Assistive technology in the classroom helps to ensure students with disabilities have the same opportunity for education as students who do not have disabilities. Assistive technology helps schools and teachers deliver on the promise of educational equity. Exploring how students with learning disabilities and other impairments use assistive technology in virtual and physical classrooms illuminates its vital role. Show
What Is Assistive Technology?Assistive technology can be any product or tool that helps people with disabilities learn, work, and live more productive lives. Ranging from simple mechanical devices to sophisticated hardware and software, assistive technologies address a wide range of disabilities. Examples of Assistive TechnologyMany household items—timers, calculators, and magnifiers, for example—can help address specific disabilities. Advanced and emerging technologies such as virtual reality also serve assistive learning purposes. The following tools are some of the more common examples of assistive technology:
More than 7 million students ages 3-21, or 14 percent of all public school students, receive special education services in the United States, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. A third of those students have a specific learning disability, such as dyslexia. Other major categories of disability are wide ranging: * Autism spectrum disorder * Developmental delay * Emotional disturbance (anxiety and depression, for example) * Intellectual disability * Hearing impairment * Orthopedic impairment * Speech or language impairment * Other health impairments (a broad category that encompasses many conditions that limit a student’s strength, energy, or alertness) Not all students with disabilities require or are eligible for assistive technology, but the prevalence and variety of disabilities underscores the importance of such learning aids. Who Qualifies for Assistive Technology?To be eligible for special assistance, students must be evaluated by a team of professionals who assess their disability. Qualifying students receive an individualized education program (IEP), which defines learning needs, sets goals, and describes how teachers will help the student learn. Schools are required to provide assistive technology if the IEP team determines it is necessary. Students who do not qualify for an IEP, which is authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), may still qualify for assistive technology under a 504 plan, which is authorized under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. IEPs and 504 plans are similar, but whereas an IEP addresses a child’s special education needs resulting from specific disabilities, a 504 plan provides services for a child with any disability that interferes with their ability to learn. While some disabilities and associated needs are readily apparent, others require extensive testing. People with learning disabilities or learning differences, for example, are typically of average or above-average intelligence, according to the Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA). They simply process information differently, and the effects of their disability may be limited to a specific area. LDA groups learning disabilities into five categories:
Related disorders such as ADHD, dyspraxia (affecting muscle control), and executive functioning disabilities (weakness in cognitive management systems), while not learning disabilities by definition, commonly occur with learning disabilities, according to LDA. Assistive Technology Implementation ChallengesThe benefits of assistive technology for students with learning disabilities are manifest, but implementing such tools in classrooms can cause challenges:
Assistive Technology in Virtual ClassroomsMany assistive technologies are digital and easily adapted to online use and remote environments, but virtual classroom integration can have unique challenges. Students who require the use of assistive technologies in classroom and home environments may require additional support for remote setup, and the transportation of equipment to and from school places additional responsibilities on students and families. Such challenges have not stopped teachers from delivering on the promise of equal opportunity for education, however. Assistive technology has been successfully integrated into physical and virtual classroom settings. The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified some of the challenges associated with remote learning, but teachers continue to adapt and find new ways to enable learning for all students. Helping schools to acquire and utilize technology—including tools designed to help students with disabilities—has never been more important. Creating More Equitable Learning EnvironmentsProviding students with the tools they need to fully participate and learn is a fundamental responsibility of education. For students with disabilities, assistive technology can be the key to an equitable learning environment. Educators interested in providing an equal education to all students, including those with disabilities, should explore American University’s School of Education. Through its Online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and Online Master of Education (MEd) in Education Policy and Leadership, American University’s School of Education prepares teachers and policy makers to excel in the digital age. Find out how American University’s School of Education trains educators to transform the education system to benefit all learners. What is assistive technology for students with disabilities?What is it? Assistive technology enables children with disabilities to participate more fully in all aspects of life (home, school, and community) and helps them access their right to a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.
What are 3 examples of assistive devices?Examples include:. magnifiers,. talking devices such as a talking thermostat,. Braille displays,. screen reading software,. text-to-speech systems using Optical Character Recognition (OCR),. large print materials, and.. phones with large tactile buttons.. What are assistive devices in special education?The term assistive technology device refers to 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 functional capabilities of a child with a disability.
What assistive technology is used in schools today?Examples of Assistive Technology
Audio recorders can be used to capture lectures and discussions that students with auditory processing disorder might miss. Closed captioning allows students with auditory disabilities to learn from video-based lessons.
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