2 Consideration for Students with Disabilities

The digital divide for students with disabilities manifests in several ways. These students may lack access to appropriate devices or assistive technologies that make digital content accessible. Exercise, health, and nutrition play crucial roles in a comprehensive approach to supporting students with Intelluctual and Developmental Disabiltiies (IDD). These topics are essential for both education success and functional prepartion for transition to independent living (Abrams et al., 2023). A cross-sectional study of 9768 children found 26% with IDD were obese or overweight and typically do not particopate in the recoemmended 60 minutes of aerobic physical activity daily. Thus, new technology platforms such as virtual reality (VR) show increased exercise for people with IDD. For example NFL Play 60 (Free, IOS/Android) aims to encourage users to be more active. It integrates with the Apple Health app on iPhones to monitor activity levels. As users reach certain activity milestones, they can customize the gear for their self-created avatar within the app. This feature makes it potentially beneficial for users with IDD since the app focused on walking rather than strength training or complex movements. As users build endurance and walk longer distances, they unlock more gear for their avatar (Abrams et al., 2023).

List of Technology Tools and Apps accessible to diverse learners and categorized by exercise, health, and wellness

Exploring how mobile devices can enhance the physical and mental well-being of learners with IDD can significantly contribute to their success across various life domains, including education and professional environments. Research on using technology to support students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in exercise, health, and wellness is less abundant compared to its application in academic areas. Emerging technologies like augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and wearable devices like smartwatches offer new opportunities for engagement and exercise (Abrams et al., 2023). The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the growth of digital fitness tools, highlighting the need for digital inclusion for students with IDD and implementing ease of use, accessibility, and adherence to Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines. Technology can support students with IDD in making healthy lifestyle choices contributing to their overall education and successful transition to independent living.

References

Abrams, K., Anglin, A., Aumel, A., McMahon, A. K., & McMahon, D. D. (2023). Digital Health, Fitness, and Wellness Tools for Students with Disabilities. Journal of Special Education Technology, 38(2), 392-403. https://doi.org/10.1177/01626434221094795