The document discusses key concepts related to assistive technology and instructional accommodations for students with disabilities. It defines Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), assistive technology, differentiated instruction, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). The document provides examples of assistive technologies that can support students with specific disabilities like ADHD, mild learning disabilities, or auditory disabilities. It emphasizes the importance of understanding student IEPs and providing appropriate assistive technologies, differentiated instruction, and UDL approaches to improve access to the general curriculum for all students.

2. What you need to know:
0IEP – Individualized Education Program - an
individualized plan for a student with disabilities that
describes the measures teachers must take to
accommodate the learning needs of the student.
(Cennamo, 2014, 152)
0Assistive Technology – any item, piece of equipment
or product system used to increase, maintain or
improve functional capabilities of individuals with
disability. (Cennamo, 2014, 151)
Image retrieved from
http://www.fctd.info/newslette
rs/240

3. What you need to know:
0Differentiated instruction (DI) – purposefully
designing instruction to accommodate the known
needs of one’s students and providing them with
different content, strategies, and means of
demonstrating the desired learning goals.
0Universal Design
for Learning (UDL)
an approach to instruction in which teachers remove
barriers to learning by providing flexibility in
materials, methods, and assessments. (Cennamo,
2014, 138) Image retrieved from
dpasko1.wordpress.com/author/
dpasko1/page/2/

4. What you need to know:
0Watch these videos from Richard Lavoie to glimpse
what it is like to have a learning disability:
0 Intro:
0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFm-OvUhDiQ
0 Simulation:
0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blIBab6QbaA
0 Audio vs Visual learners:
0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vTPW8kHl7w

5. How you can help:
0Understand the student’s IEP
0Provide appropriate:
0Assistive technology
0Adaptive technology
0UDL/ Differentiated Instruction

6. Understanding the IEP
0 Developed by interdisciplinary team
0 Individualized guide for student learning
0 Ultimate goal is to provide increased access to general
curriculum
0 Lists specific technologies required for individual
0 Teachers should understand how to appropriately implement
technologies or request professional development

7. Assistive vs. Adaptive Technology
Assistive Technology Adaptive Technology
Image retrieved from
myhearingsolution.com
0 No-tech to High-tech
0 Can be used by
individuals with or
without a disability
0 Ex. Word processor
0 Spell check
0 Word predictor
software
0 Specific type of
assistive
technology
0 Typically not used
by individuals
without a disability.
0 Ex. Hearing aids
Spell check image adapted from
http://sites.fcps.org/trt/category/tr
aining-resources/scholastic-keys

8. Examples of Assistive Technology
for Specific Disabilities
ADHD:
word processor tool, computer
software, brain games, PDA’s,
talking textbooks, voice
recognition, Noise canceling
headphones
Mild LD: word
processor tools (spell
check, word predictors),
calculators, internet
based communication, e-texts,
text to voice and
voice recording
technology
Auditory
disability: hearing
aid, Hearing
Preferred seating
assistive technology
systems ()
Typed Notes
E dictionary
Graphic
organizers
Note. Adapted from three sites. See slide
14.

9. Just a reminder:
0Differentiated instruction (DI) – purposefully
designing instruction to accommodate the known
needs of one’s students and providing them with
different content, strategies, and means of
demonstrating the desired learning goals.
0Universal Design
for Learning (UDL)
– an approach to instruction in which teachers
remove barriers to learning by providing flexibility in
materials, methods, and assessments.
Image retrieved from
dpasko1.wordpress.com/author/
dpasko1/page/2/

10. UDL/DI
0 Consider your diverse learners:
0 ADHD
0 Mild LD
0 Auditory disability
0 Don’t stop there:
0 Audio learners vs visual learners
0 Bodily-Kinesthetic Learners
0 Logical-Mathematical Learners
Image retrieved from
udlcenter.org/resource_library/videos/udlcenter/udl#video0

11. UDL/ID
0 Consider how you can use assistive technologies for all of
your diverse learners:
0 Audio/Visual: closed captioning on videos
0 Bodily Kinesthetic/ADHD: Motions with new vocabulary
0 Include options for representation, action and expression, and
engagement.
0 Focus on the learning styles represented in your classroom.

12. Differentiate
0Remember:
0 All students are individual learners with individual
learning profiles.
0 Differentiating allows you to incorporate assistive
technologies so that ALL students have better access to
the general curriculum.
0 Plan ahead so no one gets left out.

13. References
Assistive Technology for ADHD, ADD Inattention. (n.d.). Retrieved October 4, 2014, from
http://www.adhd-brain.com/assistive-technology-for-adhd.html
AT Examples - Assistive Technology for Education. (n.d.). Retrieved October 4, 2014, from
http://assistivetechnologyforeducation.com/examples-of-assistive-technology/
Behrmann, M., & Jerome, M. (2002, January 1). Assistive Technology for Students with Mild
Disabilities: Update 2002. ERIC Digest. Retrieved October 4, 2014, from
http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-1/assistive.htm
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2014). Customizing Student Learning Activites. In Technology
Intergration for Meaningrul Classroom Use: A Standards-Based Approach (2nd ed., pp. 141-
152). Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Hearing Assistive Technology. (n.d.). Retrieved October 4, 2014, from
http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/treatment/assist_tech.htm
How Difficult Can This Be? The F.A.T. City Workshop, Richard Lavoie, 1989. Retrieved October 4,
2014 from https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUujNMZnIeWB3VMSUza-mCw/videos

14. Examples of Assistive Technology
Appropriate for Specific
Disabilities
Venn Diagram created with information from:
Assistive Technology for ADHD, ADD Inattention. (n.d.). Retrieved October 4,
2014, from http://www.adhd-brain.com/assistive-technology-for-adhd.
html
AT Examples - Assistive Technology for Education. (n.d.). Retrieved October 4,
2014, from http://assistivetechnologyforeducation.com/examples-of-assistive-
technology/
Behrmann, M., & Jerome, M. (2002, January 1). Assistive Technology for
Students with Mild Disabilities: Update 2002. ERIC Digest. Retrieved
October 4, 2014, from http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-1/assistive.htm
Hearing Assistive Technology. (n.d.). Retrieved October 4, 2014, from
http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/treatment/assist_tech.htm