1. Bringing Actors Together – ICT for Disabled Students Rebecka Näslund Luleå University of Technology Department of Human Work Science

2. Disposition  Introduction to disability and technology.  Introduction to computers and disability.  Introduction to computers in school.  Conclusion and recommendations.

3. Purpose To present how ICT can be and is part of disabled peoples’ everyday lives.

4. The Questions  How is/can ICT be used in relation to people with disabilities?  How do pupils with intellectual disability use ICT?  What recommendations can be included when one focuses on ICT and pupils with disabilities?

5. Disability  Disability comes into existence as part of a relationship between the body and the surrounding environment.  Disability is a concept which includes bodies, the environment and technology and the relations between them.

6. Disability and ICT  Technology and disability have a long history.  ICT has benefits but also problems for people with disability.  There exists a digital divide between people with/without disability in relation to ICT.

7. Computers and Disability

10.  The Hal Screen reader is a software which enables people with visual impairments to access and use computers.  It is a software which costs around 795 USD for 1 user licence.

11. The Computerized School

16. Study of ICT and Disability

17. School for Pupils With Intellectual Disabilities  In 1968, the 1967 Act on special services for some mentally retarded was implemented.  The compulsory special school consists of: - The compulsory school for pupils with learning disabilities - The training school  Upper secondary school for pupils with learning disabilities consists of: - The national - The specially designed - The individual programmes

18. The Computerized School  Computers and information technology have been part of schools for almost 30 years.  In 1999 the project ITiS (IT in School) was implemented.

19. Using ICT during the Schooldays  The amount of computers varied.  Varied forms of use.

20. My interview with the intellectual disabled students, student # 1 Rebecka:…Do you think that it is good with computer in the school then? Martin: Yes. Rebecka: Is there an enough amount? Martin: Yes. Rebecka: You do not think that you should have more computers? Martin: Yes. Rebecka: You think so? Martin: Yes. Rebecka: How many should there be then? Martin: Six. Rebecka: Six, why should there be six? Martin: (Cannot hear what is being said) Put there also because. Rebecka: Do you think there should be one for you, one for each pupil? Martin: Yes.

21. ICT in Everyday Life  Computers are fun.  Used for playing games, visiting home pages.  Way to occupy oneself, learn about one’s interests.  Communication.

22. My interview with the intellectual disabled students, student # 2 Rebecka: Okay, why do you think, do you think it is important with the computer? Do you think it is important to be well up on computers? Erin: Yes. Rebecka: Why? Erin: Hm, to be able to check my mail, if any friends have written to me. Rebecka: Okay. Erin: I have lots of friends on my Lunar. Rebecka: Do you? Erin: Yes. Rebecka: Okay. Erin: Over 50. Rebecka: Oh. Erin: It is true. Rebecka: Is it friends you have here in town then? Do you have as many friends in town? Erin: No, not, it is some that I know, that I use to be with. Maybe 5, 10.

23. The Youths’ Views of the Computer

26. Conclusion & Recommendations  It is important to consider differences and similarities among people with and without disabilities.  People with disabilities, can by adopting ICT in their everyday lives, be enabled to open up for new educational, employment and social prospects.  More has to be done in the public schools in order to gain from the benefits of ICT.

27. Conclusion & Recommendations  Set up projects where staff and pupils at school can work with ways to use ICT in their everyday school practices.  It is advisable that these project are implemented by using some form of resource personal.  Provide staff who are interested in technical issues with possibilities to learn more about them.

28. Conclusion & Recommendations  Provide the schools with technology and software in accordance with the staffs’ and pupils’ needs.  If possible provide the staff and the pupils with computers and software so they can explore ICT also outside the school.

29. Conclusion & Recommendations Once the project is over:  Provide overall technical support.  Bring the staff and pupils together and have a workshop were the knowledge from the projects can be disseminated.

30. Bringing Actors Together – ICT for Disabled Students Rebecka Näslund Luleå University of Technology Department of Human Work Science