and pervasive developmental disorders. The individuals on this spectrum have some similar characteristics, but not everyone displays all of them. These include impairment in forming social relationships, poor social communication, and not having very imaginative thought processes. It all depends on the severity of the diagnosis. While these have inhibited the diagnosed individuals for many years, there has been a great deal of research done on how interactive media can provide a form of therapy for these individuals. By utilizing this technology, it helps them in performing behaviors individuals not on the spectrum do with ease.

The use of technology in educating children with special needs has widely grown in the past few decades, and has since has changed the way people with disabilities live, work, and learn” (Winzer, 2002, p. 98). Individuals with special needs are unique and all have different areas in which they need assistance. Due to the advancements in assistive technology, computer programs, software, and other technology tools, have helped people to find useful and easier ways to become educated.

The importance of education for all children, especially for those with disability and with limited social and economic opportunities, is indisputable. Indeed, the special education system allowed children with disability increased access to public education. Apart from that, the special education system has provided for them an effective framework for their education, and for the institutions involved to identify children with disability sooner. In turn, this promotes greater inclusion of children with disability alongside their nondisabled peers. In spite of these advances however, many obstacles remain, including delays in providing services for children with disability, as well as regulatory and

The use of technology in educating children with special needs has widely grown in the past few decades. Individuals with special needs are unique and all have different areas in which they need assistance. Due to the advancements in assistive technology, computer programs, software, and other technology tools, it has become much easier for people to find useful and easier ways to become educated. Because of this, “technology has changed the way people with disabilities live, work, and learn.” (Winzer,98)

Whilst there is no one single definition of special education there are some inherent similarities between the various definitions given by a plethora of philosophers, politicians and academics. Special Education is a form of instruction that is designed to meet the needs of students with disabilities in order that they can learn the very same skills and information as other students in school (Giordano, 2007; Osgood, 2005). Under the banner of special education there is high prominence placed upon individualised

(96) Virtual reality (VR) is define as a cybernetic simulation of 3D surroundings which can be interactive through auditory, sensory and visually stimulating equipment, i.e. gloves, headgear or headphones. VR is an incredibly recent development in technology and such has much room to progress with, I believe that VR is the future of animation as the key aim is to transport the viewer into the world we have created, VR being the next logical step as it creates this suspension of belief as well as activating all of the senses we use to perceive the real world.

Next, Virtual Reality might be a powerful and sophisticated tool for education in which it can enhances students understanding towards certain subjects. Virtual Reality’s application in education is greatly interactive computer based environment in

Seeing is believing, these words are the best combination to understand the meaning of Virtual Reality (VR). VR is one of the best asset and aspect of our future. No other technology has seen such a revolution like VR has. It is practically in use in almost every field such as entertainment, gaming, defense, robotics, medical, healthcare, military, education, fashion, heritage, business, engineering and many more fields. VR sometimes called Virtual Environment has drawn much attention in the last two decade. Extensive media coverage causes the much more rapid increase in the interest of the masses. Very few people, however, really know what VR is and what are its open problems are. In this report a historical overview of virtual reality is presented, basic terminology as an introduction are listed, followed by applications of this technology in science, work, and entertainment areas. Its present developments are thoroughly discussed in this report. Finally, the future of VR is considered in two aspects: technological and social. New research directions, technological frontiers and potential applications are pointed out. The possible positive and negative influence of VR on life of average people is speculated.