05/04/98

Assistive Technology - Tools for Learning

Beth Bruno introduces Judith Sweeney, expert on assistive educational technology. The following article, written by Ms. Sweeney, provides useful, up-to-date information about some of the tools available for student academic support programs.

Assistive Technology

If you haven't heard the term before and you have a child in special education, you soon will. With re authorization of IDEA, the set of federal laws which govern special education, assistive technology now has to be considered each time your child's IEP (Individual Educational Plan) is drawn up.

What is Assistive Technology?

Assistive technology is a broad, inclusive term covering any device that can be purchased, made or customized that helps your child function more independently and successfully. Different kinds of assistive technology help people with special needs communicate, move around, take part in everyday life and learn. Assistive technologies range from very simple devices like rubber stamps to complex computer systems.

Don't Forget Low Tech!

Low tech assistive technology is found all around us. Rubber stamps, rulers with special grips, spring operated scissors, talking calculators and hand held spell checkers are just a few examples of everyday devices that have become assistive technologies. They help students with special needs stay in mainstream classrooms and finish their work more rapidly or successfully. Low tech aids, in some cases, can even help a borderline student keep up with assignments without having to receive special services.

Tools for Learning

Some students with special needs need more assistance than low-tech devices can provide. Assistive computer technology is a rapidly growing field that provides students with special needs amazing opportunities. Computer assistive technologies fall in two major areas - assistive hardware devices and assistive software.

Assistive Hardware Devices

There are hundreds of different assistive technology devices that can help students use the computer. Alternative or touch sensitive keyboards help students who can't access "regular" keyboards. They may be arranged like standard QWERTY keyboards or be totally customized with pictures, symbols, letters or words. For students who find even these larger keyboards impossible to use, switches and scanning programs are available. These devices show the letters of the keyboard on the screen, highlighting each row and then each letter, one at a time. When the desired letter is highlighted, the student hits the switch and that letter is "typed" into the program. Even mouse access can be modified through the use of trackballs, trackpads, specialized joysticks and touch screens.

Assistive Software

Assistive software is different from standard educational software. Yet, one of the best things about this specialized software is that it can be valuable for so many students. The problem is that very few educators, even those in special education, know about assistive software. While many educational software programs help students with special needs practice skills, the most valuable assistive software is productivity software - software that helps students get the "job" of learning done.

Assistive Productivity Software

If you have a child in special education, you need to know about talking word processors, word prediction, text readers, talking calculators, software templates, and programs that allow students to do math, outlines, writing webs and worksheets right on the computer. For many students with special needs, the computer can become an electronic pencil or a personal teaching assistant. Students with handwriting difficulties, poor spelling, letter and word omissions often benefit almost immediately from talking word processors like Write OutLoud, IntelliTalk, or Picture It Junior. Students with severe spelling and word omission problems or with slow entry speeds often benefit from word prediction software like CoWriter. This program offers students lists of "suggestions" based on grammar, syntax and/or the first letter of the word they type into the computer. Students who have trouble with print materials are often aided by using text reading software. Software like Ultimate Reader reads text to the student while highlighting what is read. The voice, speed and colors of presentation are all fully adjustable. Students who need the computer to complete paper and pencil work can now use programs like Big Calc (a talking calculator), MathPad or Access to Math (programs that allow problems to be solved on the computer), and Inspiration, (a program that creates graphic webs on the computer and then instantly turns them into outlines). Templates allow students to type into screen forms for quizzes and worksheets, saving time and helping with organization.

Tools for Success

Assistive technology is a tool - a tool that can build a successful academic experience for your child. Your knowledge of different assistive technology solutions and strategies can and should be part of the next PPT for your child. But a tool is only valuable when a person knows about it, has access to it and really knows how to use it.

For more information about assistive technology devices and services, please feel free to contact me.

Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.