My 18 year old son is a freshman at a local community college and he is in need of a laptop computer. the school has made accomodations for his disability to the point of allowing him to use a computer for doing his studying but this is a desktop model at the school. He feels that he could better use a laptop to take his notes on in the classroom. He has ADHD. He gets financial Aid in the form of a pell grant at this time but Has no other income at this time. He has renewed his FAFSA and applied for a loan for the summer and the year 2001-2002 school year. Is there any information on how he can get a laptop of his own. My problem is that I filed bankruptcy in 1999 and am making payments to a trustee at the courts so I cannot get credit to buy him one. Is there any program that could help my son with this? Any information would be helpful.
Re: Laptop computers
If all your son needs is a way to take notes in class, and that is certainly often an issue, perhaps you could take a look at a portable notetaker such as the Alphasmart 3000, or the Dreamwriter. Both are keyboards with a small LCD screen that can store up to 65 pages of notes. They have spell checkers and other features, and data in the notetaker can be downloaded to either a printer or a computer for revisions. And the cost is much more reasonable, about $200.Glenda
Re: Laptop computers
I would agree that if all he needs to do in class is take notes, an Alpha Smart is the way to go. They are more durable, run on batteries, and in general, are less problematic than a laptop. After he takes notes, he can download the information to a desktop computer or a printer. They are worth every penny!
You might try checking into some local organizations which regularly give to the disabled. Our lodge (Order of Oddfellows) gave a laptop to a child with cerebral palsy for her to use in school. They have a regular budget line item for donations to special needs students and/or teachers. Our Younger Womens’ Club donated $3500 to our school system to establish an assistive technology library. You never know what you might get until you ask.: My 18 year old son is a freshman at a local community college and he
: is in need of a laptop computer. the school has made accomodations
: for his disability to the point of allowing him to use a computer
: for doing his studying but this is a desktop model at the school.
: He feels that he could better use a laptop to take his notes on in
: the classroom. He has ADHD. He gets financial Aid in the form of a
: pell grant at this time but Has no other income at this time. He
: has renewed his FAFSA and applied for a loan for the summer and
: the year 2001-2002 school year. Is there any information on how he
: can get a laptop of his own. My problem is that I filed bankruptcy
: in 1999 and am making payments to a trustee at the courts so I
: cannot get credit to buy him one. Is there any program that could
: help my son with this? Any information would be helpful.