Transcript
Page 1: Assistive technology

Assistive Technology Assistive Technology in the Classroomin the Classroom

By Stephanie PeetBy Stephanie Peet

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As educators it is our responsibility to teach to everyone in As educators it is our responsibility to teach to everyone in our classroom; whether they are above average, average, our classroom; whether they are above average, average, or below average students, students with learning or below average students, students with learning disabilities, students with physical disabilities, or students disabilities, students with physical disabilities, or students who speak English as a second language. All students are who speak English as a second language. All students are different, and we have to find the best way to teach to different, and we have to find the best way to teach to everyone of them. Today, we have more students with everyone of them. Today, we have more students with learning disabilities and IEP’s in classrooms than ever learning disabilities and IEP’s in classrooms than ever before. I believe that assistive technology can better equip before. I believe that assistive technology can better equip our classrooms for students who have individual our classrooms for students who have individual educational plans. Here are some resources that will educational plans. Here are some resources that will provide information about various assistive technologies.provide information about various assistive technologies.

Assistive Technology: Assistive Technology: any technology that helps people with disabilities any technology that helps people with disabilities perform a task that is usually difficult for them to do with greater ease.perform a task that is usually difficult for them to do with greater ease.

Individual Educational Plans (IEP’s):Individual Educational Plans (IEP’s): a group of individuals including a group of individuals including a psychologist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, a psychologist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, special educator, vision or hearing specialist, a teacher, and a parent who special educator, vision or hearing specialist, a teacher, and a parent who together come up with the best way to meet the students learning needs. together come up with the best way to meet the students learning needs.

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Assistive Technology and Mild Assistive Technology and Mild DisabilitiesDisabilities

This resource gives examples of technologies that help with organization, This resource gives examples of technologies that help with organization, note taking, writing, academic productivity, access to reference and general note taking, writing, academic productivity, access to reference and general educational materials, and cognitive assistance. educational materials, and cognitive assistance.

- videotaping, web-cam, e-mail, the internet, optical character recognition - videotaping, web-cam, e-mail, the internet, optical character recognition software, PDA’s, and portable word processing keyboardssoftware, PDA’s, and portable word processing keyboards

- grammar and spell-checkers, dictionaries, thesaurus programs, word - grammar and spell-checkers, dictionaries, thesaurus programs, word prediction software, word processors, and multimedia toolsprediction software, word processors, and multimedia tools

- hardware based tools, software based tools, calculators, spreadsheets, - hardware based tools, software based tools, calculators, spreadsheets, databases, graphics, and e-booksdatabases, graphics, and e-books

http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-1/assistive.htmhttp://www.ericdigests.org/2003-1/assistive.htm

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Assistive Technology for Assistive Technology for HearingHearing

They explain that certain They explain that certain situations are challenging for situations are challenging for everyone, so they are even more everyone, so they are even more challenging for people who can challenging for people who can not hear perfectly. Some of these not hear perfectly. Some of these situations include the distance situations include the distance between the listener and the between the listener and the sound source, competing noise sound source, competing noise in the environment, and poor in the environment, and poor room acoustics or reverberation. room acoustics or reverberation.

This source gives information This source gives information about hearing assistive about hearing assistive technology systems, otherwise technology systems, otherwise known as HATS. HATS can be known as HATS. HATS can be used with or without hearing used with or without hearing aids to help people with hearing aids to help people with hearing loss. loss.

http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/treatment/assist_tech.htm

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Touch Screen Panels and AT Touch Screen Panels and AT Before we could talk we could still get what we wanted. When most Before we could talk we could still get what we wanted. When most

of us were young kids we just pointed even though we couldn’t put it of us were young kids we just pointed even though we couldn’t put it into words. Touch screens and tablet PCs are the perfect solution for into words. Touch screens and tablet PCs are the perfect solution for people who struggle with their words. This resource provides people who struggle with their words. This resource provides information on the different types or touch screensinformation on the different types or touch screens

- Resistive touch screens are not affected by outside elements but have a - Resistive touch screens are not affected by outside elements but have a lower clarity.lower clarity.

- Surface wave touch screen panels are affected by outside elements but are - Surface wave touch screen panels are affected by outside elements but are the most advanced technology.the most advanced technology.

- Capacitive technology has high clarity, is not affected by outside elements, - Capacitive technology has high clarity, is not affected by outside elements, but is only able to use fingers instead of a stylus like the other two.but is only able to use fingers instead of a stylus like the other two.

http://abilitynet.wetpaint.com/page/Touchscreens+and+Tablet+PCshttp://abilitynet.wetpaint.com/page/Touchscreens+and+Tablet+PCs

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Georgia Project for Assistive Georgia Project for Assistive TechnologyTechnology

GPAT sole purpose is to provide resources for teachers GPAT sole purpose is to provide resources for teachers and parents to help children with disabilities find and parents to help children with disabilities find assistive technology services.assistive technology services.

GPAT defines the assistive technology, gives examples of GPAT defines the assistive technology, gives examples of various devices, provides legal mandates, gives tips for various devices, provides legal mandates, gives tips for documenting the need for assistive living, and much documenting the need for assistive living, and much more.more.

http://www.gpat.org/index.aspx?PageReq=ATMeetingshttp://www.gpat.org/index.aspx?PageReq=ATMeetings

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Assistive Technology for Students Assistive Technology for Students with ADHDwith ADHD

The Invisible ClockThe Invisible Clock - a timer that is worn on a student’s belt that vibrates or beeps when it is - a timer that is worn on a student’s belt that vibrates or beeps when it is

time to work on an assignment, take a break or etc.time to work on an assignment, take a break or etc.

The electronic math worksheet software or the talking The electronic math worksheet software or the talking calculator provide immediate feedback.calculator provide immediate feedback.

Portable word processors, audio books, and speech Portable word processors, audio books, and speech recognition programs help with reading and writing.recognition programs help with reading and writing.

Games that can help with attention to certain cues, Games that can help with attention to certain cues, ignoring distractions, and short-term memory.ignoring distractions, and short-term memory.

http://www.brighthub.com/education/special/articles/74108.aspxhttp://www.brighthub.com/education/special/articles/74108.aspx

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Assistive Technology for Reading and Assistive Technology for Reading and WritingWriting

This source believes electronic readers will help with reading This source believes electronic readers will help with reading difficulties such as fluency, decoding, comprehension and others. difficulties such as fluency, decoding, comprehension and others. Some examples are Blio, Read: Out Loud, ReadPlease, Microsoft Some examples are Blio, Read: Out Loud, ReadPlease, Microsoft Reader, and etc.Reader, and etc.

Tools for writing are portable word processors, spelling/grammar Tools for writing are portable word processors, spelling/grammar checkers, sentence expansion software, word prediction software, checkers, sentence expansion software, word prediction software, graphic organizers, and speech recognition software. Some graphic organizers, and speech recognition software. Some recommendations are Franklin Speller, QuikPad, SpeakQ, recommendations are Franklin Speller, QuikPad, SpeakQ, FreeMind, Writing Fun, and Mac Speak.FreeMind, Writing Fun, and Mac Speak.

http://www.smartkidswithld.org/guide-to-action/at-tool-kit/high-tech-help-for-reading-and-writinghttp://www.smartkidswithld.org/guide-to-action/at-tool-kit/high-tech-help-for-reading-and-writing

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Resistive Touch screen

Invisible Clock

Talking Calculator

Portable Word Processor

E-book

www.google.com


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