1. Jeannie Szafran E-mail: jszafran@holyfamily.edu Website: http://www.jszafran.angelfire.com/ Research Topic: Inclusion and Assistive Technology Prepared July 19, 2007 jszafran@holyfamily.eduhttp://www.jszafran.angelfire.com/jszafran@holyfamily.eduhttp://www.jszafran.angelfire.com/

2. Table of Contents IntroductionIntroductionIntroduction Summary FindingsSummary FindingsSummary FindingsSummary Findings Detailed FindingsDetailed FindingsDetailed FindingsDetailed Findings Education World Education World NICHCY The Access Center The Access Center Project Participate Project Participate The Ability Hub The Ability Hub ConclusionConclusionConclusion AppendixAppendixAppendix

3. Introduction This research is on the idea and process of inclusion and the use of assistive technology in the general education classroom for students with disabilities to adapt curriculum and to help develop a working communication system.This research is on the idea and process of inclusion and the use of assistive technology in the general education classroom for students with disabilities to adapt curriculum and to help develop a working communication system. We must believe in inclusive classroomsWe must believe in inclusive classrooms Using assistive technology in our classrooms gives students the ability to do things they would not be able to do without technologyUsing assistive technology in our classrooms gives students the ability to do things they would not be able to do without technology A little creativity can go a long way and does not have to be expensive.A little creativity can go a long way and does not have to be expensive. Observing and communicating with our students will help develop ways to assist them in the classroom to be socially included and to do class workObserving and communicating with our students will help develop ways to assist them in the classroom to be socially included and to do class work I used the search engine www.google.com and typed inclusion, special education, assistive technology, and adaptive equipment.I used the search engine www.google.com and typed inclusion, special education, assistive technology, and adaptive equipment.www.google.com I found, evaluated, and narrowed my list to twenty websites I am recommending to you today.I found, evaluated, and narrowed my list to twenty websites I am recommending to you today. “You must do the things you think you cannot do" (Eleanor Roosevelt) Back to Table of Contents

4. Summary Findings This research is geared towards inclusion and incorporating assistive technology in the general education classroom for students with disabilities.This research is geared towards inclusion and incorporating assistive technology in the general education classroom for students with disabilities. I found twenty websites I would highly recommend to you and I categorized them under two main headings: inclusion in school and community settings and assistive/adaptive technology.I found twenty websites I would highly recommend to you and I categorized them under two main headings: inclusion in school and community settings and assistive/adaptive technology. The websites I found are a mix of commercial, organizations, and education websites.The websites I found are a mix of commercial, organizations, and education websites. I developed a file called Internet Address Book (IAB), where I evaluated the websites and organized them. From there I developed a Research Excerpts File, which is a glimpse of the twenty websites with hyperlinks to the actual sites.I developed a file called Internet Address Book (IAB), where I evaluated the websites and organized them. From there I developed a Research Excerpts File, which is a glimpse of the twenty websites with hyperlinks to the actual sites.Address Book (IAB), Research Excerpts Address Book (IAB), Research Excerpts Back to Table of Contents

5. In the following pages I will discuss my top five websites which is a mix of sites based on inclusion and assistive technology. The five I decided to discuss in more detail are as follows:In the following pages I will discuss my top five websites which is a mix of sites based on inclusion and assistive technology. The five I decided to discuss in more detail are as follows: Education WorldEducation WorldEducation WorldEducation World NICHCYNICHCYNICHCY The Access CenterThe Access CenterThe Access CenterThe Access Center Project ParticipateProject ParticipateProject ParticipateProject Participate Ability HubAbility HubAbility HubAbility Hub Detailed Findings Back to Table of Contents

6. Education World The first site I chose to focus on is Education World, http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/tech/tech220.shtml.The first site I chose to focus on is Education World, http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/tech/tech220.shtml. http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/tech/tech220.shtml Education World is a collective site with information about lesson planning, professional development, administrator issues, technology integration, and school issues.Education World is a collective site with information about lesson planning, professional development, administrator issues, technology integration, and school issues. In following link I found within Education World is a valuable resource to a teacher in an inclusive setting: http://www.ualberta.ca/~jpdasddc/inclusion/schoolcaring/intr o.htmIn following link I found within Education World is a valuable resource to a teacher in an inclusive setting: http://www.ualberta.ca/~jpdasddc/inclusion/schoolcaring/intr o.htm http://www.ualberta.ca/~jpdasddc/inclusion/schoolcaring/intr o.htm http://www.ualberta.ca/~jpdasddc/inclusion/schoolcaring/intr o.htm Another link within Education World I found to be a good site and useful in lesson plan accommodations and modifications is http://www.pacificnet.net/~mandel. Not only does it give lesson plans for a special education setting but it also targets other subjects.Another link within Education World I found to be a good site and useful in lesson plan accommodations and modifications is http://www.pacificnet.net/~mandel. Not only does it give lesson plans for a special education setting but it also targets other subjects. http://www.pacificnet.net/~mandel Back to Table of Contents

7. Education World Continued Another activity I thought would be useful in your classroom and could be easily adapted with technology was the Animal A-Z edits.Another activity I thought would be useful in your classroom and could be easily adapted with technology was the Animal A-Z edits.Animal A-ZAnimal A-Z You could do these activities with your students and adapt it as necessary so all students could participate.You could do these activities with your students and adapt it as necessary so all students could participate. Click on the link below for an example of an Animal A-Z Edit:Click on the link below for an example of an Animal A-Z Edit: Back to Table of Contents Animal A-Z Edit File

8. National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities NICHCY is the second site I am recommending to you today, you can find this site at http://www.nichcy.org/NICHCY is the second site I am recommending to you today, you can find this site at http://www.nichcy.org/http://www.nichcy.org/ NICHCY serves the nation as a central source of information on disabilities in infants, toddlers, children, and youth; IDEA, which is the law authorizing special education; No Child Left Behind (as it relates to children with disabilities); and research-based information on effective educational practices” (NICHCY, retrieved 7/18/2007).NICHCY serves the nation as a central source of information on disabilities in infants, toddlers, children, and youth; IDEA, which is the law authorizing special education; No Child Left Behind (as it relates to children with disabilities); and research-based information on effective educational practices” (NICHCY, retrieved 7/18/2007). Back to Table of Contents

9. NICHCY continued One area on this website that I found very helpful is the A-Z Topics Section. It gives you information on areas of interest alphabetically and is very easy to use. See below for an excerpt from the website:One area on this website that I found very helpful is the A-Z Topics Section. It gives you information on areas of interest alphabetically and is very easy to use. See below for an excerpt from the website: A-Z Topics A-Z Topics Back to Table of Contents NICHCY is pleased to provide A-Z Topics, a series of Web resource pages on topics of high interest and concern. They're intended to connect you quickly with a range of resources, materials, and guidance on these topics. For your convenience, the index below also includes links to Web resource pages developed for our eNews service (called eNews Foundations) and from our Publications pages. This allows you to identify our online topics and resources without having to travel to every corner of our siteeNews servicePublications

10. NICHCY continued Another area on this website that I particularly liked and found very useful, not only to teachers but to students as well, is:Another area on this website that I particularly liked and found very useful, not only to teachers but to students as well, is: Zigawhat! This section of the website offers areas for children to Learn more about you, Connect with other kids, Tips just for you, Tell your story, and Fun and games. Learn more about youConnect with other kidsTips just for youTell your storyFun and gamesLearn more about youConnect with other kidsTips just for youTell your storyFun and games This section is for children with and without disabilities. It could be something teachers could do in their classroom as an activity with the students for social integration. Back to Table of Contents

11. The Access Center The Access Center, http://www.k8accesscenter.org/index.php is a national technical assistance (TA) center funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs.The Access Center, http://www.k8accesscenter.org/index.php is a national technical assistance (TA) center funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs. http://www.k8accesscenter.org/index.php Their mission is to improve educational outcomes for elementary and middle school students with disabilitiesTheir mission is to improve educational outcomes for elementary and middle school students with disabilities Back to Table of Contents

12. Access Center Continued Mission The mission of the Access Center is to provide technical assistance that strengthens State and local capacity to help students with disabilities effectively learn in the general education curriculum.help students with disabilities effectively learn in the general education curriculum Goals To achieve our mission, we have the following goals: – –Increase awareness of research-based programs, practices, and tools Strengthen the ability of educators to be informed consumers of programs, practices, and tools Assist educators to implement and evaluate programs, practices, and tools The Access Center is housed at the American Institutes for Research in Washington, D.C. (The Access Center, Retrieved 7/18/2007).American Institutes for Research Back to Table of Contents

13. Access Center Continued One area of this website that I found helpful is a brief that is based on the General Education Curriculum for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities, which can be retrieved at the following link, http://www.k8accesscenter.org/documents/AccessGenCurricul umBrief12006.pdf.One area of this website that I found helpful is a brief that is based on the General Education Curriculum for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities, which can be retrieved at the following link, http://www.k8accesscenter.org/documents/AccessGenCurricul umBrief12006.pdf. http://www.k8accesscenter.org/documents/AccessGenCurricul umBrief12006.pdf http://www.k8accesscenter.org/documents/AccessGenCurricul umBrief12006.pdf Another area of this site that would be useful is http://www.k8accesscenter.org/index.php/category/computer- assisted-instruction/. It has briefs and discussed how to incorporate technology into lessons for reading, writing, science and math.Another area of this site that would be useful is http://www.k8accesscenter.org/index.php/category/computer- assisted-instruction/. It has briefs and discussed how to incorporate technology into lessons for reading, writing, science and math. http://www.k8accesscenter.org/index.php/category/computer- assisted-instruction/ http://www.k8accesscenter.org/index.php/category/computer- assisted-instruction/ Seismic charts from earthquake centers around the world show how the waves from the earthquake travel through the earth’s crust. Real-time maps show how many earthquakes take place each day and where they were located. Back to Table of Contents

14. Project Participate “Project Participate http://www.projectparticipate.org/ provides families, educators, administrators and therapists with simple strategies to increase the active participation of students with disabilities in school programs. Supported by a U.S. Department of Education grant (H324M980258), Project Participate facilitates team collaboration and promotes the appropriate uses of technology in the classroom” (Project Participate, Retrieved 7/18/2007)“Project Participate http://www.projectparticipate.org/ provides families, educators, administrators and therapists with simple strategies to increase the active participation of students with disabilities in school programs. Supported by a U.S. Department of Education grant (H324M980258), Project Participate facilitates team collaboration and promotes the appropriate uses of technology in the classroom” (Project Participate, Retrieved 7/18/2007)http://www.projectparticipate.org/ I especially liked the section called Curriculum Creations. It gives you ideas by subject matter or assistive technology type to try out.I especially liked the section called Curriculum Creations. It gives you ideas by subject matter or assistive technology type to try out.Curriculum CreationsCurriculum Creations If you click science, you can download the program which will allow you to develop special adaptive overlays for keyboards, switches, communication boards to use with students with disabilities that may need a special keyboard set-up or who have assistive technology.If you click science, you can download the program which will allow you to develop special adaptive overlays for keyboards, switches, communication boards to use with students with disabilities that may need a special keyboard set-up or who have assistive technology. Project Participate also has a section called Inclusion Strategies, which states “Inclusion is more than physical presence in the classroom. Students learn when they actively participate in the academic lessons and interact with others.Project Participate also has a section called Inclusion Strategies, which states “Inclusion is more than physical presence in the classroom. Students learn when they actively participate in the academic lessons and interact with others. Inclusion StrategiesInclusion Strategies Back to Table of Contents

15. Ability Hub: Assistive Technology Solutions Ability Hub, http://www.abilityhub.com/ is a website I chose to review because it will help give teachers and supporters ideas about assistive technology and introduce them to ways they can enhance their classroom for students with disabilities.Ability Hub, http://www.abilityhub.com/ is a website I chose to review because it will help give teachers and supporters ideas about assistive technology and introduce them to ways they can enhance their classroom for students with disabilities.http://www.abilityhub.com/ Assistive Technology for people with a disability who find operating a computer difficult, maybe even impossible. This web site will direct you to adaptive equipment and alternative methods available for accessing computers” (Ability Hub, Retrieved 7/19/2007)Assistive Technology for people with a disability who find operating a computer difficult, maybe even impossible. This web site will direct you to adaptive equipment and alternative methods available for accessing computers” (Ability Hub, Retrieved 7/19/2007) Back to Table of Contents

16. Conclusion There are several adaptations and accommodations that can be made to assist a student with a disability be successful in a general education classroom.There are several adaptations and accommodations that can be made to assist a student with a disability be successful in a general education classroom. Adapting curriculum does not have to be technical, expensive, or high-tech. It could be but does not have to be for success. Teachers need to be creative, observe their students and figure out what will work best for that individual student.Adapting curriculum does not have to be technical, expensive, or high-tech. It could be but does not have to be for success. Teachers need to be creative, observe their students and figure out what will work best for that individual student. Teachers need to make adaptations and accommodations on an individual basis. What will work for one, does not always work for another and may not work long term. Adapting and accommodating your classroom and teaching is an ongoing process that will change over time. Teachers need to be flexible in this sense and do not give up.Teachers need to make adaptations and accommodations on an individual basis. What will work for one, does not always work for another and may not work long term. Adapting and accommodating your classroom and teaching is an ongoing process that will change over time. Teachers need to be flexible in this sense and do not give up. Back to Table of Contents Closing Remarks

17. Appendix Address Book (IAB)Address Book (IAB)Address Book (IAB)Address Book (IAB) Research ExcerptsResearch ExcerptsResearch ExcerptsResearch Excerpts Research ReportResearch ReportResearch ReportResearch Report Back to Table of Contents