Assistive Technology- ITEC 7530 at Georgia Southern University

1. ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGY
Special Needs Students

2. Assistive Technology
•Assistive Technology includes assistive,
adaptive, and other devices for individuals
with a disability. It allows them to be able to
perform tasks that they usually cannot
accomplish or had difficulty accomplishing in a
relatively decent amount of time. This
technology provides enhanced abilities to
complete assignments with the usage of these
particular technological tasks.

3. Examples of Assistive Technology
•Raised line paper
•Enlarged test
•Touch Screen
•Picture Software
•Tape Recorder
•Post it notes

4. What classifies a special needs student?
• Broad legislative category referring to all students
identified as needing special assistance to achieve
educational equity, e.g., the disabled, the
disadvantaged, those seeking nontraditional careers,
limited English speakers
http://www.education.com/definition/special-needs-students/

5. The discrepancy between Differentiation and
Modification
• Differentiation – obtaining the understanding of the content from
different perspectives. Examples: a lesson’s assignment for the
same class period can be given in the forms of: worksheets, hands-
on, and discussion
• Modification - changing the presentation of the assignment to
acquire success for a student. An example is a summative
assignment (a test) is given with 30 questions. A student who
cannot finish the test gets a modified version with 25 questions, so
they are able to finish.

6. Resources/Ideas to consider for teaching a
student with ADHD or ADD….
• Clarification of ADHD – a student • Task ideas: keep student
who has attention deficit interested (hands on activities)
hyperactivity disorder or attention
deficit disorder • Examples: Math – apply the lesson to
using manipulative (algebra blocks).
• Ideas/ resources:
English, Social Studies, and Science –
• Idea: Start a routine for the student: for allow student to draw illustrations to
example, have an assignment or task to
begin the class in order to give the show understanding of the concept.
student no down time Ex. Drawing a food pyramid for life
• Idea: Establish the rules of the science.
classroom: be firm but considerate • Apply concepts towards the student’s
• Idea: peer tutor/mentor – allow another interests
student to help the student along with
note-taking and understanding of
concepts
• Small group testing (limit distractions)
• Read testing materials and questions (if
needed)
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/4039-
3.html

7. Resources/Ideas to consider for teaching a
student who has an auditory disability….
• Clarification – a student who is
unable to hear clearly. They hear
little to no sound
• Resource/Ideas to accommodate:
• provide student with lecture notes along
with explanation and steps, then
provide examples for them to work.
• Allow peer tutoring for communicating
(probably through notes) when teacher
is unavailable
• Provide student with a board to
communicate with peers/teacher with
questions or comments
• Usage of a computer that provides
touch-screen ability to maneuver objects
or words to help with understanding the
concept

8. Resources/Ideas to consider for teaching a
student who are MILD learning disabilities….
• Ideas/Resources:
• The usage of a thesaurus and
dictionary
• Microsoft word for spell and
grammar check
• Idea: allow student(s) to
write on something of
interest to them
• Provide calculator usage in
mathematics and science (if
needed)
• Provide a copy of notes –
these children are typically not
good note takers
• Small group testing
• Verbal testing

9. Technology Resources
• http://etc.usf.edu/ss/ss912.htm
• http://www.compasslearning.com/ • Provides lesson plans and activities for
• Provides students the opportunity to each subject
see and hear problems worked step by
step (breaks it down more thoroughly) –
good for mild learning disabilities: good
for all subjects
• http://tewt.org/
• Provides opportunities to learn how to give
presentations, hold proper discussion, how
to write papers, and example activities:
good for all subjects – especially ENGLISH
• http://www.explorelearning.com/
• Provides the ability to play and learn at the
same time. It comes with student
assessments and exploration guide to help
students step by step: good for math and
science

10. Conclusion
• All accommodations do not work for everyone. They need to be
tested and data needs to be received from each accommodation to
see which ones make the student most successful. Some students
may require more assistance than others. When teaching these
students, it takes time and patience. You have to be willing to work
diligently with them.