Accessible IT Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Technology use in schools continues to increase, and using accessible computer and other media makes learning easier and more available to everyone. AIT in the classroom reduces the need for special modifications (AT) for students with disabilities, because computers are ready for everyone to use all the time.

Imagine Kay, a student with a reading disability, is working on an assignment at a computer. Kay has difficulty reading and understanding text, the assignment she is doing is a science project, but reading is involved. Kay uses a feature on the computer that will highlight words and read the text out loud (called Text-to-Speech) as she listens with earphones. This way Kay is able to learn the science information, and is not limited by her reading disability. Accessible computer software features, like text-to-speech, are ready for any student who needs them, and ignored by the students who do not need them. Using Accessible IT in classrooms helps to meet the diverse learning needs of all students.