For the last spotlight article on Employment Disability, we wanted to take a step outside of the workplace and discuss disability in the classroom. After all, what better way to help youth with the skills needed to work well in the workplace than incorporating them into the crucial building blocks in school. Therefore, we will analyze why using speech-to-text technology in the classroom can be essential for a student’s success and how this support translates into a classroom application.
The Numbers Right Now
According to the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada, In 2017, one in five (22%) of the Canadian population aged 15 years and over – about 6.2 million individuals – had one or more disabilities. And in the United States, nearly 7 million disabled students make up 14% of national public school enrollment, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Improving Accessibility
For students with motor skill limitations, physical and sensory disabilities, the power of voice technology unlocks the potential for the child to achieve success in the classroom. A child left behind in school has significantly limited chances to get higher paid office jobs and might be stuck with manual labor work that can take a toll on their health.
Writing Without Barriers
For students with learning disabilities, speech-to-text technology can encourage more authentic writing from the students’ minds. The thought of them worrying about typing the written assignments or perfecting the stroke in the handwriting can be a turn-off for those who lack motor or visibility skills. That’s why speech to text breaks these barriers by leveraging a student’s speech and transforming it onto the paper/screen. The fear of misspelling or ineligible handwriting could be a reason why the student feels limited in their abilities.
Decreased Anxiety and Increased Independence
In addition to allowing the student to work more independently, the power of voice tech can help reduce embarrassment about common writing. Increased worry about how the paper will turn out is the last thing a writer needs to concentrate on, and the power of recording and speech recognition alleviates this. Now fast forward into the future and there are many more tasks to worry about in any job; the last thing a special needs person needs is to have their penmanship stand in the way while doing higher-stakes work!
Building the Foundations Before Entering the Workforce
As we outlined earlier in the month about the number of disabled people in the workforce, these people would have gone through school and struggled without the tools needed to excel. In the voice tech industry, we should create awareness and strive to make ever developing technology accessible and available early. This will in turn give better chances to those who need the extra help throughout their learning journey. As the month of National Employment Disability draws to a close, we must remember that we should celebrate diversity every day in the schools and in the office space.
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