Orange County scholar waiting around months for laptop computer essential for digital lessons, parent suggests

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – With the short-term closure of Olympia Significant College, college students have experienced to pivot to the Launched at house discovering system but just one mother or father, Margo Dinardo, said her son doesn’t have a operating laptop computer.

She said they’ve been ready months to get one particular from Orange County Community Faculties.

“There’s no computers available, he’s range 70 on a listing for Olympia Large University,” stated Dinardo.

Dinardo said her son, Eric, is a 10th grader at the faculty. He has autism and is an ESE pupil, based mostly on the recommendation from his teachers, she signed him up for face-to-facial area mastering.

On the other hand, with the temporary closure thanks to COVID-19 situations related to the school, he’s now at property doing Launched.

Dinardo stated they 1st identified Eric’s computer was not functioning properly at the commence of the faculty yr when college students had 9 days of Released.

“We found that his microphone and his digicam was not operating,” claimed Dinardo, adding, “we can see and hear the students, but they cannot see and hear him.”

She stated Eric was discouraged with not remaining in a position to take part in class.

“In the beginning, he felt like he did not have a voice, since his peers did not listen to him, his trainer couldn’t listen to him,” mentioned Dinardo.

She explained he’s been on a listing, ready to get a personal computer for weeks now, with no indication as to when it will happen.

News 6 contacted Orange County General public Colleges to ask them how quite a few students at Olympia, as effectively as district-broad, are at the moment with out a laptop computer.

OCPS responded and claimed they are searching into the quantities, but extra the adhering to assertion that reads in section:

“If a student’s product is not performing adequately or is damaged, they may well return it to the faculty to troubleshoot or have it changed. Educational institutions have a 1 p.c (backup/contingency) for gadgets. If the will need of replacements exceeds the selection of laptops a school has, then they are positioned on a waiting around record. Gadgets are staying supplied to schools and are becoming distributed to pupils on a waiting listing,” mentioned Michael Ollendorff.