STEM for All: Personalize STEM Instruction with Accessible Technology

Thanks to more accessible technologies and a nationwide effort to engage underrepresented populations in STEM fields, more students with disabilities than ever are pursuing careers in science and engineering. However, many students with disabilities still lack access to a rigorous and accessible STEM curriculum, and may get the message that STEM careers are not for them. Did you know? STEM jobs are among the fastest growing and highest paid occupations, with STEM jobs expected to grow to more than 9 million by 2022. Given that it is likely that all your students will need some degree of scientific and technology literacy in future jobs, it is imperative that schools and districts ensure that ALL students have equal opportunity to pursue STEM careers. Where should we start? Over the next few weeks, we’ll dig deeper into some of the challenges facing students with disabilities when they engage in STEM-related activities, and how you can use universal design principles and accessible technology tools to personalize the instructional strategies you develop for STEM lessons. In the meantime, explore some of these resources to get you started:
  1.  Perkins School for the Blind: Science Lesson Plans 
  2. National Science Digital Library: Use advanced search features to search by accessibility features
  3. Accessibility Guides: Creating Accessible Materials 

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AIR Informs Episode #6: Meeting the Needs of Students with Disabilities During COVID-19

Remote learning requires adjustment for all students, but students with disabilities face additional challenges during the COVID-19 quarantine. In the latest episode of AIR Informs, Allison Gandhi, managing researcher and director of AIR’s special education practice area, describes some of these obstacles and shares strategies to help students make the most of this time.