assistive tech in education

A few years ago, I was lucky enough to interview the Executive Director of the Bridge School, Dr. Vicki Casella. Our conversation changed me in many ways and put me on a path that leads me to my present.

The Bridge School is an organization whose mission it is to educate children with severe speech and physical impairments through the use of:

• creative approaches to education and communication
• augmentative and alternative communication systems and assistive technology
• extensive involvement of families and community

Dr. Casella and I discussed many things that afternoon, but one of the things she said to me was that technology for special needs kids is non-negotiable. Technology might be nice to have for us, but it is a must have for these kids. Framing technology in this way put me on a path to become the self-proclaimed social justice technologist I am today.

Now, when I speak at conferences about #tequity, or equity in education through technology, I remember not that long ago when technology for me was something different.