Assistive Technology Tools By: Ellie Rice EDN

Screen Reader – for the visually impaired  This Assistive Technology program allows someone who is visually impaired to understand what is being displayed on a computer screen by using pictures that they can better understand as well as sounds.  In the classroom this program would be helpful when students are doing station work at the computer. Many times I will use the computer in my room or in the computer lab to have them practice certain skills. A screen reader for a visually impaired student would be helpful and perhaps necessary.

Screen Reader – for the visually impaired In the Classroom Pros: Students in the classroom who are visually impaired will still have the ability and opportunity to work independently. This may improve self-efficacy. Students who are visually impaired will get to stay in the classroom and feel like they are on the same level as the other students who don’t need a screen reader. Cons: This could be a barrier in the classroom because students who are not visually impaired may look at the student(s) who is/are differently. Students who use the screen reader may not feel as much part of the class because they are different or maybe take a little bit longer to do their work, or understand the general idea of the assignment.

Close Circuit Magnification – for the visually impaired  This tool magnifies whatever is appearing on the computer screen so that it is easier to read.  This is a great tool that I think most classrooms should have. Many students, more than we assume, may have vision problems and this is something that could be helpful. I would use this when the students are supposed to be independently reading. I would use a program that has stories online or on the computer and use the close circuit magnification tool for my visually impaired students to still be able to participate in independent reading.

Close Circuit Magnification – for the visually impaired Pros: Students who can see but need text to be enlarged quite a bit would still be able to participate in independent reading times Cons: It may not help those who have more serious eyesight problems because it simply enlarges the text instead of providing audio as well. In the Classroom

Braille Translation Device – for the visually impaired  This assistive technology tool is for students who read by using Braille. What the device does is it takes the words on the computer screen and translates it into Braille so that the student can read.  A scenario where this could be useful in the classroom is when students are taking a test. Since the test I make will most likely be formatted on a computer I can print it out on paper for most of the students and for the visually impaired students, I can have them use this device so that they can do the test independently and still be able to understand all the directions in the way that is most comfortable to them.

Braille Translation Device – for the visually impaired Pros: Students can take tests, complete assignments, and read stories in Braille just by hooking this device up to the computer The teacher can make worksheets and tests like he/she always would and just rely on this tool to make it useable for his/her visually impaired students. Cons: If it were to stop working, the student may be lost and fall behind quickly These devices can be very expensive May take visually impaired students a little bit longer because of the translation/printing time. In the Classroom

Adaptive Keyboard – for the developmentally/physically challenged  This device looks like a regular keyboard at first glance. However, to make it easier for a student who is developmentally or physically challenged, the letters on a keyboard are not organized the way they are on a typically keyboard. Instead, they are in alphabetical order.  I would use this for a student who was behind developmentally. It may be harder for some children to understand the concept of the letters being in a different order than they are in the alphabet they just learned so recently. To simply make it less stressful and time consuming for them I would have those students use an adaptive keyboard whenever they are doing computer activities.

Adaptive Keyboard – for the developmentally/physically challenged Pros: The student would gain a feeling of calmness about doing computer work instead of struggling with a standard keyboard, or taking much longer than other students because of the keyboard. This way simply makes more sense to them. Cons: This would not necessarily be a barrier in the classroom as much as it could eventually be a barrier in the student’s life. Because standard keyboards that most of the world uses are not in alphabetical order, once the student gets to a certain point or age he or she may not have the option to use the adaptive keyboard anymore and will not be prepared to use a standard keyboard. In the Classroom

Alternate Communication Devices – for the developmentally/physically challenged  This device helps people who have trouble communicating and interacting socially be able to communicate more effectively and easily. Many times people can’t understand what a child with Down’s syndrome or autism wants or why he or she is reacting a certain way. This device may be able to help that communication barrier in many instances.  I would definitely want to use this device in my classroom. A scenario for this tool could be if a student with Down’s is acting in one extreme way and the students or I do not know why or what to do, the student can use this device to better explain how he or she is feeling and why. This way the problem can be solved much more efficiently with hopefully less stress to the child.

Alternate Communication Device – for the developmentally and physically challenged Pros: This device has many pros. When a child with a disability doesn’t have the ability to communicate simple things that he or she is feeling it can be so stressful and frustrating. The child will feel like no one understand and the teacher may feel helpless because she does not know how to help. This device can take care of those issues in most cases. Cons: I can’t see this device having any cons or causing barriers in the classroom. In the Classroom

Adaptive Student Desks – for the developmentally or physically challenged  These are desks that can be adjusted to fit the needs of the student using it. Typically, these adaptive desks are used for children who are developmentally challenged or neurologically impaired.  A scenario where this device could be used in a classroom is if students are supposed to be sitting quietly at their desks doing work, reading, or taking a test. For students who are neurologically impaired and may, for example, not be able to sit up well the desk can be adjusted to work better for them and to help them be comfortable as well.

Adaptive Student Desk – for the developmentally or physically challenged Pros: This could be a positive addition to classrooms because it is very likely to have a child that needs accommodations like this This will allow the student to sit up and still during class. Cons: This could be a barrier in some ways because many times students tend to stick with kids who are “like them”. When a disabled student looks different are sits at a different table with a different desk they could unintentionally become isolated. Getting the student in and out of the desk/adjusting it for different needs could be a distraction. In the Classroom

Personal Amplification Device – for the deaf and hard of hearing  This tool is almost like a microphone for the noise or voices going on around those who are deaf or hard of hearing. It can easily be used in classrooms for students who are hard of hearing to better hear what the instructor is saying when other distracting or interfering noises might be going on.  I would have my hard of hearing students use this most of the day if possible. In my future classroom there will be a mixture of teacher-led instruction as well as lots of group work. The amplification device would probably be necessary in both of those types of learning.

Personal Amplification Device – for the deaf or hard of hearing Pros: This would definitely be a positive thing for a hard of hearing student. He or she could use this device so that they wont fall behind, miss out on a less, or not catch all of the directions for an assignment. This device can also make reading a story as a class more enjoyable instead of being like work. Cons: I can’t really see this device being a barrier for the hard of hearing students or their classmates. In the Classroom

Audio/Visual Communication Devices – for the deaf or hard of hearing  This device is especially helpful for deaf or hard of hearing students who have relied heavily on lip-reading for communication. The device would be worn by the teacher and the closer up picture of her mouth/face would be displayed on a screen for the student to see.  Although it may seem a little awkward to wear something like this, I think it is a great tool for teachers to use if they have a deaf student. I would use this probably only while doing teacher-led instruction up in front of the class. In small groups the hard of hearing student would be close enough to classmates to see their lips moving.

Audio/Visual Communication Device – for the deaf or hard of hearing Pros: This would definitely be an academic gain for a student who is deaf, especially if he or she relies on lip reading. It will make it easier for the student to actually focus on the lesson or task if the screen is on his or her desk, right next to the assignment they are working on instead of constantly having to look at the teacher’s mouth to be sure not to miss something Cons: This device could potentially be a distraction to the teacher or other students in the classroom. However, once it becomes a normal part of the day and how the classroom works, I think students would become used to it and it would not negatively affect anything. In the Classroom

Voice to Text Translation – for the deaf or hard of hearing  This device can “hear” spoken words and translate them into text on a computer screen. This way students don’t have to try and hear a teacher or rely on lip reading; the words are provided on a easy-to-read screen in front of them.  I would also use this device mainly when I am leading instruction in front of the whole class. Another scenario where this tool could be used is while the class is reading or listening to a book either read by me, or from a website. This way the student doesn’t have to strain to listen but can read along.

Voice to Translation – for the deaf or hard of hearing Pros: Just like the previous device, teacher-led instruction will be much easier for the student who is deaf or hard of hearing to follow along with. It can also be useful in working in small group settings. Cons: This could become a problem later on when the specific student doesn’t have this device to rely on. They have no control over what they can and cannot hear, but if this is what they use all the time in the classroom, out of classroom communication may become even more challenging. In the Classroom

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