Assistive Technology in Higher Education

1. Using Assistive Technology in the
College Classroom
Lynsey N. Nejman
Kennesaw State University

2. Educational Backgrounds of Students
with Special Needs
• In K-12 public education, students can be tested for special needs
• These can include:
– Learning disabilities
– ADHD
– Emotional disorders
– Cognitive challenges
– Autism
– Hearing impairment
– Visual impairment
– Speech or language impairment
– Developmental delay
(Individualized Health Plans, n.d.)

3. Individualized Educational Plans
• Once tested, the parents, teachers, school
counselors, and other members of the
school create an individualized educational
plan for the student
• This can include many different types of
assistance, including therapy, in class
assistance, personalized instruction, and
anything else that can assist in the learning
process

4. Assistive Technology
According to the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act of 2004,
assistive technology is:
“any item, piece of equipment, or
product system, whether acquired
commercially off the shelf,
modified, or customized, that is
used to increase, maintain, or
improve functional capabilities of a
child with a disability.”
(Individuals with Disabilities Act,
2004, §602)

5. Special Needs Students in the College
Classroom
• You must work with disability services to provide
the best educational experience for your students
• Some available Assistive Technologies for the
College Classroom:
– Class website
– E-books
– Organizer Apps
– Assistive Technology Labs
– Hearing Assistive Technology

6. Utilizing a Class Website
• Can have constant access to course
information
• You can organize information in the most
productive way
• You can include various types of media,
including audio clips and videos
• Students can collaborate with each other
(Berman & Jerome, 2002)
• This is a good academic aid for students
with learning or emotional disabilities,
ADHD, and hearing impairments (Georgia
Department of Education, 2014)

7. E-books
• Many e-readers can be
equipped with accessibility
features including:
– Voice-over
– Text to speech
– Zoom/magnification
– Highlighting
– Definitions
– Annotations
– Font style, including large text
(Assistive Technology for Education, n.d., para. 4).

8. Organizer Apps
• Apps such as “Complete Class Organizer” from
Apple allow students to:
– Organize schedules
– Make to-do lists
– Record lectures
– Take notes
– Calculate grades
– Add all of their classes to one app
(Apple iTunes, 2014)

9. Assistive Technology Lab
• Most institutions have labs equipped with Assistive
Technology Software for any kind of disability
• Encourage students to use these labs
• Allow students to complete assignments or exams
using necessary resources
(Northeast Community College, n.d.)

10. Hearing Assistive Technology
• Personal Frequency
Modulation Systems
• Infrared Systems
• Induction Loop Systems
• One-to-One Communicators
• Other Technologies
(American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2015)

11. References
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2015). Hearing assistive technology. Retrieved from
http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/treatment/assist_tech.htm
Apple iTunes. (2014). iTunes Preview: Complete class organizer – Student version. Retrieved from
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/complete-class-organizer-student/id379835748?mt=8
Assistive Technology for Education, LLC. (n.d.). AT examples. Retrieved from http://atfored.com/examples-of-assistive-technology/
Berman, M. & Jerome, M. K. (2002). Assistive technology for students with mild disabilities: Update 2002. Retrieved from ERIC
database. (ED463595)
Georgia Department of Education. (2014). Assistive Technology Devices. Retrieved from http://www.gpat.org/Georgia-Project-for-
Assistive-Technology/Pages/Assistive-Technology-Devices.aspx
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). (n.d.) Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/learning/iep.html#
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 20 U.S.C. § 1400 (2004).
Northeast Community College. (n.d.). Disability services: Assistive technology for students with disabilities. Retrieved from
http://www.northeast.edu/Support-Services/Disability-Services/Assistive-Technology-Services.aspx
Understood for Learning & Attention Issues. (2015) College and career opportunities. Retrieved from
https://www.understood.org/en/advocacy/take-action/college-and-career-opportunities