My nine-year old cannot tie his own shoes. And I just discovered that he is not alone.

During a conversation last night with the parents of another special needs homeschooler, the topic came up about what we do and don't worry about teaching our kids. Shoe tying was not a high priority for either of us, given the struggles our kids have with concentration, focus, motor skills and the like.  Neither are we rushing out to make sure our kids can write cursive now that they've mastered printing.

On the other hand, we've shared a commitment to making sure our kids learn to read, write (in the sense of creating text), and understand math operations so that they can develop the basic skills that make all learning come alive and grow.

The common theme underlying our decisions regarding what does or doesn't need to be learned? Our use of adaptive technology.

Adaptive technology doesn't have to mean anything complicated or expensive. Want to put produce text? Try keyboarding. Want to perform math operations quickly and correctly? Try a calculator.

Want to fasten your shoes? Try velcro.

The key has been to think strategically about what our learners need to accomplish and find the tools that will allow it to happen. This is no different than the use of adaptive supports for workers in the workplace. It levels the playing field so that what is inside of these kids can find expression.

Parents of special needs kids often struggle with how to unleash their children's gifts so that the world can benefit. For the parents I spoke with last night, it is a question of how to share their child's gift for crafting stories. For my child, it is how to share his talent for using technology.

Think of Anne Sullivan's work with Helen Keller. How much do we lose when we focus on what cannot be done as opposed to what can be accomplished with a little help from the outside?

Technology helps all of us reach beyond our limitations. Our challenge is to find ways to use it creatively in reaching our goals.