Assistive Technology

Assistive technology is technology used to meet the needs of students with mild, moderate, and severe disabilities, physical or sensory disabilities, students at-risk and students with gifts and talents.  Technology is a great way to differentiate instruction and allow students to access the curriculum in the best way possible for their learning needs. 

            

The most common types of disabilities are categorized as mild cognitive disabilities.  These include “learning disabilities, serious emotional disabilities and mental retardation” (Roblyer and Doering, 2013, p 406).  Often there are deficits in one specific area in which the student needs extra support.  To assist students in reading a variety of text-to-speech programs and devices can be used.  The app Speak it! from Future Apps, Inc can be used allow students to here what they read.  Many students struggle with handwriting and do much better being able to type what they are required to write.  The NEO writer is a small portable keyboard with a small screen that students can use for word processing.  It includes predictive text and spell check.  Much less expensive and more portable then a laptop, these devices are a great option for students and schools.  

Students with moderate and severe cognitive disabilities often have educational plans that focus on skills for daily living.  Software and apps can be used to teach daily living skills.  Time, Money, & Fractions On-Track is an app from School Zone Publishing in which students can practice time and money skills. 

Physical disabilities often affect a student’s fine and/or gross motor function.  Adaptive devices allow students with physical disabilities to use a computer more easily.  One common adaptive device is a specialized keyboard.  Intellitools’ has developed an alternative keyboard called IntelliKeys where the keys can be customized for a specific students needs. 

Sensory disabilities are characterized by deficits in hearing and/or vision.  For students with vision disabilities screen reading software can be used to read documents or web pages aloud, SuperNova Screen Reader is one example of this type of program.  For students with hearing deficits, the teacher can wear a wireless mic and the students wear a receiver to increase the teacher’s volume. These devices are known as FM amplification systems.

At risk students are those that do not qualify a special education students, but they frequently have similar educational deficits as students with special needs.  In that way they also can benefit from assistive technology.   The National Library of Virtual Manipulates has free online math manipulates that students can use to better understand math concepts in all the areas of math. http://nlvm.usu.edu/

Technology can also be used to differentiate for students with gifts and talents.  These students often need opportunities to dig deeper into subjects they are most interested in.  Problem based learning particularly appeals to them.  GeoThentic http://lt.umn.edu/geothentic offers authentic “missions” for students to learn about geography while incorporating higher order thinking skills.

Students often are highly attracted to technology and are motived to learn with they are able to use it.  Students with special needs are no different and assistive technology provides teachers with excellent opportunities to meet each student’s needs.

Roblyer, M.D. & Doering, A.H. (2012). Integrating educational technology into teaching

6th edition.  Columbus, Ohio: Merrill Prentice Hall.