A new program at the University of Arizona is giving laptop computers to students with learning disabilities to keep them in school and leverage more academic success.
With $25,500 from a Gateway partnership with the UA, the 15 students each get a laptop and will attend a twice weekly class about using the computers, said Dawn Hunziker, assistive technology coordinator for the UA’s Disability Resource Center and one of the course’s teachers.
“Our goal with the class is to teach the students how to use the technology and work with the university environment to create more successful resources,” she said. “What we’re looking at is how this project will increase their success in the university atmosphere.”
The first-semester freshmen were chosen based on academic need and predicted academic difficulty, as identified by a voluntary questionnaire. If the students maintain a C grade or better in the class, the laptops are theirs to keep for the duration of their time at the UA.
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The class covers computer security, anti-virus programs, the campus network, computer resources at the library, software training and other computer-related skills.
“It’s very much a hands on class. Very rarely do we not have their laptops out,” Hunziker said. “We’re teaching really down-to-earth skills that they can use across the board throughout their university career and beyond.”
The program is funded for just this year, but Hunziker said if it’s successful she’ll apply for grants for continuing funding.
Two other UA departments received grants this year under the Gateway Strategic Partnership. The College of Engineering was awarded $34,960 to train faculty on the use of tablet PCs in the classroom and the UA Libraries received $31,730 to use Gateway notebooks to encourage and track e-book readership.
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