"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. "
William Arthur Ward
Hello! My name is Mary Kate Shaughnessy and I am currently a Junior at Illinois State University. I created this website in order to give back to Assistive Technology. Assistive Technology opens doors for many and makes life easier. It allows people to reach their full potential in ways that would not be possible without our digital world technologies.
Ever since I have been young, I have known I wanted to be a teacher. It was not until my later high school years that I decided Special Education was the route I was going to take. I met one of my friends brothers with a severe cognitive impairment. I began talking with him on a regular basis and eventually started volunteering for the Special Olympics. It was there that I realized the importance of embracing every day as it comes, and to never take for granted what I have been blessed with. I was once told that by helping other people is where you will find true happiness within yourself, and I could not agree more with that statement-especially after working with young children and adults with disabilities. I have a passion for Special Education, and the reason I know that is through the goosebumps I get and happiness I feel when leaving somewhere where I have worked, played, or simply conversed with a child that has a disability.
The past few summers, I have worked as a paraprofessional in a 3-5 year old Pre-Kindergarten classroom through an extended school year program. Without this experience, I would not be nearly as knowledgeable as I am today. There were multiple technologies used that enabled the young students to reach their full potential every day.
I have seen and worked with Board Maker, GoTalk20, Musical Bead Chains, AAC Devices, PECS, Social Stories, and much more. In my opinion, teaching life skills is the most crucial portion of the early learning process. There are countless technologies available to teach these skills, ranging from computer software to toys that talk about acceptable social behaviors. Demonstration, by the teachers, of these acceptable social skills is the best way to teach any young child.