Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology

Jerod Dunavant

ED 505

07/16/2013

As a special needs teacher I am relatively familiar with assistive technology. Assistive technology is vital for students with disabilities. “All of the technology integration strategies discussed in this book have important applications for students with disabilities” (Roblyer & Doering. 2013,p.406). There are several assistive technologies for students with mild cognitive disabilities including reading, writing, and mathematics software. Teaching them to chart helps them learn to become organized. Organizational skills are extremely important.

When a student has a moderate to severe disability assistive technologies can provide repetition. Repetition is very important for these students along with routine. It is also very important to help them develop daily living skills. The most important thing we need to teach them is to be independent. “For individuals with moderate and severe cognitive disabilities, considerable effort is devoted to ensuring that they acquire daily living skills such as personal hygiene, shopping, and use of public transportation” (Roblyer & Doering. 2013,p.408).

Assistive technology can also be utilized for students with physical disabilities. My favorite technology for students with physical disabilities is voice recognition software. This enables students to speak type along with other things by simply speaking them. “Assistive technologies for individuals with severe physical disabilities may take the form of a power wheelchair operated by a joystick, a device with a handle that moves in all directions” (Roblyer & Doering. 2013,p.408). I have twins in my room that have wheel chairs that have been modified.

Sensory disabled students also benefit from assistive technology. “Individuals with hearing impairments need few modifications to use computers. However, a technology that is being used in the classrooms today is FM application systems” (Lewis, 2010). I am not very familiar with this technology, but I can see where it could be very beneficial for students with hearing impairments.

At-risk behaviors/situations may in some cases find assistive technology helpful. I am used to dealing with students who lack the motivation to engage in school work. TrackStar is a great technology to help with this. This technology allows teachers to organize engaging instructional activities that parallel to the curriculum. I would love to become more familiar with this technology and put it to use.

Gifted and talented students need assistive technology also. “Allowing gifted students to develop the ultimate potential of their process skills is necessary” (Roblyer & Doering.2013,p.411). Creative thinking is very important for these students. Creative learning.com is a great way to get these students develop creative thinking skills. When gifted students are given the freedom they have the opportunity to think for themselves.