internet access, kids

[Kurt Johnson]

Peter Kline is the technology guru for Northshore.  He was a fourth grade
teacher in his past life.  He has net connections for most of the
district.  Apropos the IEP issue, many students throughout Washington
already have net access.  Certainly students with disabilities are using
the net regularly in the state.  Ensuring access to Internet for students
with disabilities is first and foremost a 504 issue...that is, equal
access to educational facilities.  When there is a specific therapeutic or
educational objective on an IEP and the internet is a means by which that
objective can be achieved, then the school might be asked to provide
access which otherwise would be unavailable (e.g., to students in
general).  An example of this might be using Internet to allow a child who
is experiencing significant illness requiring hospital or home care to
participate electronically in the classroom.

	***********************************
	* Kurt L. Johnson, Ph.D.          *
	* Dept. of Rehab. Medicine, RJ-30 *
	* University of Washington        *
	* (206)543-3677                   *
	***********************************


On Tue, 28 May 1996, Rick Cadwallader wrote:

> >At an IEP today, the student's mother mentioned that there was now a
> >program(?) set up or being set up so that disabled kids could have
> >internet access through their school. I offered to research this and get
> >back to her.  Is there such an animal here in Puget sound area?
> >
> >Please send pertinent info.
> >
> >thanks.
> I am also interested in this area.  We are in the process of acquiring net
> hook-ups for classrooms in our District, and it is difficult to find
> working examples to present to "those who select".  Any info would be
> welcome with open arms.  My students are multiply
> handicapped/orthopedically impaired, ages 8-12.
> Looking forward to all answers.
>
>
>