Science, Technology and Math Issues for K-12 Students with Disabilities

Cunningham, Carmela, Information Technology and Disabilities

Children who do not get a solid foundation in science and mathematics during Kindergarten through 12th grade will not be properly pr epared to study science, math, engineering or technology (SMET) successfully in college. Too often students with disabilities fall into this group. There are several basic issues facing students with disabilities.

First, there is an attitude among teachers, administrators, and sometimes even parents, that students with disabilities can't "do" math or science.

Second, students with disabilities are often waived out of math and science course work in K-12, which means that they don't develop the basic foundational skills in these fields. This also makes it impossible for many students with disabilities to meet national standards in science and math.

Third, students with disabilities are not getting adequate training on adaptive computing technology that would allow them to work in the technical fields.

Fourth, students with disabilities often require extra help in making the transition from one level of education to the other and from the educational setting to the workplace.

Fifth, students with disabilities and their parents must learn to be advocates to lobby for the appropriate technology and other accommodations necessary for students with disabilities to succeed in ed ucation and the workplace.

NEGATIVE ATTITUDES AND …

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Publication information: Article title: Science, Technology and Math Issues for K-12 Students with Disabilities. Contributors: Cunningham, Carmela - Author. Journal title: Information Technology and Disabilities. Volume: 4. Issue: 4 Publication date: October 1997. Page number: Not available. © 2008 EASI: Equal Access to Software and Information. COPYRIGHT 1997 Gale Group.

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