This document discusses assistive technologies that can help students with disabilities participate and learn in the classroom. It outlines steps teachers should take to identify students' needs and try assistive technologies like communication boards, audiobooks, and visual aids. The most common assistive technologies address problems with mobility, communication, vision, and hearing. While many students who need assistive technology do not receive it, teachers should work with parents and specialists to incorporate the proper technologies into each student's individualized education plan to support their success.
2. What is Assistive Technology?
• Many students with disabilities of all ages
need Assistive Technology (AT) to get
through everyday school activities.
• Reasons students may need AT
– Mobility
– Communication
– Participation
– Vision/Hearing
3. What to do in the Beginning (for
teachers)
1. Find out detailed information about the child and the
family.
2. Identify participation activities and what is holding them
back from participating more
3. How will you notice the changes as the occur?
Brainstorm if an intervention would affect participation
more.
4. Steps – cont’d
4. Think of Assistive Technology solutions for the students
in need
5. Try out the Assistive Technology on the students
6. Identify what worked and what needs to be fixed for next
time
These steps should be followed by all education
professionals in order to determine what to do regarding
AT for special needs children
The steps can be viewed more in depth at LDOnline
5. Assistive Technology in the
Classroom
• IDEA defines AT as "any item, piece of equipment, or product
system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or
customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the
functional capabilities of a child with a disability"
• Some of the most common AT include:
– Visual problems – Braille textbooks, books on tape, eyeglasses, large
print books
– Communication problems – Communication boards and books, pictures
and photos, electronic dictionaries
– Students with studying problems – Highlighters, post-its, electronic
organizers, portable word processors
– Hearing problems – Hearing aids, CC Television, pictures and photos,
communication boards
*For an even more
extensive list,
you can check
out Assistive Technology
6. More In-Depth with Books on Tape
• Books on tape are great AT’s for students with
many different disabilities. Students with visual
impairments benefit the most from these books,
but students with ADHD or learning disabilities
can also excel by using an audio book.
• These books can help students focus more,
especially if they have a hard time reading
certain words or distracted by other noises.
• Books on tape are available everywhere now-a-
days and they are usually accessible on learning
tablets that many students utilize daily
7. The Truth of Assistive Technology
• It’s crucial for young students to be introduced to an
enriching academic environment where they have the AT
they need.
• Surveys say that 45% of students who need AT are not
receiving it.
• Children need family
support more than
anything, especially when
they are affected by a
disability.
8. Individual Educational Plan (IEP)
• The IEP’s created by the educational
professionals and the parents will
determine what AT’s are necessary.
• IEP’s can be adjusted and changed when
necessary if certain AT’s are not working.
• IEP’s need to be reevaluated after a year
to see if progress was made. Students
with special needs need IEP’s in order to
succeed in the classroom.
9. Encouragement to Give to Parents
• Teachers should always communicate with the
parents
• Make sure to always ask them questions
because they will know more about the child’s
behavior outside of school
• Tell the parents about organizations and groups
that they can get involved in to learn more about
having a child with special needs and dealing
with assistive technologies
10. Resources
The Division for Early Childhood. http://www.dec-sped.org/
Friend, Marilyn. Including Students with Special Needs. 5th Edition. Pearson
Education. 2009
Minnesota Department of Children, Families, and Learning. (2001). Assistive technology
checklist process. Retrieved November 20, 2002, from
http://www.integratingstandards.org/index.html
National Center for Technology Innovation and Center for Implementing Technology in
Education (CITEd) (2006) by LDOnline http://www.ldonline.org/article/8088
North Central Regional Educational Laboratory
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te7assist.htm
Reed, P. R. (2001). A resource guide for teachers and administrators about assistive
technology. Oshkosh, WI: Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative
