adaptive and assistive technologies

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Adaptive/ Assistive Technology Strategies for helping students with disabilities succeed in the classroom.

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This slide show depicts ways different technologies can be used to help students with disabilities or special gifts.

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Page 1: Adaptive and Assistive Technologies

Adaptive/Assistive TechnologyStrategies for helping students with disabilities succeed in the classroom.

Page 2: Adaptive and Assistive Technologies

Cognitive Difficulties

According to Roblyer an Doering (2013) cognitive difficulties are disabilities such as cognitive disabilities, developmental disabilities or mental retardation.These are considered to be the most prevalent disabilities. Cognitive disabilities include intellectual ability, attention deficits, memory and thinking skills. Academic and social-emotional disabilities are also found in this category.

Page 3: Adaptive and Assistive Technologies

Dragon Dictation is a Speak to text application that allows students with cognitive disabilities to speak what they would like to be written. This allows students to complete difficult writing assignments along with other students. It is a great way for them to communicate what they have learned to the instructor. “For students who are unable to write by hand, who have illegible handwriting, or who find handwriting extremely tedious, voice recognition software…may be an option” (Roblyer & Doering, 2013, p. 407).

Page 4: Adaptive and Assistive Technologies

Notability is an app that allows students to take notes on documents, allows for adding sketches to PDF or graphics. Notability also has an audio recording feature for auditory learners, photo capability and it coordinates with sharing platforms like Google Drive and Dropbox. This allows students to receive hard copies of notes, but still be able to add in some of their own thoughts via pictures or audio.

“Educators planning for the needs of students with mild disabilities often use productivity software as well as other software materials and online resources that can be used with many low-performing students” (Roblyer & Doering, 2013, p. 408).

Page 5: Adaptive and Assistive Technologies

Physical Difficulties

Physical disabilities affect a person’s mobility and agility. People with physical disabilities often have a hard time performing even the most basic physical movements. This often makes working in the kitchen difficult. Fortunately new technologies are making it possible to overcome this obstacle.

Page 6: Adaptive and Assistive Technologies

Thomas Steady arm is a device that is securely attached to an arm to help steady tremors. This device helps students with weakness or tremors to feed him/herself, write, turn pages and other daily tasks. “The goal is to identify appropriate tools for access and control that will allow the individual to function across environments: home, school, community, and eventually work” (Roblyer & Doering, 2013, p. 408).

Page 7: Adaptive and Assistive Technologies

Clamp-on vegetable peelers were designed for individuals who only have one arm, or who have limited grasping abilities. It claps on to the counter and allows the person using it to effectively and efficiently peel various vegetables.

Image retrieved from http://www.berktree.com/clamp-on-vegetable-peeler-model-aa5208.html

Page 8: Adaptive and Assistive Technologies

Sensory Difficulties

“Sensory disabilities involve impairments associated with the loss of hearing or vision” (Roblyer & Doering, 2013, p. 409).

Blind = loss of all sightPartially sighted = some loss of sightDeaf = loss of all hearingHearing impaired = some loss of hearing

Page 9: Adaptive and Assistive Technologies

Low Vision Chef is a website with kitchen tools for people who struggle with vision. Items such as braille measuring cups can be found here. This enables people who cannot see to be able to measure accurately and be successful in the kitchen.

Image retrieved from http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/CUPS-SPOONS.html

Page 10: Adaptive and Assistive Technologies

Image retrieved from http://www.maxiaids.com

Talking Thermometers allow for students with vision impairments the ability to push a button and hear the current temperature of the food. This allows students to cook food to perfection along side their hearing friends. It fosters independent living.

Page 11: Adaptive and Assistive Technologies

At-Risk Students

At-risk students are considered to be those students who are at risk of failing out of the school system. “When used effectively, technology fosters students’ participation and sense of engagement in learning” (Hancock, 1993). When students are engaged in learning, it lowers the risk of failing.

Page 12: Adaptive and Assistive Technologies

Remind is a free program that allows teachers to safely communicate to students and parents. Teachers can send reminders to students who have difficulty remembering to do things. By reminding them, they are able to feel more successful in the classroom which lowers the risk of failing.

Page 13: Adaptive and Assistive Technologies

The Speak it! app found in the iTunes library is an app that allows students to highlight text and have it read to them. It can read instructions, emails, news, documents, and more. Many students struggle with reading. However, by overcoming that obstacle with a text to voice app, students can still learn and be active participants in their education.

Page 14: Adaptive and Assistive Technologies

Gifted and Talented Students (GT)

“Students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services and activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities” (No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Title IX, Part A, Section 9101(22); U.S. Department of Education, 2004) (as cited in Roblyer and Doering, 2013).

Page 15: Adaptive and Assistive Technologies

Weebly is a free website design program available to all. This type of program is great for Gifted and Talented students because it allows them to be creative and showcase their knowledge. It also includes a blog format for students to interact with peers on the things they are writing.

Page 16: Adaptive and Assistive Technologies

Interactive websites allow GT students the opportunity to expand their knowledge outside of class room experiences. The Flavor Connection is an example of one such website. This website shows a chart of different foods and shows how their flavor compounds correlate. Food scientists claim that foods that normally would not be combined together will taste great together as long as they share enough food compounds. GT students could analyze this chart and then experiment on their own by combining different and unusual food products to test the theory. They could then present their inventions to the class.

Page 17: Adaptive and Assistive Technologies

References

Hancock, V.E. (1993). Trends: Technology/the at-risk student. Educational Leadership, 50 (4). Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/dec92/vol50/num04/The_At-Risk_Student.aspx

Roblyer, M. D. & Doering, A. H. (2013). Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.