Mystic Valley Elder Services’ Post

Breaking Barriers in Education: Technology's Impact on Special Education Check out this insightful article from EdWeek highlighting the crucial role of technology in supporting students with special needs. As advocates for accessibility and inclusivity, Vision Nonprofit is thrilled to see discussions like this gaining momentum. Key Takeaways: 1. Embracing technology opens doors for personalized learning experiences. 2. Addressing accessibility challenges ensures equal opportunities for all students. 3.Collaboration between educators, policymakers, and nonprofits is essential for driving meaningful change. At Vision Nonprofit, we're committed to leveraging technology to empower students with vision loss and impairments. Let's continue working together to create a more inclusive educational landscape! Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/gpxxR23q #Accessibility #accessibilityforall #InclusiveEducation #SpecialEducation #TechForGood #VisionNonprofit

On Wednesdays we give a shout out to our members… This week we’re celebrating the perfect partnership between Green Tech Co and Brays School. Brays School is a special school in Birmingham, serving 105 pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties, significant learning difficulties and complex medical needs. Headteacher, Kari Anson, understands the importance of inclusion for every student and, after connecting with our founder Nic Ponsford FRSA FIESE 🥊at a number of events, quickly signed Brays School up to the GEC Platform. As well as resources and a deep dive into data through the GEC Platform surveys, GEC are there to support you on your inclusion journey. For Brays School part of this support was linking them up with Global Equality Collective member Green Tech Co, an organisation that is driving sustainability within IT, as we knew they would be able to help with some issues that lack of IT equipment was causing for staff and students. Kari says, “Access to over 40 devices in a Wednesday's staff meeting for staff to complete computing related tasks has been a challenge! Staff asked for access to more devices so the partnership with GEC and Green Tech with a donation of 6 devices has meant that staff can now carry out statutory training on a device that is fit for purpose. From a leadership perspective I have seen an increase return rate on the annual staff survey; a high return rate is so important to me because it shapes the next areas for development to improve staff wellbeing. The extra 6 devices have made a difference - thank you.” And, of course, it’s not just the staff who benefit from this partnership. To achieve the best possible outcomes, the children at Brays require access to digital technology solutions which can support their education and allow them to utilise accessibility tools to overcome barriers to learning. Matthew Dicks, Founder and CEO of Green Tech Co, says “Through our collaboration with the GEC, we were introduced to Kari and Brays School to provide them with 6 refreshed Lenovo devices, which has allowed their staff and students to use the laptops to access online training, further education and career possibilities, and complete additional qualifications. We know that GEC will bring us more and more beneficiaries of the laptops so we can place the devices in new homes and create further social impact, driving digital inclusion.” Read more about the impact of GEC and Green Tech Co at Brays School 👉 https://lnkd.in/dF9kzU_a Do you think your school community could be more inclusive? Get in touch so we can support you on your inclusion journey. #InclusionRevolution #DEI #inclusion #diversity #equality #teaching #education

🗣️🌍 Beyond Guardianship: How Smart Trackers Are Empowering Children to Navigate the World Safely 🚀🔒 In the digital age, the concept of child safety is evolving beyond traditional notions of guardianship. Smart trackers are not just tools for parents to monitor their children; they empower young individuals to take charge of their safety and confidently navigate the world. 🌟👧👦 #ChildSafety #Empowerment #SmartTrackers Here's how: 🤔💡 🚀 Empowering Autonomy: Smart trackers are shifting the paradigm of child safety from passive supervision to active empowerment. Equipping children with devices that offer real-time tracking and emergency response capabilities gives them a newfound sense of autonomy and independence while still being connected to their caregivers. 🌟📱👧 #ChildEmpowerment #SafetyAutonomy 🔍 Fostering Responsibility: With smart trackers, children learn to take responsibility for their actions and decisions. Knowing that their movements are being monitored encourages them to make safer choices and think critically about their surroundings, fostering a sense of accountability from a young age. 🧠🚶♂️👧 #Accountability 💻 Cultivating Digital Literacy: Smart trackers serve as an entry point for children to develop digital literacy skills in a controlled and supervised environment. Through interaction with tracking apps and devices, children learn to navigate digital interfaces responsibly, laying the foundation for savvy online behavior in the future. 📱💻📚 #DigitalLiteracy  🌍 Encouraging Exploration: With the safety net provided by smart trackers, children are encouraged to explore their surroundings and expand their horizons. Whether it's venturing to new places or participating in extracurricular activities, smart trackers offer peace of mind to both parents and children, allowing for greater exploration and growth. 🌍🚀👧 #Exploration #SafetyNet 🛡️ Redefining Boundaries: Smart trackers redefine the boundaries of safety by extending protection beyond physical spaces. In an interconnected world, threats can manifest online as well as offline. Smart trackers equipped with features to monitor online activity and screen time help parents guide their children safely through the digital landscape. 🌐🔒📱 #OnlineSafety #DigitalBoundaries ♿ Promoting Inclusivity: Smart trackers cater to diverse needs and abilities, promoting inclusivity in child safety. Whether it's assisting children with special needs to navigate unfamiliar environments or providing parents with additional support in supervising multiple children, smart trackers ensure that safety measures are accessible to all. 🤝🌟👶 #Inclusivity #Accessibility In the era of smart trackers, child safety transcends mere surveillance; it becomes a journey of empowerment, responsibility, and exploration. 👧🌍 💬 #Kidsy #KidsyTracker #TrackWithKidsy #KidsyMagic #DiscoverKidsy #ExploreKidsy #Tracker #IoT #GPS #SOS #ParentChildCommunication #TrustBuilding 🚸📲👩👧👦

Hi #LinkedInMembers, 👋 🧠🚶♂️ Explore our latest post delving into how child safety evolves in the digital era! Smart trackers aren't just parental tools; they empower kids to navigate the world confidently. 🗣️👩👧👦 💬 Share your thoughts and don't forget to like, share, and follow for more updates! 🤔💡 #Kidsy #KidsyTracker #TrackWithKidsy #KidsyMagic #DiscoverKidsy #ExploreKidsy #Tracker #IoT #GPS #SOS #ChildSafety #Empowerment 🚀👦👧

Part 3: A Paradigm Shift from Delay to Empowerment! As parents and caregivers, it’s our role and responsibility to protect our children. However, the idea of delaying or restricting access to technology, while well-intentioned, may ultimately do more harm than good. I believe that delaying only postpones the inevitable, and when kids do finally gain access, they might lack the essential skills and awareness needed to navigate digital spaces safely and responsibly. By focusing on early digital literacy education, and fostering onlife resiliency, we give our children the tools to understand and adapt to the challenges they will face online. This shift in mindset from delaying access to empowering responsible use is critical in my opinion. It’s not about shielding children from technology, but teaching them how to coexist with it in healthy, productive ways – an approach I call “redirect, and pave the way” To read the full article click this link https://lnkd.in/gB4-_Vjb #digitallieracy #OnlineSafety #parents

Advocating for Inclusive Public Spaces for Families at the Timberland Regional Library District 📚 Public libraries are essential community hubs, and we can make them even more welcoming by implementing Parent-Child Computer Workstations like this one seen at Henrico County Public Library’s Fairfield branch! Inspired by this Virginia public library’s innovative ‘Parent & Child Carrel,’ these workstations feature computers alongside safe play areas for young children, allowing parents to focus on tasks while their little ones stay engaged nearby. 🧑🧑🧒🧒 Imagine providing parents the flexibility to apply for jobs, study, or work, all while keeping their children safe in the same space. This approach ensures libraries remain accessible for everyone in our busy, modern world. ✨ #PublicLibraries #FamilySupport #CommunityInnovation #ParentChildWorkstations #InclusiveSpaces #TimberlandLibraries #WashingtonState #Inclusion #Access #TimberlandLibraries #TimberlandRegionalLibrary

Happy #GAAD everyone! What does Global Accessibility Awareness Day mean to me? Every single chapter of my life, even every page, has #Accessibility blended in between the words, even down to the letters. In my lifetime (born in 94 with a disability) #Acessibility still gets seen as charity, as an add on and simply not a priority when it comes to budget. What does that mean for me? That people still feel #Accessibility - well people like me, are a bit of nuisance rather than a value. Meanwhile #Accessibility meant the ability to communicate from the age of 6, the ability to be a part of the classroom at primary school, the ability to pass my tests and read my books. #Accessibility meant having tools that worked for me and not tools forced upon me, the tools that helped me further my education, that got me through secondary school to college and even to university. A lack of #Accessibility meant I had to leave university. Even with my tools, the lack of understanding and importance from people meant I didn’t want to be there, quite frankly didn’t want to be anywhere. A lack of #Accessibility during school years meant I was isolated from my peers during classes as well as during lunch time in communal areas. “You guide dog isn’t allowed in the lunch hall nor the assembly hall and if you do I’ll stop you attending this school” My existence once again screamed “you don’t deserve to be here.” #Accessibility isn’t just about implementing ramps and adding captions. It doesn’t all happen in technology, when I say #Accessibility is my lifeline - I truly mean that. Switching gears #Accessibility began becoming my reason, not just for me but for everyone because we all deserve to live and breathe. Not just have the tools, but the support, the understanding and awareness of just how powerful #Accessibility can be to individuals like myself but also to everyone as a whole. We all know now #Accessibility plays a role in all of our lives, if not us maybe to our parents, or as we grow older to us, or if we find ourselves injured - we just never know. Plus many #Access tools are viewed more as preferences when we learn just how many people prefer “dark mode,” for whatever reason that may be - for instance. I could write more on what days like today mean, and to see more and more take part brings warmth to my heart - whether it’s the start of their journey or it’s gradually become a sort of their working culture - we see you, well I certainly do, and I appreciate you. As always though, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you had any questions on this journey we are all on - always more than happy to help.

Empowering Abilities with Technology Technology has the incredible ability to level the playing field and empower individuals with disabilities. In a training manual by IBM, it was stated that, “For people without disabilities, technology makes life easier. For people with disabilities, technology makes things possible.' Meet Bog, a brave deaf and mute child, whose father is battling leukemia. Worried about his son's future, Bog's father reached out to TeacherTech Computers 4 Kidz Project.They provided Bog with a refurbished desktop computer, opening up a world of possibilities for his education and future success. We believe in the potential of every person, regardless of their abilities. That's why we're calling on you to join us in supporting this cause. Whether it's donating your old laptops or spreading the word, every action counts! Together, we can make a difference and create a more inclusive society. #TechnologyForAll #EmpoweringYouth #MakingADifference #EmpoweringAbilities #TechnologyForAll #InclusionMatters #MakingADifference"

“a strategic decision to empower working parents, who can work more hours if they choose and keep a peace of mind that their child is getting a great start in life.” Proposes a 9.5% privilege tax would be applied on big tech companies that report more than $50 million of annual income from digital advertising targeted to Tennesseans. Families can enter the workforce faster. Kids can get high quality education earlier. Support for the education system through this funding. It still needs to get passed, but it’s encouraging to see solutions being brought to TN. What #upk initiatives are you seeing in other states? https://lnkd.in/e4-PdEfy