BellaOnline Forums Education Special Education Keyboarding with physical disabilities

I teach a 7th grade Keyboarding class. I have recently been informed that I will have a physically disabled student this year. She has no use of one hand and limited use of the other. I know there must be resources and/or curriculum available to help her learn the keyboard, but I am having a tough time finding them. I do not have the details of the specifics of the student's disbility--only that she is a Life Skills student who is close to graduation and her parents want her to learn keyboarding. It is highly unlikely that I will be able to purchase any special equipment for this student; however, there is always a shot that we have some leftover grant money somewhere.

Any suggestions from anyone out there would be very welcome. I would really like to make this a positive learning experience for all of us.

Thanks!

Elaine Faylo

Wow, that's a toughie. I would want to speak with the girl's doctor and find out if keyboarding with the one hand that has limited use is even healthy first. So many of us with two working hands are accumulating damage from keyboarding, it would be bad to have the same happen to her.

You might check these folks out
Keytools - Provides mice, keyboards, and input devices for education, special needs, RSI and disabilities. http://www.keytools.com/index.asp

There are companies that make special needs keyboards that are also for people who can only use one hand. You might find a company that would donate one in return for a promotional plug on your part.

Chances are you're going to have to learn a new way of keyboarding to teach this student as well. Might be a nice specialty for you in the end.