1. Technology and the Special Needs Learner Technology for the Blind Student

2. What Is Assistive Technology Tools that impaired individuals can use in order to increase or maintain functionality Tools can include physical equipment computer software electronic devices and more

3. Why implement in the classroom Helps students to be unhindered by their disability Lets students focus on their education

4. Types of Technology Available Talking calculators Speech-recognition software Screen reading software Reading machines Large-print books Magnifiers Tactile items

5. Talking Calculators Big buttons Eliminates the need to squint Ideal for people who are blind or have low vision A built-in speech synthesizer that reads aloud each number, symbol, or operation key a user presses Vocalizes the answer to the problem Students can use to perform mathematical calculations on math assignments

6. Talking Calculators

7. Speech Recognition Software Speech recognition programs change what is spoken into an electronic document Can use these types of software programs to access and produce documents Can be used with a microphone into which the student speaks Teachers can use these to record items for students

8. Screen Reading Programs Screen-reading programs produce audio versions of electronic text Eg. JAWS for Windows Electronic books, papers, etc can be translated to speech so the student can hear audio

9. Reading Machines Printed text is scanned and assimilated by the software, then converted to audio. Audio then played back for the student to hear

10. Large Print Books Since some students can have low vision, this means that they can see, just not very well Books with large print will allow students to see the words easily

11. Magnifiers Magnifiers are used to read normal text These come a variety of sizes Full page Hand held Card /wallet size

12. Tactile Items Geometry Tactile Graphics Kit Math Drill Cards in Braille and Large Type Tactile and Visual Globes

13. Geometry Tactile Graphics Kit A set of thermoformed raised-line drawings depicting concepts, figures, and relationships which are covered in nearly all geometry textbooks

14. Math Drill Cards in Braille & Large Type The Math Drill Cards set is a handy math skill reinforcing tool presented in braille and large type

15. The Globe: Tactile and Visual (Geography) Standard 12-inch globe covered with a tactile clear plastic overlay Raised latitude and longitude lines Dashed line for the International Date Line Continent outlines Higher and lower elevations

16. Further Reading FOLLOW THESE LINKS: http://connected.waldenu.edu/special-education/vision-and-hearing-impared/item/921-assistive-technology-children-who-are-blind http://www.miusa.org/ncde/tipsheets/languageguide/infoguide/screenreadingsoftware http://www.edb.utexas.edu/ATLab/Labinventory/Classroom/classroom-vi-main.php