“For most people, technology makes things easier. For people with disabilities, technology makes things possible” — Mary Pat Radabaugh
Children with disabilities remain victim of exclusion from various aspects of life. In Pakistan, this exclusion is observed at social, academic, community and employment level. Assistive technology upgrades in arena of special education has been a major aspect for empowering special needs children around the globe. Assistive technology has proved how it can facilitate children with disabilities in coming at par with peers without any disabilities. Pakistani government has committed to cater to thousands of students with learning disabilities through smartphone applications and new assistive technologies. This article aims at highlighting availability of new assistive technologies that can be utilized in Pakistan.
Read More: Special Needs Children and Education in Pakistan: Know the Types
What is Assistive Technology?
Assistive Technology refers to technology for special needs people. Assistive Technology is especially designed to help students with learning disabilities. From physical disability to cognitive dysfunction, assistive technology has proven to minimize disabilities and support learning process. Assistive technology can provide a levelled field for special children in terms of motor skills, speech, hearing and vision. This, in turn, can benefit thousands of children who are deprived of basic education. There are several low-tech, medium-tech and high-tech tools and strategies under assistive technologies. Depending on needs and awareness regarding these technologies, they are being adopted by countries around the globe.
Assistive Technology in Classrooms
The world of Assistive Technology has been constantly evolving resulting in increased opportunities for students in learning disabilities. Some of the most effective technologies for students with specific disabilities include the following:
1. Visually and Hearing Impaired Students
Audio Visual Assistance in Google Chromebooks have built-in screen readers, screen magnifiers, high-contrast mode and select-to-speak, and Braille keyboard with Bluetooth. Moreover, G-suite for education and several other systems now offer dictation capabilities and audiobooks. For hearing impairment, hearing aids and cochlear implants that can directly connect to tablets and computers, transmits sound wirelessly from hearing aids to media devices. With FM systems, teachers wearing microphones can communicate with students at particular distances with radio signals.
2. Students with Speech Delay/ Disability
For speech delays and disabilities, Electronic Worksheets with text-to-speech and speech synthesizing technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled add-ins for students to speak in microphone for converting into text, and DAF and FAF devices are available easily. Delayed Auditory Feedback (DAF) plays user’s voice with delay of seconds for easy understanding. Frequency Altered Feedback (FAF) changes the pitch of sound at which user can hear it.
3. Students with Cognitive Disabilities
Some of the cognitive disabilities in students include Dyslexia, Autism, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, Down syndrome, etc. Several assistive technologies are already being used in Pakistani schools for special children including Memory Aids, Audiobooks, Microsoft’s Immersive Reader, and Phonetic spelling software and other animated games and apps. Some of the other advanced technologies include use of Virtual Reality (VR) devices for kids with autism or dyslexia, Microsoft’s Tell Me Feature, Special fonts like Open Dyslexic, and Talking Calculators. All these technologies are adjusted according to the fact that each special child is different and has different learning pace. Therefore, the flexibility to adjust to individual user is the key to empower special needs children.
4. Students with Mobility Assistance
Most of the Special Needs Children, specifically with cognitive disabilities, require flexible classroom settings, tools and furniture to cater to their individual needs. While such steps are not widely available in Pakistan, globally, modern learning environments are created using flexible furniture. Standing desks, wobble stools, touch screens, and exercise balls are some of the advance classroom Assistive technologies that can help deal with emotional and mobility concerns of special children.
Assistive Technology for Children with Disabilities in Pakistan
Assistive Technology in Pakistan is still mostly limited to motor and sensory devices and software. A research paper in Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal found that the need for assistive technology in Pakistan was highest for mobility aids. Wheelchairs, bionic hands, arms, hearing aids and Braille system are some of the most commonly used assistive aids. The study also found that the most common factor behind lack of access to assistive technology in Pakistan is lack of awareness. Around 34.8% participants were unaware of assistive technology that exists for their condition.
However, now the government of Pakistan under the Directorate General Special Education (DGSE) is working on several projects with IT sector along with amendments in Bye-laws for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Some of the initiatives include:
- Sign Language Interpretation on National Television
- Establishment of Autism Resource Center with advance Assistive Technology
- Launch of Computerized Braille Press
- Mobile Libraries for Special Children and Students
- Prime Minister’s Cochlear Implant Program
The provision of Assistive Technology is based on the criterion provided by World Health Organization (WHO) and includes the elements of Availability, Accessibility, Adaptability, Acceptability, Quality and most importantly Affordability.
