Guide
Benefits of mastering tech early: Layla, then and now!
The benefits of introducing technology in preschool!
Do you ever wonder what those adorable preschoolers who were introduced to tech early are doing now? I am one of those “mature” educators who have watched many of my previous preschool and kindergarten students graduate from high school and college and go on to have successful careers. When iPads were released, I knew this device would be a game changer for students with low vision and blindness. With its touch screen, built-in accessibility, and simplicity, app developers quickly began creating simple educational apps for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarten students and excited TVIs jumped to find ways to harness this powerful piece of tech. What are those BLV students who started with iPads in preschool doing now?
Preschool Layla
Layla was one of the first 4-year olds to be introduced to an iPad with VoiceOver and a refreshable braille display that I followed. In 2015, her amazing TSVI, Rachel Heuston, participated in a semester long iPad Accessibility course that Ed Summers and I taught, and Layla was her test student for the course. Rachel did an amazing job of recording Layla’s iPad progress which she shared through posts on Paths to Technology.
The summary video below follows then 4-year old Layla as she was introduced to the iPad, VoiceOver gestures, and a refreshable braille display. This 9-minute video begins in September with Layla being introduced to VoiceOver gestures and ends in January with Layla reading and writing braille using an iPad paired with a refreshable braille display.
4-year old Layla’s introduction to the iPad video:
This video inspired many TSVIs and parents to introduce an iPad to their young students with visual impairments. The video was also shared with app developers as “proof of concept” showcasing the tech abilities of very young blind students, which brought much needed attention to the need to incorporate accessibility into early apps.
Did you recognize Layla? She is the icon image for Paths to Technology!
Middle School Layla
The video below features rock star Layla, now in 7th grade, who is Freedom Scientific’s March 2023 Student of the month. Layla’s personality shines through as she shares about all the activities she participates in and then goes on to talk about her tech skills. She was using a laptop with JAWS in 4th grade to access her schoolwork and she shares that she became even more efficient with JAWS during the pandemic with virtual classes. Layla now uses JAWS to access all her schoolwork and for leisure activities.
Descriptions of background photos and clips in the video here.
Benefits of mastering tech early
- For emerging readers:
- The combination of refreshable braille and auditory announcements strongly supports learning letters and words
- Refreshable braille display keys are so easy to activate (vs. the physical finger strength required for the Perkins Brailler)
- The braille is always “crisp” and easy to read on a refreshable braille display (vs. paper braille which can be “mushy”)
- Educational apps are fun and motivating!
- Entering kindergarten with the same tech skills as sighted peers
- Independence and confidence!
- General education teacher takes direct responsibility of teaching without having to go through the TSVI
- Gen ed teacher can view text in print on the student’s device in real time
- Gen ed teacher can independently create accessible digital materials
- Student learns to receive and send assignments independently which also provides opportunities for the student to self-advocate!
- Ability to access school materials at the same time as peers
- No waiting for materials to be produced in braille and transcribed back to print
- Student is completing the same assignment as peers
- Encourages more social interactions with peers
- Tech skills and shortcut commands transfer to computers and screen readers
Layla’s TSVI also shared that it is critical for Layla to learn her tech skills BEFORE applying those skills to mainstream classroom activities.
Resources
More posts about Layla:
- Getting Administration On Board with Virtual Tech Instruction (includes how to fit virtual tech instruction into the student’s class schedule)
- Layla’s Tech Journey
- Layla: 4 year old learning VoiceOver and braille video
- Getting Started on the iPad in Preschool
- Layla’s Three Preschool Apps Video
- Interactive Stories
- Simple Tactile Representations of iPad Features
- Refreshable Braille Display Commands for the Emerging B braille Read R Chord and P chord
- More Braille Display Chords for the Young Student: Layla
- Assuming Responsibility
More posts about preschoolers and the iPad:
- Introducing Technology to Students with Visual Impairments: Toddler, Preschool and Kindergarten
- Starting Blind Toddlers and Preschoolers on an iPad
- Tech Standards: Why Teach Digital Concepts Early?
- ABC’s of iOS: A VoiceOver Manual for Toddlers and Beyond!
- Note: The ABC’s of iOS manual was based on results from the semester long iPad Accessibility trainings and students like Layla!
by Diane Brauner
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