Art 266 - Special NeedsI occasionally have had students with special needs register for these computer art classes. If you have any impairment with vision, hearing, motor skills, or learning difficulties of any kind, please inform me of this as soon as possible. This can and should be done privately before or after class. Note that this information will not be shared with anyone else. However, I do need to know about it so that I can accomodate you as much as possible. This may require something as simple as making sure you're seated a specific distance from the projection screen for optimum viewing, or adjusting your display resolution. Or it may require extra resources, such as having the school assign a sign-language interpreter for you. In either case, we will make every effort to make this an optimum learning environment for you. Please note that if you have a learning disability, and have very little experience with Windows and/or have motor skill problems, that no matter our efforts, you may feel overwhelmed. If you feel lost when you're navigating Windows or performing relatively simple Windows tasks, Photoshop will be tremendously daunting without prior preparation on your part. Photoshop is a complex image-editing program, and this is a fast-paced course designed to cover most of its important features and functions. Prior knowledge of, and comfort with Windows, is an important foundation to successfully understand Adobe's image program. In such a case, taking a Windows Fundamentals class and spending as much time as possible using Windows computers before taking this class, would make you feel much more comfortable in this course. I would strongly recommend that you first take a beginning Windows course before entering this one, so that you're more comfortable with the operating system. While you're taking the basic course, spend as much time with Windows, and with other programs such as word processors, to become familiar with how the system operates. If you don't want to take such a class for credit because of the pressure of a grade, you could consider taking a non-credit course. The school's Adult / Continuing Education division offers many non-credit computer-related courses, many of them lasting only a month or so. Your local Park District may also offer similar courses. These are all excellent opportunities for you to become acquainted with Windows. If you insist on taking this course despite weak Windows skills and decline to take basic Windows courses, I will recommend that you obtain the following tutorial book and work through it, in addition to the regular coursework. If, after working through the book, the student is still overwhelmed by basic concepts, I will recommend that you take this course at a later time, after completing at least one basic Windows course. Recommended text: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition - 10 Minute Guide
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