This document discusses adaptive and assistive technologies that can benefit various types of students. It describes technologies that can help students with physical difficulties, such as the intellikeys keyboard and SmartNav 4. Technologies are also discussed for students with cognitive difficulties, such as the Dragon speech recognition software and BoardMaker modification tool. Students with sensory impairments can be assisted by tools like the MAGic screen magnification software and FM amplification systems. The document also outlines technologies for at-risk, gifted and talented students, such as the ClassMate Reader, Kidspiration graphic organizer, ABCya! word clouds, and Storybird writing tool.
2. Students with Physical
Difficulties
Physical disabilities or impairments limits a
person’s range of mobility. “Difficulties with
motor movements may involve gross or fine
motor movement and infrequently exist
concurrently with other disabilities (Roblyer & Doering,
2013. p 408)”
3. Technology to Assist Students
with Physical Difficulties
intellikeys
This is a good resource for students who have
difficulty operating a computer keyboard or
maneuvering a mouse. This device consists of an
alternative keyboard & various keyboard
overlays.
intellikeys keyboard
intellikeys keyboard overlays
SmartNav 4
This is a hands free device for students who have
severe physical disabilities. This system provides
an on-screen virtual keyboard. The student can
maneuver the computer mouse, access the
keyboard and navigate the internet with slight
head movements.
http://www.naturalpoint.com/smartnav/products/4-at/
4. Students with Cognitive
Difficulties
“Students with a cognitive impairment may
experience difficulties with various functions of the
brain, particularly, short term memory,
concentration, organization and planning. Each
student has different needs and will require
various support mechanisms” [Retrieved from online article Assistive
technology for kids with LD: An overview
http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/assistive-technology/702-assistive-technology-for-kids-with-learning-disabiliti
5. Technology to Assist Students
with Cognitive Difficulties
Dragon
This tool is a speech recognition software. This
tool enhances a student’s reading and writing
skills. It also allows students to listen to text and
speak to compose text.
http://www.nuance.com/dragon/accessibility/dragon-dyslexia-lea
BoardMaker
This software is a good modification tool for
teachers. This software can be used to help
English language learners, students who
struggles in reading and students with cognitive
disabilities. (See figures shown)
Figures retrieved from [
http://www.nsta.org/publications/news/story.aspx?id=53489]
Figure 1 - Without Modification
Figure 2- With BoardMaker Modificatio
http://www.mayer-johnson.com/what-is-boardmaker
7. Technology to Assist Students
with Sensory Difficulties
MAGic
This tool is a screen magnification software with
speech capabilities. This tool is a good resource
for visually impaired students.
Frequency-Modulated
Amplification System
http://www.freedomscientific.com/products/low-vision/MAGic-screen-ma
This system involves a transmitter & microphone
to be worn by the teacher & a receiver to be worn
by the student. This device amplifies the teacher’s
voice, allowing it to be heard over students’
voices & various sounds of movement, within the
classroom.
http://www.enablemart.com/motiva-personal-fm-system?gclid=CNPEwKKph
8. At-Risk Students
Students at risk for school failure are not
considered disabled in the sense of the federal
definition of disability. However, their lack of
success in school often parallels the low
performance of students with disabilities (Roblyer &
Doering, 2013, p 408)”
9. Technology to Assist
At-Risk Students
At-Risk Students
ClassMate Reader Audio Book Player
This assistive device is a speech synthesizer/
screen reader. helps improve Reading fluency,
comprehension & vocabulary skills. This tool has
read aloud capability, voice recording,
highlighting function & a speaking dictionary.
Kidspiration 3
This software is a graphic organizer assistive
resource that helps students make visual
connections, in order to build on academic
vocabulary and a conceptual understanding in
academic content-areas. Reading & writing skills
can also be strengthened.
10. Gifted & Talented Students
Gifted & talented students are, by definition,
“students, children or youth who give evidence of
high achievement capability in areas such as
intellectual, creative, artistic or leadership
capability or in specific academic fields, and who
need services and activities not ordinarily
provided by the school in order to develop those
capabilities (Roblyer & Doering, 2013 p 411)”
11. Technology to Assist Gifted &
Talented Students
ABCya! Word Clouds for
Kids!
This is a good resource to enrich students
academic vocabulary knowledge. This resource
can be utilized in any academic content area.
With ABCya! Word Clouds for Kids, the students
are challenged to create word clouds or word
splashes. They are free to showcase their text
visualizations in a variety of ways.
http://www.abcya.com/word_clouds.htm
Storybird
This is a good resource to enrich students
literature writing skills and creativity. This
resource allows students to expand on their
literary creativity by writing stories, of various
genres, from a piece of art. The students will also
be able to publish & share your stories.
http://storybird.com/about/
12. References
* Raskind, Marshall, Ph.D & Stanberry, Kristin (2010). Assistive technology for
kids with LD: An overview. Online article http://www.greatschools.org/specialeducation/assistive-technology/702-assistive-technology-for-kids-withlearning-disabilities-an-overview.gs?page=all]
* Roblyer, M.D. & Doering, Aaron H. (2013). Integrating educational
technology into teaching, 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Education.
