Enabling Dreams for STEM

A challenge for the country is that colleges are not contributing enough graduates in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – the STEM fields (Kuenzi, 2008). In particular, business firms demand graduates knowledgeable in STEM for increasing innovations. To address this demand, the authors argue for broadening the student demographics of STEM to include higher-functioning (i.e. less-impaired) individuals with disabilities, as recommended. Colleges have historically not included individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities at mid-spectrum as matriculating students, as the individuals frequently have inappropriate individual education plans (IEPs) instead of diplomas from high schools.

In order to incorporate lesson plans with students with disabilities, these lesson plans must be hands on, also very structured learning where students have to learn at their own pace as well as requiring a lot of attention from the instructor. This will not be as simple as teaching a conventional classroom where students learn at the pace of the instructor. In order for a student to be eligible, he/she must show intellectual ability in oral expression, listening comprehension, basic reading skill, mathematics reasoning as well as oral expression (Learning Disabilities Association 2019).

Lesson plans with students with disabilities especially for a discipline such as STEM isn't something that is straightforward. Working with students with disabilities in my high school senior year, it takes a lot of patience in order for these students to completely grasp the topic. We incorporate several software such as text to speech, as well as TinyEYE speech therapy software. We were able to make great leaps in their reasoning and oral ability however their comprehension and mathematics reasoning needed to be taught in a different way that was easier for them to understand.

References:

Kuenzi, J. J. (n.d.). Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education: Background, Federal Policy, and Legislative Action. Retrieved May 11, 2019, from https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/crsdocs/35/

Learning Disabilities Association of America. (n.d.). Retrieved May 11, 2019, from https://ldaamerica.org/