A Flexible Friend

Flexibility is key for many learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) when it comes to accessing technology. There can be many factors, some of them variable, that present barriers to using it, but providing solutions that are themselves not fixed can mean that more opportunities are created.

I recently met two young men with powered wheelchairs who were very adept at moving around their secondary school, but who found it difficult to sit at a standard desk. In most classrooms they used there were height adjustable tables, as well as a number of computers. However, the two didn’t coincide. The computers were on benches at the back, the tables in the middle of the room. So their ICT access was limited either because the available PC was not on a height adjustable desk, or there was no laptop in the room to use instead.

Simple answer, put the PC on the height adjustable desk. Or, buy a laptop.

Even these had snags. To put a PC on a height adjustable desk would mean taking out some benching and losing space for probably two other machines. Whereas a laptop would mean being very close to the table because of the position of the keyboard relative to the seating position of the student.

A third one is to provide trays for the wheelchairs. Sounds easy but the sleek design meant there are few obvious fixing points.

The issue, then is one of positioning. How can the technology be placed so that the students can use it, regardless of whether they have a table, a tray, or a bench? Flexibility is the key.

Many laptops now have screens that will flip over, or twist, so the keyboard is ‘put away’ and what is left is a monitor. Several of these are also touch enabled, making them tablets. The Lenovo Yoga is a good example of this.

lenovo yoga

Combined with a wireless, compact, keyboard (standard size keys, but not numeric pad) and a wireless mouse several options become available. Use it as a standard laptop. O tablet. Or a PC with separate mouse and keyboard. Position it on a tray. On a height adjustable table. Or even, at a push,  on a bench with the keyboard on a lap.

With weight constantly dropping and battery life rising (the Yoga is 1.6Kg with 8 hours battery life) the flexibility this arrangement presents is extended to working just about anywhere, in school or out, indoors or out.  Providing options and choices that are always available,  where once there were only limitations.