"That is so cool!" Hayden exclaims. Cutting-edge technology provides never-before-possible access, such as real-time tactile views of the recent solar eclipse—but such devices are expensive.
AMERICA PROMISES EVERY CHILD AN EQUAL CHANCE TO SUCCEED
To Keep the Promise we must increase the annual per student allocation from $269 to $1,000.
So why does it cost more to educate a student who is blind?
Students who are blind and visually impaired need unique learning tools.
It is estimated that as much as 90% of learning is visual – information enters the brain through the sense of sight. Many students have some useful vision and require large print materials. For people with little or no vision, concepts are primarily learned through touch and hearing. Specialized tools needed for these types of learning include:
- Braille – a system of tactile reading and writing that can be presented in embossed paper and digital forms.
- Tactile Graphics – representations interpreted by touch for visual elements such as charts, graphs, and maps.
- Technology Adaptations – such as computer screen reader software and calculators with audio output.
Learning Tools for a 10th grade physics class
| Tools | For a student who is sighted | For a student who is blind |
|---|---|---|
| Writing/Printing Equipment | Pens, pencils, printer, and paper |
Braillewriter/braille paper, braille embosser/tractor-feed braille paper |
| Physics Textbook | 1 print volume |
38 braille volumes |
| Calculator | Graphing Calculator |
Graphing Calculator with speech |
| Portable Technology Aids | Tablet |
Tablet with refreshable braille display |
| Laptop | Laptop |
Laptop with screen reader software |
| Total Cost for a 10th grade physics class | $1,583.00 | $36,183.00 |
