Assistive Technology: EDCI5825

• Please provide specific examples of technology/tools that you would recommend for a student with... (1) a hearing impairment, (2) low-vision, (3) a broken right arm, and (4) autism (non-communicative

With the advent of the technology age, there has been a huge influx of new mediums in which to learn through in our society. Not only do students who can function readily in society get a chance to use these advancements, but students who have special needs have been given a chance to fully participate in class with technology as well.

For example, a student with a hearing impairment will not be able to fully understand my lessons in class, unless he or she is fully able to read lips. This is not a safe assumption to make for a student, so it is critical that that my lesson gets transcribed to the student in need. With automatic speech recognition, my words could be instantaneously transcribed onto a computer. Therefore, if I am able to wear a microphone during class, (something that will not hinder my performance), the hearing impaired student will be able to follow along because my words will be on their computer.

Another issue that I may have to face is giving someone with low vision the quality education they deserve. One way to help this problem is to utilize the Digital Accessible Information System, or DAISY. Daisy was in fact first designed to help readers read an entire text, cover to cover without problem, "DAISY provides direct access to specific points, enabling readers to move from heading to heading, page to page, and word to word," (Assistive Technology in Education, 2009). The sight impaired students will now be able to magnify the information they need and be able to read it in an effective manner so that they can continue with regular education. 

     If a student were to come into class with broken right arm, there could be many issues at stake. However, the largest issue may occur if there is a large term paper due in a week or two. The student, assuming he or she's a righty, will not be able to write or type effectively to meet the deadline of the paper. Thanks to the speech recognition system, the student will not only be able to navigate through the internet by voice, but will eventually be able to "type" their paper by communicating into a microphone and having the program transcribe the voice into electronic words. 

      Non-communitive autistic students are receiving special attention from technology developers because it has become more and more apparent that simple (or high tech) technology can be used to truly engage non-communitive autistic students. One way to help them is the use of touch screens on computers or new smart computer items. The goal here is to help the students navigate as well as interact with the computer and information being presented, ("High" Tech Strategies, 2011). This would discontinue the lack of understanding between the student-mouse-computer connection, and fully engage the student. New smart devices, such as an iPhone or iPad can also be used due to their touch screens. 


   These practices all encompass the the NET-S standards, which strive to incorporate technology in the classroom for all children. By allowing the students with special needs to be incorporated with classroom activities, the standards are being met by the teachers implementing these strategies. 

References:


Assistive Technology for Children with Autism. (2011)"High" Tech Standards. Retrieved from         http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=educational+tools+for+autistic+children&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#sclient=psy&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&source=hp&q=technology+for+autistic+students&aq=2&aqi=g4g-m1&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=defeb86aaab16f6&biw=1267&bih=616, June 22, 2011. 


International Society for Technology in Education (2007). Standards. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-students/nets-student-standards-2007.aspx, June 15, 2011.

Wikibook. (2011). Assistive Technology in Education/DAISY. Retrieved from http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Assistive_Technology_in_Education/DAISY, June 22, 2011. 

Wikibook. (2011). Assistive Technology in Education/eBooks. Retrieved from http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Assistive_Technology_in_Education/eBook, June 22, 2011


Wikibook. (2011). Assistive Technology in Education/Speech Recognition Technology. Retrieved from http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Assistive_Technology_in_Education/Speech_Recognition_Software, June 22, 2011.