Educating exceptional children

1. EDUCATING EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN
AN OVERVIEW OF WORKING WITH STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

2. SPECIAL EDUCATION INTRODUCTION
 Special education is the practice of educating students with special needs in a way that addresses their
individual differences and needs.
 All special education students are required to have an Individualized Education Plan.
 An IEP is a special education contract that states specific goals for each student, parental participation
in the plan, and a means of determining whether the goals have been met. (Kirk 53)

Special education students require special accommodations and/or modifications.
 Accommodations are services or supports that are provided to help a student fully access subject matter
and instruction.
 Modifications are changes to subject matter or alterations to the performance level.

3. EDUCATIONAL ADAPTATIONS
Teachers may need to make adaptations when teaching special education students. Some
adaptations they may need to make include:
 Adapting the learning environment
 Adapting the curriculum
 Adapting teaching strategies
 Adapting assistive and instructional technology

4. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
 An assistive technology device is defined as any item, piece of equipment, or product system (whether
acquired off the shelf, modified, or customized) that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the
functional capabilities of a child with a disability. AT devices may be categorized as low technology or
high technology (education.com).
 The Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 (Tech Act) was designed
to enhance the availability and quality of assistive technology (AT) devices and services to all individuals
and their families throughout the United States (education.com).
 Assistive technology can support all types of learners.
 Assistive technology has two fundamental purposes: to enhance an individual’s strengths and to provide
an alternate mode of performing a task.

5. LOW TECH AND HIGH TECH AT DEVICES
• Assistive technology devices fit into two categories: low
technology and high technology.
Low Tech AT
High Tech AT
 note-taking
 optical character recognition (OCR) calculators,
 cassette recorders
 word processors with spelling and grammar
 pencil grips
checking,
 NCR paper/copy machine
 word prediction
 simple switches
 voice recognition
 head pointers
 speech synthesizers
 picture boards
 augmentative communication devices
 taped instructions, etc. (teacher vision)
 alternative keyboardsor instructional software.

6. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR ADHD STUDENTS
 ADHD can cause: impulsivity, inattention, hyperactivity and distraction which can lead to barriers in
learning.
 Noise cancelling earplugs are a good to use during studying for those with ADHD to keep them from
getting distracted.
 Vibrating alarms for deadlines or study time and PDA or electronic calendars with reminders are great to
help keep ADHD students on track.
 Some other assistive technology devices for students with ADHD may include: Computer Software:
reading, writing, math, Brain Training - Printouts, Computer Software, Brain Games - Hand Held, On
Line Computer Games, Software Based Lessons for Reading, Writing and Arithmetic, Talking Books,
Voice Recognition Software, Invisible Clock - Reminder Timers, Noise Cancelling Ear Phones/Ear
Plugs, Talking Computer Keyboards, Screen Magnifiers, E Dictionary, Alarm Talking Watches, Digital
Talking Calculators , Children's talking calculators

7. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING
DISABILITIES
 Some types of assistive technology for students with learning disabilities include: Abbreviation
expanders, Alternative key boards, Audio books and publications, Electronic math work sheets,
Freeform database software, Graphic organizers and outlining, Information/data managers, Optical
character recognition, Personal FM listening systems, Portable word processors, Proofreading
programs, Speech-recognition programs, Speech synthesizers/screen readers, Talking calculators,
Talking spell checkers and electronic dictionaries, Variable-speed tape recorders, Word-prediction
programs

8. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR STUDENTS WITH HEARING
IMPAIRMENTS
 Some assistive technology devices that would be helpful for students with hearing impairments include:
Assistive Listening Device (ALD), Audio Loops, Hearing Aids, Telecommunication device for the deaf
(TDD), FM Amplification Systems, Infrared Systems and Cochlear Implants.

9. REFERENCES
 http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Assistive_Technology/
 https://www.teachervision.com/special-education/new-teacher/48460.html
 http://www.adhd-brain.com/assistive-technology-for-adhd.html
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_education
 http://sped.wikidot.com/assistive-technology-for-students-with-hearing-impairments
 http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/assistive-technology/702-assistive-technology-for-kids-
with-learning-disabilities-an-overview.gs
 “Educating Exceptional Children” 13th Edition by Samuel Kirk, James Gallagher, Mary Ruth Coleman,
Nick Anastasiow