Can ICT Give Children with Disabilities Equal Opportunities in School?

SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://sagepub.com

Y

14

Physical Disabilities; Measures (Individuals); Assistive Technology; Special Needs Students; Computer Uses in Education; Educational Technology; Technology Integration; Inclusive Schools; Mainstreaming; Equal Education; Parent Attitudes; Questionnaires; Interviews; Student Attitudes; Adolescents; Males; Foreign Countries

10.1177/1365480209353483

1365-4802

Opportunities for children with disabilities to participate in school on equal conditions as others are often stressed, while reality shows that many children with disabilities are still segregated. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been highlighted as a tool for communication and inclusion for children with disabilities but from research it appears that implementation of technology in children's everyday life (e.g. in school) is difficult. The positive expectations of ICT are thus not met. This article is based on a study aimed at ascertaining whether ICT can promote inclusion of children with motor disabilities and contribute to equal opportunities in school. Focus was on parents' views. The study was based on a questionnaire with 16 parents and interviews with the children. In this article the results of the parental questionnaire and one of the interviews with a 15-year-old pupil, Adam, is reported. Two schools where ICT and computers were used as pedagogical tools to promote inclusion were involved. Both schools had and still have the intention to be considered "a school for all children". One conclusion is that there is a need for both technical and social support in school if ICT should function as a bridge for inclusion of all pupils.

As Provided

43

2010

EJ880933