2. Universal Design for Learning
• An educational approach to teaching,
learning, and assessment, based on
research and new media technologies to
respond to individual learner differences.
• It is not about access to information but
access to learning. It is a framework for
teaching.
• Key concept of UDL is that it is designed
from the beginning and not added later on.
3. Learning Disabilities
• They are real.
• It is not the same thing as mental retardation
or autism.
• These disabilities affect the brain’s ability to
receive, process, store, respond to, and
communicate information.
• They affect people differently, range from mild
to severe and can be diagnosed early or later in
life.
4. College Students with Learning Disabilities
• Most college professors fail to realize that
students with learning disabilities need
assistive technology in the classroom
because their disability is invisible.
• Examples of students with learning
disabilities:
– Student diagnosed as AD/HD or dyslexia
– Difficulty interpreting auditory or visual
information
– Difficulty organizing ideas or remember math
facts and calculation
5. Assistive Technology
• Any tool or device that can improve the
functional capabilities of individuals with
physical disabilities; vision and hearing
impairments; communication barriers; or
cognitive impairments.
• Assistive Technology does not replace UDL.
• In the college setting, Assistive Technology
refers to products or devices that can assist
students with disabilities (invisible or visible)
with their educational activities and
independence.
6. Assistive Technology in College
• To determine the most appropriate AT
device, consider the following:
– Individual
– The tasks needed to be performed
– The technology
– The setting where the technology will be used
• A recent Individualized Education Program
(IEP) or Summary of Performance (SOP)
can help college administrators determine
the student’s ability in the classroom.
7. AT Devices:
Text in Alternative Format
• SARA (Scanning and Reading Appliance)
• Independent piece of hardware that scans
printed material, such as books and
magazines, etc., and reads it aloud to the
user.
• Bookshare.org
• Obtain e-text versions of books and journal
articles
• Kurzweil 3000
• Reads text aloud in human speech and
allows text navigation
8. AT Devices: Note taking
• Livescribe
– A smartpen that captures words, audio,
scribbles, symbols and diagrams,
transferring notes and records to a Mac
or PC.
• QuickLink Pen
• Collect scanned text for later retrieval by
computer
9. AT Devices: Speech to Text
• Dragon Naturally Speaking
– Converts your speech into typed text through
the use of a headphone microphone.
• MetroPlex Voice Computing
– Type and graph correctly formatted math
equations
• iListen
– Software program for Mac users that converts
speech to text
10. AT Devices: Organization
• Inspiration
– Visual/graphic representation of idea
with capability to switch between text
and graphic versions
• Smartphone calendar
– Organize and keep track of numbers,
schedule, reminders for test and
assignments
11. Tips for selecting AT devices
• How user-friendly is the AT tool?
– Instructions should be brief and easy to read
• What is the quality of its visual display and auditory
output?
– It should be easy to see and hear
• How reliable is it?
– Ask other students and staff members how well
the product works or read product reviews posted
online.
• What technical support is available?
– This is helpful in case you experience technical
issues in the evening when campus offices are
closed.
12. Resources
• National Center for Learning
Disabilities: http://www.ncld.org/
• Association on Higher Education and
Disability: http://www.ahead.org/
• Students with Disabilities Preparing for
Postsecondary Education:
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/
