“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.”

My two cents is that the world will never change the way it responds to minority groups physically until we change the way we respond mentally. Individuals with disabilities are capable, although limited and often times not fully, human beings. Sure, they have physical and perhaps mental short-comings but, we all do. I, personally, do not believe in an "average" or "normal" person, we all have something wrong with us.

Luckily, there are companies working to combat that issue. They are currently working to develop and further produce technologies which aid persons with disabilities in everyday tasks. Theses technologies are known as assistive technologies.

1. Tobi c8 is a dynamic device that turns text and symbols into speech. It has a follow-up device known as Tobi c12. It comes with an upgraded eye control option. This could help individuals with limited to no hand functionality to better communicate.
   

1. Vibrotactile systems are systems which allow easier access for individuals with accessibility issues. A more common type pf vibrotactile device is a recliner, it allows individuals with spinal/vibrotactile issues to easily enter and exit the seat.
   


2. Designer Talking Calculator w/Music Box is a device designed to aid those with low to no vision, it reads entries out-loud so that the user doesn't need to physically see the calculator in order to use it. It could help those students who are blind/visually impaired to easier perform mathematics problems.

More resources include:

• http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm
• Education World's Classroom Assistive Classroom Technologies
  
• http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te7assist.htm
• http://atto.buffalo.edu/registered/ATBasics/Foundation/intro/introbasic.php

The great thing about elementary education is that children are still primarily innocent and thus motivated by abstract, fun, concepts like imagination, creativity, and love. It doesn't take much to entertain their brains. All it takes is some quick ingenuity and thinking outside the box.

It takes some thinking about using tools not necessarily designed for the classroom or the purpose of education, tools like the Apple iTouch [iPod]. JenniferWillems, writes on a Ning.com education post about her schools recent funding of the invention, originally designed for entertainment purposes through music and television. One way Jennifer could use the iTouches is by uploading fun and creative song related to classroom lessons like School House tunes which range in content from Social Studies, to Math, and even Language Arts! In fact, you can upload both audio and video further enhancing the experience. Perhaps the sweetest part to having an Apple iTouch in the classroom is its Wifi connectivity features which is also a huge downfall (but no worries we have passwords and such to keep kiddies safe!). Still, that capability allows a teacher to download Apps from Apple's wide array of selection including educational software!

More Help:

• iPhone Apps for Kids
• Top 10 iphone Apps for Children
• Apple.com
• 5 uses for the iTouch in the Classroom