For students with disabilities, assistive technology provides a toolkit of software, educational tools, devices and resources for effective learning and curriculum adaptation in the classroom. Assistive technology can improve the learning outcome for students needing assistance and accommodations.
With the advent of incredible technological advances in the 21st century, the educational playing field for students with disabilities is continuing to level with the inclusion of assistive devices, tools, services and curriculum modifications. Providing adaptive or assistive technology for students with physical and cognitive disabilities can be as simple as including a rubber grip on a pencil or pen for students to write or as complex as providing a computer adapted with an accessible keyboard or equipped with voice activated software.
Assistive technology increases learning opportunities and academic engagement for students who need additional adaptive resources or tools to enhance performance and outcome. IDEA (2004) includes assistive technology services that provide the following for students with disabilities:
- Individualized assessments of a students need for assistive technology which is included in the students' IEP (Individual Education Plan)
- Adaptive or assistive devices must be provided in the classroom so that students with disabilities can have access and use in learning and processing academic information
- Students, teachers and resource staff must have the required training on how to use assistive devices
With proper training and implementation, students can use assistive technology devices and resource services to access curriculum, improve writing skills, improve study skills, improve learning and processing of expected academic objectives, and enhance the learning experience in school communities.
Additional information on assistive resources can be found at http://www.abledata.com where thousands of technology products can be reviewed and evaluated for students with disabilities.
Assistive technology can range from simple to high technological modifications. A simple modification can include specific software programs that can provide tutorial support and processing of subject content information. For some students, putting stickers to identify computer keys can provide Internet access to software that greatly enhances an understanding of the learning in the classroom.
Other modifications beyond instructional software for the computer can include the following:
- Assistive keyboards such as IntelliKeys that can be customized for each student's needs
- Keyguards can be custom fitted to assist students with accuracy in keyboard strokes and with the ability to identify specific keys
- Touch screens have become an ideal tool for students who have difficulty with keyboards. Students can use fingers or a pointer tool to touch computer screens directly to access information and educational software
- Voice software programs can allow students access to computer entry using a microphone to voice activate programs. Voice entry programs can also allow students with disabilities the ability to input information in creating papers, solving math problems and other writings of creative expressions. The diversity of voice input software such as Dragon Naturally Speaking or ViaVoice can be installed on computers to allow students to input data on computers designed with their assistive learning needs in mind.
Assistive technology can provide the necessary tools for students with disabilities to thrive in the classroom and transition into a future full of increased learning opportunities and possibilities.