In It Together |
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clock , and recess , and then pointed to the musical note symbol and told him that he could have his music back after class . Autistic children , in particular , manage better when someone shows them what ’ s happening , instead of telling them .
“ It was so much easier for him to understand when expressed with the computer that he was able to process his disappointment in a socially acceptable way ,” Ruthie says .
Neurotypical people can get absorbed by their screens and lose contact with what ’ s going on around them , but the large group screens in Seeach Sod ’ s classrooms have the opposite effect . “ Anything a student enters into an iPad shows up on the group screen ,” Yitzchak Vanunu demonstrates . “ Some of the kids can write ; others rely on visual symbols . The students use their iPads to answer the teachers ’ questions and to express themselves and share their experiences . Everyone else in the class can see whatever they enter , and other students can respond with their own comments and questions . It becomes a sharing
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experience .
“ It used to be that some of our
students could only communicate oneon-one
, with their teachers . Now they
can connect with each other . I ’ ve seen
the technology stimulate exchanges
like the one in which one child wrote , ‘ I
don ’ t feel good . Didn ’ t sleep well . Baby
up a lot ,’ and a child sitting next to him
posted a sympathetic nod to show that
that ’ s happened to him , too . This is leaps
and bounds beyond any communication
that these children have ever had
before .”
Chani Gottfried , director of the
computers department at Seeach Sod ,
describes technology on the cutting
edge that is enabling students with
disabilities to make huge strides in their
development .
“ The virtual reality multimedia
system encourages movement and
communication , even while sitting or
lying down ,” she explains . “ The changing
reality depicted by the system invites
participants to take part in fun activities
that promote healthy movement and
motor coordination for every part of
the body . At the same time , it enables
them to communicate and express their
feelings .”
Another example is the state-ofthe-art
3-D printer , used to produce
custom-made teaching aids that cannot
be purchased for any price .
Kosher Computers Seeach Sod only uses apps that have
been assessed to make sure they meet
the highest standards of Yiddishkeit .
Students can only access material that
was put onto their devices by a Seeach
Sod staff member .
“ Sometimes we have to steer clear of
great material ,” says Yitzchak , “ but we
find alternatives when we have to . We
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use maximum technology , but not at the expense of ruchniyus . Some of our kids use it for ruchniyus .”
He tells me about a boy with cerebral palsy who was just niftar . “ Mentally , he was totally with it ,” Yitzchak says . “ You could tell by the way he laughed at jokes that he understood everything . But he couldn ’ t talk , and he could only move his hand a few inches . He never wanted candy or prizes — his idea of a reward was to be taken to the Kosel or to Kever Rochel .
“ One day , he made up his mind that he wanted something different . He used his computer to show us pictures of his father and a car and of a father bentshing his children . Then he kept showing us the name ‘ Dovid ’ until we figured out that he wanted a brachah from Rav Dovid Abuchatzeirah . It gave me such a jolt of happiness ,” Yitzchak says . “ These kids are very dependent , and because of their limitations , they can ’ t readily express themselves . Giving them the tools they need to express themselves increases their happiness and quality of life immeasurably . When we provide them with the technology they need , we open the world for them .”
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