Careful consideration of these needs can help reduce wrong turns down the technological road and the resultant poor expenditure of dwindling educational resources. Each assistive device that is provided for a student who is visually impaired carries with it benefits and educational penalties. The benefits of a Perkins Brailler are obvious. The student uses this device much like a sighted peer uses paper and pencil or a typewriter. A laptop computer with speech capability allows the student to produce assignments with the same qualities as any other student.
All assistive devices have some educational quality that is beneficial.
The restrictions that each piece of equipment carries with it may escape notice until precious instructional time and money have been expended. Technology, in the form of assistive devices, carries encumbering aspects in several different categories. These range from considerations over space requirements, portability needs, accessibility issues and possible negative peer reaction. The teacher of the visually impaired must take these into consideration when recommending the equipment. Space is always at a premium on any campus.