Apple is continuing to expand is their ‘Everyone Can Code’ initiative and have held their first in-school coding session for visually impaired students. They helped students write code that was then used to fly drones.
Apple began their ‘Everyone Can Code’ initiative as they believe “coding is an essential skill” and “learning to code teaches you how to solve problems and work together in creative ways.” They see coding as the language of technology and something that shouldn’t be daunting but accessible to everyone.
A team of Apple engineers visited Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. They taught 17 technology students how to write code on an iPad using iOS accessibility features like VoiceOver.
After the coding session, students used their new coding skills in the real world as Apple’s team supplied a few Parrot drones for the students to use.
Vicki Davidson, of the school’s technology teachers, commented:
“We see this as a way to get them interested in coding and realize this could open job opportunities…Apple has opened up a whole new world for kids by giving them instant access to information and research, and now coding.”
Ober, 18, who is legally blind, also commented on the session:
“It’s really cool because a lot of us are really good on computers and want to create apps, but there aren’t the tools…This technology opens up more possibilities.”
