Design and Disability: The Future of Education and Innovation David Morgan President/CEO New Hampshire Association for the Blind www.SightCenter.org @DavidMorganCEO

Trends in…

. Many versus Few . Design (thinking)

. Creativity & Motivation . Education (no child left behind)

. TVIs (teachers of the visually impaired)

The Many versus the Few

0 | 1

Few…….v.……Many

Student Centered…..v…....No Child Left Behind

Customer, Makers……..v…….Universal Design

Empathy (observe, inquire)

Define

Ideate (imagine)

Prototype (make)

Test

Design (Thinking)

Creativity, Motivation & the failure of Education

“For artists, scientists, inventors, school children, and the rest of us, intrinsic motivation – the drive to do something because it is interesting, challenging and absorbing- is essential for high levels of creativity”

- Daniel Pink, “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us”

Creativity Rex Jung, Neuropsychologist. MRI Research on Creativity •  Many ideas trumps the few. •  Intense focus combined with “letting

go” (reflection, play, rest) promotes whole brain thinking

•  There is no left v right brain - falicy

Leading Voices… �  Ken Robinson, “Creative Schools” �  No Child Left Behind and the failure of standardize

curriculum and testing has undermine learning and achievement

�  Carol Dweck, “Mindset” �  Growth v. Fixed Mindset. Passion for learning.

Resilience. Willingness to take on challenges.

�  Teresa Amabile, “Progress Principle” �  Small incremental iterative achievement builds self-

confidence & satisfaction.

100,000 Children K-12 with vision impairment

40M Americans with Disabilities. 12.6% U.S. Population

Celebrating…

X

TVIs, Educating the whole child…

Taken from Perkins.com, expanded core curriculum wheel

Takeaways �  Student-centered, project focused is the future of education.

�  Empathy and observation are informing education and innovation more than ever.

�  TVIs are applying natural design principles, a student centered, empathetic approach and building resilient, growth mindset. Adaptation and experimentation rule.

�  Solving small discrete problems / challenges of the few with many ideas and iterations and proto-type serve everyone is is likely the future of how we innovate.

“The best thing parents can do is to teach their children to love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy efforts, and keep on learning.”

– Carol Dweck