Assistive Technology Resources and Our Students

By Katie McLeod

Special Needs Students

• Are becoming more and more integrated into inclusive classroom environments.

• Have varying needs, abilities, and required accommodations with which you should be familiar.

• May have specially designed IEPs, which are personal, individualized plans based on each student’s individual needs.

Terms You Should Know

• IEP= Individualized Education Program• Inclusion refers to the practice teaching

special needs students in the same environment as other students.

• LRE= Least Restrictive Environment; this refers to the environment that most integrates students with special needs into other, “regular” classroom environments

Universal Design for Learning

• Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework for designing educational environments that enable all learners to gain knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm for learning. http://www.advocacyinstitute.org/UDL/

• UDL incorporates the use of technology and other materials, assessments, and methods to help all students reach their potential in their own ways.

Assistive Technology

• Assistive Technology is technology that helps students perform tasks or aids them in learning by allowing them to do things they may not be able to on their own.

• Many resources are available to you and your students, no matter what special needs your students may have.

Examples of Assistive Technology Products You May Use

Hearing aids and other inter-ear and inner-ear devices can assist hearing-impaired students such as Sarah to better understand class discussions and interpret information in class.

Invisible clocks are devices that look like beepers that can buzz or vibrate at timed intervals to remind ADHD students like Kelvin to stay on track.

Key Points to Remember

• Tons of resources are available to you online to help you devise your own methods of assisting your students with or without using technology.

• Other teachers have been there and want to offer their support and suggestions.

• Your flexibility and willingness to try out new ideas are they keys to success for your students!

Public education "is a right which must be made available to all on equal terms."

U.S. Supreme Court, Brown v. Board of Education

Sources

• http://www.mnabedisabilities.org/guide/assistive-technology/assistive-technology-addadhd

• http://www.axistive.com/assistive-technology-for-hearing-impaired-students.html

• www.advocacyinstitute.org/UDL/• www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/udlguidelines