Museum of Assistive Technology Presentation By Emily Harayda ETT 101 November 1 st , 2016
Did you know… Students with special needs and learning disabilities could benefit from, and may need specialized instruction to reach their full potential? Here are some tools that may be of benefit to you and your students to ensure everyone is given the best possible education experience.
For writing… Concept Mapping Mind Mapping helps students during One great resource I found with this that can be used with your students is the brainstorming process to not MindMup. The link is only capture their ideas, but to https://www.mindmup.com/?utm_camp aign=elearningindustry.com&utm_sourc structure and organize their ideas. e=%2Fthe-5-best-free-mind-mapping- This can be a great way for students tools-for-teachers&utm_medium=link If you have a free membership with with learning disabilities to visually MindMup you get an unlimited number see how all of their ideas are able to of maps, no account login, you are able to save your maps for six months, and connect and fit together, and export your maps. therefore come together to make a well thought-out and organized paper. Some of the concept mapping software out there also allows students to toggle between a web and an outline so they can choose which one is best for them. (Example of concept mapping shown to the left)
For writing… Word Prediction Software Word prediction There are also certain software makes an software’s that are educated guess on capable of remembering the next word the words you have user is typing, previously typed so they based upon the will come up in the future first letters of the when you hit the same word they have letter (This can be useful already typed. This with names especially). can be of great benefit for those who have physical disabilities One great option for this is affecting their Co:Writer by Don Johnston. typing, a slow Some of the features that are typing speed, or available are speech recognition, iOS keyboard, trouble with and vocabulary support. These spelling downloads can be purchased at http://donjohnston.com/cowriter
For writing… Text-to-Speech Software A text-to-speech program really comes in handy if you have students who have poor reading skills. This program reads aloud what the student has written either word-by-word, sentence-by-sentence, entire paragraph, or the whole document. The speed of the voice can be adjusted for students based upon what they are NextUp.com offers software that I would recommend for comfortable with. use in the classroom. Not This allows the only does their software read students to hear your work back to you, but it also is read back in a their work out loud somewhat natural voice in order to proof which can really help when it read it to correct comes to finding errors. both syntax and spelling errors that they could have normally overlooked.
For writing… Talking Spell-Checkers Talking spell-checkers are almost an advanced or specialized version of text-to- speech software. Talking spell-checkers read aloud all of the mis-spelled words and then proceed to read aloud every suggestion that the word could be. If students have a hard time with spelling this is great software to have because they can make their choice on the spelling of the word based on how the word sounds. This also comes in a little handheld device that can be used anywhere.
For reading… Recorded Books Recorded books can be of great benefit to students who have trouble reading and comprehending what it is they are reading, but are able to understand material of their grade level. When a person reads the book aloud it helps the child to comprehend and decode what it is they are reading, that way they are able to understand the story just the same as their peers.
For reading… High Interest-Low Level Books High interest-low level books come in handy when you have students who are able to understand material at their grade level but they have not yet mastered the skills to read on their own. http://www.highnoo nbooks.com/index- hnb.tpl The link above leads to a website called High Noon Books that offers a wide array of high This presents age-appropriate content to them at an interest-low level easier reading level so they are still able to enjoy the books. A great resource to keep in same assigned class stories as their peers. mind if you find yourself with struggling students.
For reading… Scan/Read Systems Scan/read systems are a Users scan the combination of a scanner, pages that are computer, going to be read, speech output, and from there and optical the software turns character recognition it into an software. It electronic file. For reads printed larger books, such text aloud, while as novels, there also displaying on a computer are often times monitor. The websites that software provide text files highlights the that are already text on the screen while it is converted into e- reading in order text. to help the student keep up with the reading.
For communication… Assistive Learning Devices Augmentative communication devices have Assistive listening devices are tools used to text-to-speech, or just speech technology. help with acoustics in the classroom. They are They can range anywhere from homemade broken down into two categories: personal picture boards to computerized systems that amplification systems and sound-field range up to thousands of dollars. amplification systems. A personal amplification system consists of a student wearing a small receiver with ear phones or ear buds and a sound output device. A sound-field amplification system is when the teachers voice is heard throughout the room using speakers. Sound-field amplification system Personal amplification system
For computer use…. Assistive Input Devices Keyguards Keyboard Labels Are a great tool when trying to teach students how to type and only Usually have a higher contrast and larger letters and can be adhered press one key at a time. It is a metal or acrylic cover that has holes for to a regular keyboard. This can be used for students who have all keys. This comes in handy when you have students who experience difficulty distinguishing the keyboard. Another option is poor fine motor skills. keyboard labels that leave unnecessary keys blank to make it less confusing for students with learning disabilities. Onscreen Keyboards Pointing Devices Is a display of a keyboard on the computer monitor that can be used by simply clicking on a letter with the mouse, or leaving the mouse over Are typically used for physically disabled students who have a hard the letter for a certain period of time. This is great for students who time with isolated finger movement. This allows them to press had limited movement of their hands or limited muscular control. the keys necessary to successfully use a computer.
Assistive Output Devices Touch Screen Customizable Keyboards A touch screen typically uses icons Can be created in order to and graphics for you to satisfy a students individual physically touched as opposed needs. You can program a to a mouse and keyboard for a regular computer. These are key to enter in an entire great to have when you have word or just specific text to younger kids who can’t yet allow students with physical type, a physical impairment, or disabilities to use a trouble controlling the mouse. computer. Single Switch A single switch is designed Expanded Keyboards for students that have a Have larger keys and larger print severe physical disability and that traditional keyboards. are not able to use any of the This is a great tool for children other output systems. A that have a physical disability and therefore lack fine motor highlighter moves from item skills. to item and when it hits the item the students want to select they perform the single switch (flexing a fist, turning their head, pressing their foot, etc.) Mini Keyboards Are just the opposite of an expanded keyboard. It is smaller in size, Screen Readers allowing students with motor Speak the content on the impairments that restrict their range of motion to type. These screen for those who are also come in one-handed visually impaired or easily keyboards as well for those fatigued from magnified who may have more dexterity screens. This tool is essential in one hand than the other. if you have students who are blind; this way they can do all things their peers are doing on the computer as well.
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