What’s In My Bag as a Student with Disabilities: Lily's Tools for Success

By Lily Watkins, Youth Advisory Board Intern

I learned early on in life that to have a successful educational experience despite challenges in the classroom, I would need to make sure my environment and the tools I have access to are most suitable for me. My cane allows me to move freely and avoid obstacles in the crowded halls of the school, while high-contrast environments and screen readers let me experience the digital world around me by converting text to sound or organized, easy-to-read text. The removal of unnecessary obstacles like clutter helps to free up my mental energy, and organization is key to making sure that I can always find and use my supplies with as little hassle as possible. With these tools, I can make sure that I am in full control of my education and dedicated to learning.

Essential Tools & Supplies for School Success:

Assistive Technology: A computer with accessible software such as screen readers and high-contrast visual display tools.

Mobility: A white cane to allow for safe and simple navigation of obstacles both indoors and outside of the school.

Organization: Access to a dedicated, non-cluttered workspace along with organized binders for all my personal supplies.

Writing Tools: High-visibility pens alongside dark-lined paper to make physical writing tasks easier to complete.

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