ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

I IN THE CLASSROOM

A Presentation by Karen Martinez

Types and usefulness of Assistive Technology inthe classroom

Assistive technology (AT) is any device, piece of equipment orsystem that helps a person with a disability work around hischallenges so he can learn, communicate or simply function

better.

There are many kinds of AT that help kids with learning andattention issues. These tools can help them work around their

challenges while playing to their strengths. This helps thembecome more successful, productive students. At the same time,

their confidence and independence can grow.

Assistive devices include any device that disabled children (oradults) might use to help them learn and function more effectively.

Those devices include everything from wheelchairs to a wideassortment of high-tech tools, including: hearing aids and

amplification devices that enable hearing-impaired students to hearwhat's going on in the classroom;

Glare-reduction screens, screen magnifiers, and Braille note-takingdevices that enable visually impaired students to participate morefully; voice-recognition software that turns the spoken word into

type on a computer screen so students unable to move their limbscan take part; and technologies that enable severely disabled

students to control their computers simply by following letters andcommands on the computer screen with their eyes.

Also, there are AT tools to help students who struggle with listening, math, executivefunctioning, reading and writing. There are many available AT tools.

References

http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech086.shtml

https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/assistive-technology/assistive-technologies-basics