Disability and the use of ICT in education: do students with special needs recognise the support given by teachers when using technology

Abstract

The Information and Communication Technologies are a decisive element to normalize the conditions of the students’ life with special needs, and in some cases, one of the options for the access to a school curriculum. However, in the context academic, the development of the new technologies has favored the appearance in new ways of social exclusion. In presented study it was analysed the availability of the necessary resources to these students, checks the usage of the available technology and examines up to what point the students recognise the support of the teachers using information and communication technologies - ICT, to help them succeed in their studies. Thirty-seven students with special needs participated in this study, coming from a secondary school in Alicante and from the University of Alicante. Was prepared a questionnaire to investigate the use, experience and recognition of the support given by the teachers using ICT with these students. The results indicated that these students felt ready to use the technology resources in their studies. However, they did not receive support by the teachers and they noticed differences in approach, depending on the stage of the educational course and the type of disability. There still exist important obstacles in obtaining a total integration for disabled students; in particular making the role of the teacher a vital issue to provide an educational answer to such diversity.