User Perspectives on Assistive Technology in Educational Settings

Rose 1 is an 11-year-old fifth-grade student in a small city in the Pacific Northwest. She is tiny and pretty, with long, shiny, dark hair, usually pulled back in a ponytail, sparkling blue eyes, and an engaging smile. She has cerebral palsy. She is unable to walk unassisted, but because she can support herself briefly with her arms, she is self-mobile in a variety of ways. Rose gets around her home by crawling and can pull herself up onto the couch. Handrails have been installed in the hallway to permit her to walk if she wishes. At school she uses a walker with wheels a couple of times a week to exercise her legs and arms.