SmartDrive technology helps students with disabilities

PARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio - Many individuals living with disabilities often live in poverty because of incomplete education and unemployment.

Lack of access to technology is often at the core of this issue. One pilot program at Valley Forge High School in Parma Heights is trying to reverse this national concern.

Students with disabilities started training Wednesday with advanced technology that will help increase their level of educational independence. The program focuses on a small flashdrive and headset.

Text-to-speech, word prediction, math applications and games for hand-eye coordination are some of the software applications students now have at their fingertips with these portable flashdrives.

"For students with a disability like dyslexia, that has difficulty comprehending reading that is at their grade level, they can use the text-to-speech program and they can have better comprehension," said Beth Thompson from the non-profit group Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential (LEAP).

Valley Forge was the only high school in Northeast Ohio selected to participate in the pilot program. Funding for the program came through a grant from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Valley Forge senior Coty Wayne is excited about how this technology will help him in his future college career.

"I think the program, the SmartDrive and all that, it will go farther than what people think," said Wayne.

Once the six-week project is completed and data is collected, the plan is to expand the program to more students in the district.