1. Helping Today’s
Children Succeed:
Emerging Perspectives on
Learning

2. Agenda
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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

3. Introduction
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Name: Jamie Taylor
Grade Level: Middle Grades
Subject: History
ISTE Standard
– NETS-T 1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
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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.

4. 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
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Tailor your lesson (to the best of your ability) to the entire class
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For example, students with auditory disabilities should be seated at the front.
Modify, modify, modify
Embrace their differences
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These students can offer a whole new perspective on life and on learning. Embrace their
differences and help your other students do the same.

5. Types of Special Needs
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Mild Learning Disabilities
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Emotional Disorders
Mental Retardation
Autism
Hearing Impairment
Vision Impairment
Developmental Delay

6. Assistive Technology Resources
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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:
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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.

7. Assistive Technology for Disabilities
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Low Tech
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Mid-Tech
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Scanning print using optical character recognition scanner
Enlarging print and visuals onscreen
Talking picture frames
Calculators
Timers
Switch toys
Spell Checkers
Word Processing Software
Portable Word Processors
Large Print Word Processors
Hyperlinked Multimedia
Electronic Organizers
Scanning Reading Pens
Captioning
Text Messaging
High-Tech
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Environmental Controls
Voice Recognition Software
Text to speech software
Touch sensitive pads
Eye Tracking Technology
Abbreviation-expansion software

8. No-Tech Assistive Technology
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Note Taking:
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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.

9. No-Tech Assistive Technology
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Lesson Development:
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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.

10. Low Tech/Full Tech Assistive Technology
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Current Times:
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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.

11. Low Tech/Full Tech Assistive Technology
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Text to Speech:
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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.

12. Resources
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http://www.helpguide.org/mental/adhd_add_teaching_strategies.htm
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivitydisorder-adhd/index.shtml
http://www.guide2digitallearning.com/tools_technologies/web_20_tools_soci
al_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/

13. Thank you!