Assistive technology- Jamie Taylor

Helping Today’s Children Succeed:

Emerging Perspectives on Learning

Agenda

• Introduction• Working with Special Needs students/Overview• Types of Special Needs• Resources that can enhance students’ educational experiences

– No-Tech Assistive Technology– Low Tech Assistive Tech– Full Tech Assistive Technology

Introduction

• Name: Jamie Taylor• Grade Level: Middle Grades• Subject: History• ISTE Standard

– NETS-T 1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity• Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to

facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:

– Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes.

– Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face to face and virtual environments.

Working with Special Needs students

What is it?• Students with special needs can range anywhere from Mild

learning disabilities to severe autism. What can you as a teacher, do to help these students?• Organize your classroom

– For example, students with auditory disabilities should be seated at the front.

• Tailor your lesson (to the best of your ability) to the entire class– Modify, modify, modify

• Embrace their differences– These students can offer a whole new perspective on life and on learning.

Embrace their differences and help your other students do the same.

Types of Special Needs

• Mild Learning Disabilities• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)• Emotional Disorders• Mental Retardation• Autism• Hearing Impairment• Vision Impairment• Developmental Delay

Assistive Technology Resources• Assistive Technology is any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially or

off the shelf, modified, or customized that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.

• Resources include:– Family Center on Technology and Disability: The family center supports organizations and programs that work with

families of children and youth with disabilities through a range of information and services on assistive technologies.– Alliance for Technology Access: The mission of ATA is to increase the use of technology by children and adults with

disability and functional limitations. ATA Encourages and facilitates the empowerment of people with disabilities to participate fully in their communities.

– Georgia Tools for Life: Tools for Life, Georgia’s Assistive Technology Act Program, is dedicated to increasing access to and acquisition of Assistive Technology devices and services for Georgians of all ages and disabilities so they can learn, live, work and play independently and with greater freedom in communities of choice.

– KITE Project: KITE Project is a training curriculum for parents and teachers of young children with disabilities used to promote inclusion through the use of technology.

– Tots ‘n Tech: Tots ‘n Tech disseminations information from its national research center about the use of assistive technology to enhance the development of infants and toddlers with disabilities.

Assistive Technology for Disabilities• Low Tech

– Scanning print using optical character recognition scanner– Enlarging print and visuals onscreen– Talking picture frames– Calculators– Timers– Switch toys– Spell Checkers

• Mid-Tech– Word Processing Software– Portable Word Processors– Large Print Word Processors – Hyperlinked Multimedia– Electronic Organizers– Scanning Reading Pens– Captioning– Text Messaging

• High-Tech– Environmental Controls– Voice Recognition Software– Text to speech software– Touch sensitive pads– Eye Tracking Technology– Abbreviation-expansion software

No-Tech Assistive Technology

• Note Taking:– Give all students an outline of the lesson that gives them a chance to focus and

follow along while you are teaching. • Who it helps?

– Students with ADHD, learning disabilities and mild auditory disabilities• How does it help?

– Students with ADHD» This can give students the opportunity to “focus” on finding the

correct answers to fill in the blanks while you are teaching the lesson.

– Students with Learning Disabilities» This can give students a guide to help them pick out important

parts of a lesson. – Students with Auditory Disabilities

» This can hold the teacher accountable for going at a slower pace so that all students can grasp the point of the lesson.

No-Tech Assistive Technology• Lesson Development:

– Develop a lesson based off of clues hidden in the room. Give students a worksheet with blanks. Have the students go around the room finding clues to put a story together. • Who it helps?

– Students with ADHD, learning disabilities, auditory disabilities • How does it help?

– Students with ADHD» This can give students the opportunity to “focus” on finding the

correct answers to fill in the blanks while you are teaching the lesson. Allows these students to get up and move.

– Students with Learning Disabilities» This can give students a guide to help them pick out important

parts of a lesson. It can also let them see the story come together. Almost as if they are teaching the lesson to themselves.

– Students with Auditory Disabilities» Have this be a silent activity where students aren’t allowed to

discuss anything until they are all finished.

Low Tech/Full Tech Assistive Technology

• Current Times:– Give students a chapter in the book to look over for homework. Have them

create bitstrips describing the lesson and what they have learned from it. • Who it helps?

– Students with ADHD, learning disabilities, auditory disabilities • How does it help?

– Students with ADHD» This will give students a chance to use the technology that is

current with today’s generation to describe what they have learned. This will keep students focused on the activity.

– Students with Learning Disabilities» This will give students a chance to work at their own pace. Also it

will allow them the opportunity to use other web based tools to help them understand the lesson.

– Students with Auditory Disabilities» This can be an opportunity where they can utilize working with a

computer and transferring the information learned.

Low Tech/Full Tech Assistive Technology

• Text to Speech:– Give students a chapter in the book to look over for homework. Have them

utilize text to speech software to write a paragraph on the lesson. • Who it helps?

– Students with ADHD, learning disabilities, auditory disabilities • How does it help?

– Students with ADHD» This will keep students actively involved in the lesson because

they have to talk about it in order to get their assignment done. – Students with Learning Disabilities

» This will give students a chance to talk through the material. If they need assistance they can come talk to the teacher about it.

– Students with Auditory Disabilities» This can be an opportunity where they can utilize working with a

computer and transferring the information learned.

Resources• http

://www.helpguide.org/mental/adhd_add_teaching_strategies.htm• http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivi

ty-disorder-adhd/index.shtml

• http://www.guide2digitallearning.com/tools_technologies/web_20_tools_social_studies_classrooms

• http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-1/assistive.htm• http://www.fctd.info/factsheets• http://www.ataccess.org/• http://www.gatfl.org/• http://www.pacer.org/stc/kite/• http://tnt.asu.edu/

Thank you!