The Capabilities Approach to Assistive Technology and E-Learning
Abstract: This paper takes up these issues, both the problems and promises of assistive technology (AT), by applying the capabilities approach framework, advocated by Nussbaum (2011) and others, as a way of exploring how this framework can help teachers, administrators, parents, and students make decisions about how to use assistive technology, and create access for assistive technology, in ways that enhance the internal and combined capabilities of students with disabilities or impairments. More than that, this paper advocates for the use of the capabilities approach for evaluating the use of technology for any student. First, I give a brief overview of Nussbaum’s capabilities approach. Next, I explore how this might be used with real-world problems around AT in the online classroom, as well as bricks-and-mortar classrooms. Finally, I analyze some of the critiques of this framework for AT.