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Last school year, Charlotte Makely, now a bright and determined fourth grader at Claude Thompson Elementary School, made history as a third grader in Fauquier County Public Schools. Born with Bardet-Biedl syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects vision and other body systems, Charlotte became the first student in the county to take her Standards of Learning tests using an iPad.

Her achievement was more than a milestone for one student — it was a leap forward in making learning accessible, inclusive and empowering for all students.

“She’s always been determined,” said Heather Robinson, Charlotte’s mother. “Seeing her finally do her work independently on the iPad — it was such a proud moment. She was so excited, and honestly, so were we.”

For years, students like Charlotte relied on oversized paper tests or Chromebooks that did not provide the accessibility features they needed. That often meant extra support and fewer opportunities for independence. But Charlotte’s team of educators worked tirelessly to change that.

Melissa Owens, Charlotte’s third grade teacher, and Dawn Martin, the school’s case manager, teamed up with Makayla MacWelch, Charlotte’s instructional assistant, and Cameron Melott, a certified teacher of the visually impaired, to research, test and advocate for technology that could let Charlotte work alongside her classmates.

“We needed to meet Charlotte where she was — and the iPad let us do that,” Owens said.

With her iPad, Charlotte could zoom in on text, adjust color contrast, listen to audio prompts and write with a stylus. The closed-circuit television system allowed her to enlarge her writing in real time. These tools did not just help Charlotte complete assignments — they gave her independence, confidence and a sense of pride.

“She doesn’t have to ask for help as much,” Martin said. “She wants to do it herself — and now she can. And she’s so happy about it.”