Assistive Technology Tools

WHAT ARE THEY?HOW ARE THEY USED IN THE CLASSROOM?

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE GAINS AND DRAWBACKS FOR THE CLASSROOM?

SCREEN READER

CLOSE CIRCUIT MAGNIFICATION

BRAILLE TRANSLATION

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

WHAT IS A SCREEN READER?

A screen reader combines sounds and pictures to explain

what is on a computer to a visually impaired individual .

HOW CAN IT HELP?Students who would normally not be able to read the boards or literature would be able to hear it so they would be getting the same information.

Adapted workspace and sound. Students will need to be near an outlet and other students may be distracted

by the sound from the program.

POTENTIAL DRAWBACKS

IN THE CLASSROOM

A student who visually fatigues or is unable to read can listen to the

lesson.

CLOSE CIRCUIT MAGNIFICATIONClose circuit magnification is when a

camera projects on an item in a platform or from a handheld device

and magnifies it on a screen.

HOW CAN IT HELP?IN THE CLASSROOM

POTENTIAL DRAWBACKSThe large the magnification, the smaller the viewing area.

Also, devices usually require a larger workstation than a standard desk so students can feel isolated from their

peers.

Some magnifiers have the capability to view the

blackboard or materials posted throughout the

classroom. A student would be able to see what the

others in his classroom are seeing.

Many devices offer instant access and

magnification adjustment according to individual

needs.

BRAILLE TRANSLATION

Braille translation happens when a software program transmits a script into a braille embosser which

prints out the information in braille to a visually impaired student.

HOW CAN IT HELP?

IN THE CLASSROOM

POTENTIAL DRAWBACKSWith a translator, the information is not

immediately available, and many teachers will not know braille well enough to support the

students literacy needs.

A student with the portable text will be able to manipulate it and go back and reread it. They will also have the same

print information as those with sight in their classroom.

Printing out the stories the other children in the class are reading, in braille, will

enable a student to get the practice of active reading which is not the same as

listening.

ADAPTIVE KEYBOARD

ADAPTIVE STUDENT DESKS

ALTERNATE COMMUNICATION DEVICES

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLGY FOR THE MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED

ADAPTIVE KEYBOARD

An adaptive keyboard alphabetizes the keys.

HOW CAN IT HELP?

IN THE CLASSROOM POTENTIAL DRAWBACKS

It reduces the strain on the user by letting them focus on the task instead of the keys.

Provides access to computers and other devices which would

normally be unreachable. A student can participate in the same lesson which is modified

to fit their needs.

Students run the risk of becoming dependent on the technology. If the keyboard

stops working or is no longer appropriate for their grade level, it becomes difficult to

move to a different keyboard.

ADAPTIVE STUDENT

DESKS

Desks for students with neurological impairments that are adjusted to the needs of the student. HOW CAN IT HELP?

A desk can be adapted to individual student needs.

IN THE CLASSROOMA student who cant see well can have is work

closer. A student with a wheelchair can have his chair fit under the desk.

POTENTIAL DRAWBACKSGrowth is continuous

through school. Desks would need to be adjustable or an

incredible expense if they had to be

repurchased regularly.

ALTERNATE COMMUNICATION

DEVICESDevices that enable students with disabilities such as Down’s Syndrome and Autism to communicate more easily.

HOW CAN IT HELP?Students who have a difficult time communicating will have a much easier way to let their teacher and peers know what they are thinking or trying to say.

IN THE CLASSROOMIn order to make sure all

children can be a part of the conversation, an alternate communication device can be used so a student does not feel left out. It can speak for the student.

POTENTIAL DRAWBACKAn obvious drawback with an alternative device is standing out in the classroom. Students want to fit in and feel like they are doing what everyone else is doing.

PERSONAL AMPLIFICATION DEVICE

AUDIO VISUAL COMMUNICATION DEVICES

VOICE TO TEXT TRANSLATION

ASSISTIVE FOR DEAF AND THE HARD OF HEARING

PERSONAL AMPLIFICATION

DEVICE

A device that amplifies that sounds near the user for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

POTENTIAL DRAWBACK

HOW CAN IT HELP?Students who are

hard of hearing will be able to listen to what is going on around them and be more engaging with the lesson.

Teachers will need to rely on their student to let them know if a device is working properly. Also, there is the

concern of batteries failing and background noise interference depending on the quality of the

device.

POTENTIAL USE IN THE CLASSROOM

Since students with only some hearing loss can miss verbal cues and subtleties, sometimes these students seem like they aren’t listening or are misbehaving. An amplifier can help with student behavior in the classroom.

AUDIO VISUAL COMMUNICATION

DEVICESA device that shows closer views of mouth movement to individual who are deaf or hard of hearing to help with understanding.

Can be used in a classroom so that students who can read lips have a better view of the teacher and her mouth in order to lip read.

HOW CAN IT HELP?

HOW CAN IT BE USED IN THE CLASSROOM?While some students

have to be placed in the front row in order to see the board, students all over the classroom will benefit from being able to see the teacher more closely. It can also be

used to zoom in on graphs, diagrams and

tables to point out things more closely.

POTENTIAL DRAWBACK

A potential drawback when it comes to this and most technology, is becoming reliant on something dependent on electricity and a teacher who knows how to use the equipment. Training and reliability are required.

VOICE TO TEXT TRANSLATION

A software device that converts spoken words into readable text on a screen.

Voice to text helps deaf or hard of hearing students see visually on a screen what has been said.

HOW DOES IT HELP?

POTENTIAL DRAWBACKSVoice to text can be slow and inaccurate. Proofreading and punctuation are often necessary. Users also feel like they have to speak loudly in order to make the software work.

CLASSROOM POSSIBILITIESCould help a student whose oral language is better than his writing

skills.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXchQnJ6PoEhttp://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/every-learner/6776

http://en.wikipedia.org/http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/assistive-technology/963-

speech-recognition-software-programs.gs

http://www.audiologycentre.com/child_faq_management

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15771212

RESOURCES

Assistive tools are used to help students with disabilities perform

everyday tasks in the classroom. It is important for schools to not only provide them, but to train their

teachers to be positive about these tools and adequately prepared to use

them.