Author: Gina DiSalvo

Human beings resist change. It’s not really our fault. We like what we’re used to; we mistrust new ideas, new ways of doing things. Basal ganglia in the primitive part of our brains are wired for routine, to feel safe and comfortable with what we already know, and makes us skeptical of the unfamiliar.   … Continued

Since March 2020, educators and providers have had to roll with the punches in a pretty unprecedented way. From rapid transitions to eLearning platforms to synchronous lessons to hybrid schedules to maintaining a safe in-person environment, they’ve jumped through, over, under, and around all sorts of unfamiliar and unexpected hoops. These acts have been nothing … Continued

A good percentage of your instructional materials are probably PDFs, they are a reliable and usable staple of modern education. Whether you’re delivering instruction in person or virtually, eLearning tools and managing resources digitally is fundamental to any classroom scenario. While PDFs ensure the document you’ve created for your students will look exactly as you … Continued

Most of us have been here. Sitting at a stoplight, or walking through a store, we ask our digital virtual assistant, whoever they may be, to text a friend or a loved one for us. And that virtual assistant totally minces your words. Perhaps these misunderstandings are cause for a laugh. Perhaps they present us … Continued

A lot has been said about 2020, but what I think about is the view when we look back from 5-10 years in the future.   In many ways, 2020 illuminated the issues that were already present in our society and our educational system. The pandemic brought them to light and then accelerated them.   … Continued

Thanks to the proliferation of technology in schools today, there’s no need for accommodations. Right? Those who work in a 1:1 Chromebook environment know there’s no need to document AT on an IEP. Right? And if your school follows Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, there’s also no need for more customized solutions for students. … Continued

If access is an open door, accessibility is the design that leads people—regardless of age, physical impairment, or cognitive ability—through that door. And as a longstanding beacon of access, the public library often shows its community what accessibility should look like.   For both access and accessibility, OverDrive has been monumental. The ubiquitous online book … Continued