Assistive Technology WebQuest for ITEC 7530: Audrey Hobbs

1. Inclusion Classrooms Working with Students with Special Needs Created by Ms. Audrey Hobbs ITEC 7530 Student

2. What is Inclusion? Inclusion means that students with disabilities of all types are placed in a general education classroom.1 Inclusion is based off of the least restrictive environment. Least Restrictive Environment is the environment in which students with disabilities can have the most similar educational experience as students without disabilities.2 For most students, the Least Restrictive Environment is the general education classroom!

3. Why Inclusion? If planned for and done properly, inclusion can benefit every student in the classroom! Research shows that having an inclusion classroom can increase individual achievement, raise standards, improve self-identity, and foster strong relationships among peers.1

4. Assistive technology is easily accessible for all of us! Assistive technology is ANY technology application that helps students with disabilities learn, communicate, and otherwise function more independently.2 There is Help!

5. Remember! It is up to you as the teacher to find tools to help your students learn and use them in your classroom! Tools are out there for any disability!

6. Students with ADHD Students with ADHD are chronically inattentive, impulsive, and/or hyperactive.2 Quick Tips for Student Success:2 1. Free your classroom of distracting items. 2. Allow students to use a desk carrel, a desk dividerthat blocks distractions from other students. 3. Make classroom routines and rules very clear. 4. Assign peer partners to assist students who have trouble keeping up with routines, rules, etc. 5. Mix tedious/repetitive activities with those that allow for action and variety. 6. Emphasize only essential information. 7. In reading, use shorter passages. 8. In math, allow extra time to complete computations. 9. Allow many opportunities for student participation and sharing.

7. Technological Resources for ADHD The most recommended technological devices for students with ADHD include noise cancelling headphones, invisible clocks, ear fitted timers, and PDA’s.3 More devices can be found and researched on the following web pages: 1. http://www.myADDstore.com 2. http://www.ldonline.org

8. Students with Auditory Disabilities Students with auditory disabilities can not hear enough to use hearing as a primary channel for learning without significant assistance.2 Quick Tips for Student Success:2 Always face the class when presenting information to aid with lip reading. Avoid standing in glares or shadows which will hinder lip reading. Use an overhead projector instead of writing on the chalkboard. Stand in one location near the student with the auditory disability. Avoid exaggerating sounds or words. Use as many visual aids as possible.

9. Technological Resources for Auditory Disabilities There are massive amounts of assistive technology available for students with auditory disabilities. Some examples are cochlear implants, a sound field system, an FM system, closed captioning, and C-print.2 More devices and advice for educators of students with hearing loss can be found on the following web pages: 1. http://www.ed.uiuc.edu/wp/access/hearing.html 2. http://www.assistech.com/

10. Students with Mild LD’s Students with mild learning disabilities have trouble with processing, organizing, and applying academic information.2 Quick Tips for Student Success:2 1. Analyze the student’s particular academic needs and determine if differentiated instruction should be used. 2. Employ compensatory learning strategies to bypass a student’s need. 3. Make an accommodation in your classroom management, grouping, materials, and methods. 4. Provide the student with direct instruction on basic or learning skills.

11. Technological Resources for Mild LD’s Some examples of assistive technology that can help students with mild LD’s are word processing software to ease note taking, video taping of classroom sessions for later review, note-to-voice software, etc.4 Endless resources and ideas can be found on the following web pages: http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Assistive_ Technology/ http://www.comp.dit.ie/dgordon/Courses/ResearchMethods/Exercises/E4/ATMildDisabilities.pdf

12. Always Keep in Mind That.. The best place for your student with disabilities is most likely the general education classroom! It is up to you as their teacher to find resources to help them learn to the best of their ability!

13. Sources 1. Gaillard, P. (2011). The inclusion classroom. Retrieved from http://techinclusion.tripod.com/ 2. Bursuck, W.D., & Friend, M.P. (2009). Including students with special needs (5th ed.). V. Lanigan, (Ed.). Columbus, OH: Pearson. 3. Kojiro, J. (2007). Assistive technology for self-managing behavior for those with ADD. Retrieved from https://www.msu.edu/~kojiroja/pdfs/ADHD%20and%20AT.pdf 4. Behrrman, M., & Jerome, M.K. (2006). Assistive technology for students with mild disabilities. Retrieved from http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Assistive_ Technology/