This document discusses enhancing learning for students with special needs through individualized education plans (IEPs) and assistive technology. IEPs are developed by parents and educators to set goals and support for students with disabilities. Assistive technology includes no-tech, low-tech, and high-tech devices that help students with tasks like organization, note-taking, writing, and accessing materials. Examples are provided of assistive technologies at each level that can benefit students with disabilities in achieving their IEP goals and being educated in inclusive classroom settings when appropriate.

1. Enhancing the Learning of Students with Special Needs Laura Bennett

2. IEPs An individualized education plan (IEP) is a plan developed by the student’s parents and a team of educators to help the student be successful in school. The Individuals with Disabilites Act (IDEA) made parents a essential active part of their child’s education team. Contents of an IEP: Goals for the student to meet throughout the year Any support needed for the student to meet the goals the team sets.

3. Reasons for having an IEP Learning disabilities ADHD Emotional disorders Development delay Autism Mental retardation Hearing impairment Visual impairment Speech or language impairment Developmental delay

4. Serving Students with IEPs Much of the time, students with IEPs can accomplish the goals set for them in a standard school environment. This can be done in a regular education classroom or in a resource room. A special school environment is needed when students need intense intervention.

5. General Education for Students with Disabilities If students are served in a regular education classroom, they are considered to be served by inclusion, meaning that they are doing the majority of their learning with non-disabled students. According to IDEA’sleast restrictive environment (LRE) policy, students are to be educated in a general education classroom with their non-disabled peers as much as it is appropriate based on the learning needs of the student. This is also known as mainstreaming.

6. Assistive Technology (AT) Assistive Technology (AT) is defined by IDEA as “any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially of the shelf, modified or customized, that is used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.” AT allows people with disabilities to perform tasks that before were not possible or that they had great difficulty accomplishing. AT devices range can be no technology (no-tech), low-technology (low-tech), or high-technology (high-tech).

7. No-Tech AT No-tech AT is classified as devices that are not electronic. Examples: Foam on book pages to make them easier to turn. Pencil grips Planners Specialty paper Highlighters

8. Low-Tech AT Low-tech items are electronic devices that do not have highly sophisticated computer components. Examples: Tape recorder Calculator Watch FM Systems

9. High-Tech AT High-tech AT uses complex technology that has multiple functions. This usually means a computer and other software to accompany it. Examples: Portable keyboards Electronic spell checkers and dictionaries Reading systems using computers, scanners, or software to can reading material and read it aloud. Speech recognition software Mind mapping software Touch window

10. Assistive Technology (AT) Organization Examples: Graphic organizers, flow-charts, word processors, etc. Note taking Examples: Sending notes through email, videotaping class sessions, using portable word processing keyboards or PDAs to aid in the mechanics of note taking, etc. Writing Examples: Spell checkers, dictionaries, word processors, other computer software. Academic productivity Spreadsheets, databases, graphics software, calculators Access to reference and general education materials Internet communications and multimedia Cognitive Assistance Program software, PDAs, Internet software AT can help students with:

11. References Assistive Technology. (2010). In Wikipedia. Retrieved September 29, 2010 from the World Wide Web: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistive_technology Assistive Technology. (2000). Retrieved September 29, 2010 from the World Wide Web: http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~wilbur/access/assistive.html Assistive Technology “Low-tech” to “High-tech” Considerations. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2, 2010 from the World Wide Web: http://www.nsnet.org/atc/tools/lowtohightech.html Behrmann, M. J., Kinas, M. (2002). Assistive Technology for Students with Mild Disabilities. Retrieved Septermber 30, 2010 from the World Wide Web: http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-1/assistive.htm Bachrach, S. J. (2008). Individualized Education Plans. Retrieved September 29, 2010 from the World Wide Web: http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/learning/iep.html# Hearing Assistive Technology. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2010 from the World Wide Web: http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/treatment/assist_tech.htm Inclusion (education). (2010). In Wikipedia. Retrieved September 30, 2010 from the World Wide Web: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inclusion_%28education%29 Logsdon, A. Least Restrictive Educational Environment – Choosing the Least Restrictive Environment. Retrieved October 1, 2010 from the World Wide Web: http://learningdisabilities.about.com/od/publicschoolprograms/a/leastrestrictiv.htm Touch Window. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2010 from the World Wide Web: http://www.synapseadaptive.com/edmark/prod/tw/default.htm