Tag Archives: ipad

Photo Releasing Your Child: The Basics of What to Know

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By Chris Misun, Meridian, Miss.

 

A special needs students examines a bush during a field trip. Parents at Northeast Elementary are given release forms to sign at the beginning of each school year to allow their children to be videotaped and photographed.
2012 Copyright – Chris Misun

Approaching topics featuring special-needs children comes with special requirements, tasks, and careful planning.  When producing a multimedia piece featuring those children, a very important part is obtaining the proper permission to photograph and/or videotape the child.  Approaching the parents of the child and providing them with a Video Release or Appearance Release Form, which is defined as “…a simple contract that gives you legal permission to use the image of the person who has signed the form for commercial and noncommercial purposes,” according to WebVideoZone, will help you gain the rights to use the image and likeness of that child in your publication.

Often times the forms can be as simple as these examples from Kino-Eye or as complicated as MTV’s Standard Real World cast-member contract released by The Village Voice Blog.  The contract from MTV has evolved over time due to past incidents featuring cast members and the way they were portrayed as featured in an article by Jezebel.

Signing a photo release is a legal document. Don’t be afraid to ask questions when presented with one.
2012 Copyright – Chris Misun

Knowing your rights, as both the producer and the subject, are important to maintaining a positive relationship and helps to keep a solid understanding of what the intentions of the production will ultimately be.  As mentioned in the examples above concerning The Real World, cast members have attempted to sue MTV on being portrayed in a “false light” or appearing to have acted different out of context.

It is important to read and understand photo release documents from media organizations to be aware of your rights.
2012 Copyright – Chris Misun

In an upcoming multimedia project by Misun Media, we will be discussing the pros and cons of new technology for teaching special-needs students.  At Northeast Elementary School in Lauderdale County, Miss., special needs teacher, Alison Misun says, “Parents are given a form at the beginning of the school year giving them the option to allow their children to be videotaped or photographed during the year by the local TV station, newspaper, the teacher or other approved groups by the school.”  The local TV Station, WTOK and newspaper, The Meridian Star is required to contact the school before arriving.  Misun says, “We like to give the parents a heads up as to when a news media is coming to the school.”

@MisunMedia

Survey Results: Strong Support for Special Education to Use iPads

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Copyright 2012 Misun Media

Recently MisunMedia conducted a survey asking people about their opinions concerning the use of computerized devices such as, but not limited to, the Apple iPad to help teach special needs students, especially those with non-verbal disabilities.

Across the board, all of the people who took part in the survey voted, “Yes,” in, “supporting the use of devices such as the iPad in Special Needs classroom.”

The participants also were asked to choose whichever methods they felt were the best ways to work with non-verbal children and 71% selected “Sign Language,” along with,

“iPad or other Tablet PC devices.”  A much smaller percentage, less than half in fact, selected “other communication devices,” such as the PRC Vantage Lite and, “Picture Prompts,” as other options.

 

MisunMedia also posted a story on June 10, 2012 that contained a video that lays a basis for the topic on the pros and cons of using computerized communication devices for special needs children.  The video received two likes in particular from two special needs teachers. One works with speech students and another who works primarily with autistic children.

The topic will continue to be a strong topic as the Tablet PC devices have become more affordable, but don’t offer as direct of social interaction as the Vantage Lite does.  And as one school year ends and another is on the way and parents are preparing their children for the next grade and trying to determine the proper supplies students will need.  Another result from the survey proposed the question, “If schools didn’t provide computer devices for your child, would you purchase one for your home?”  The result was 100% for, “Yes,” but one participant commented, “I would like to purchase one, but the cost is too much, as I have so many other medical expenses to pay on,” which still stresses that even though the prices are much less expensive in comparison, they are still more than everyone is able to afford.

As MisunMedia continues to explore this topic, the community input will be invaluable and strongly desired.  Please feel free to leave comments on this post or on our Facebook page and let us know your feelings.

@MisunMedia

Survey: Your Take on Technology for Teaching Special Needs Students

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Copyright 2012 – Chris Misun

We are now in a new age.  Technology is all around us through our cellphones, computers, tablet PCs, in our vehicles and most importantly in our classrooms.  Classrooms with Special Needs students are beginning to use devices more frequently as they become less expensive and more accessible.  Devices like the Vantage Lite by PRC comes in very pricey at over $7000.  Options like these are not easy to come by for most families of special needs students without grants but with the tablet PC world becoming stronger, parents will have more options to choose from.  One option that is becoming more popular is the iPad by Apple, Inc.  The iPad starts at $499 and you can get apps like the iCommunicate app, which runs for $49.99.  Please take the survey below and let us know what you think.

Link to Survey

Fill out my online form.

 

Whether or not these devices will be beneficial or detrimental to the developing skills of special needs students and particularly those that are non-verbal will be told over time.  It is important for people to be informed and not get caught up in next best thing and assume that it will be the most ideal thing for their child.  Sometimes the saying goes, “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.”  Are non-computer forms of working with non-verbal students still working and if not, how do we replace them the right way?

@MisunMedia