The document discusses how assistive technology can help students with disabilities thrive in the classroom. It defines assistive technology as any technology that helps overcome disabilities, and provides examples such as hearing aids and wheelchairs. The document then lists different assistive technologies and accommodations that teachers can use to help students with specific disabilities or needs, such as hearing impairments, visual learning styles, ADHD, visual impairments, and absenteeism. It encourages teachers to utilize technologies like speech-to-text, FM systems, ebooks, videos, and Google platforms to aid different types of students.

1. By Brandi Moody
Assistive Technology and Your
Classroom!

2. All of our students are exceptional!
 Some of our students are special, but some of
them need special accommodations
 We can help these students shine with assistive
technology!

3. What is Assistive Technology?
 Assistive technology can be a wide variety of
things:
 Hearing aids
 Wheelchairs
 Personal Emergency Response Systems
 Etc.
 Assistive technology is technology that helps a
student overcome disabilities and thrive in the
classroom.

4. For the Hearing-Impaired Student
 Try using speech-to-text software to record your
lectures and send these to the student
 Or let the student have a PC and do this
themselves!
 FM Systems- These are like 1 on 1 radio stations
where a microphone worn by the instructor is fed
directly into the student’s hearing aid.
 Induction Loop systems work much in the same
way, as do One-to-One Communicators
 Try to reduce extraneous noise in the classroom
like air conditioners, music, etc.

5. Visual Learners
 Some students learn best by seeing things done!
 For them, try video taping lessons for them to
watch later
 Bubbl.us is a site that allows students to create
“Mind Maps” of concepts and even save them to
their computer
 This format, of course
 Touch screens allow students to see immediate
connections between action and idea

6. Students with ADHD
 Keep them in a minimally distracting place: few
loud decorations and a low-traffic area
 Create and share a Google Calendar with them
that they and the teacher can edit to use as a
planner
 Ebooks allow them to instantly look up the
definition and use of a word so that they don’t
have to go find a dictionary as well as Google
unfamiliar words or phrases

7. For Visually Impaired Students
 Voice recordings of lectures
 Optical character recognizing (OCR) software
 Ebooks on devices that will read to them
 These will also allow them to adjust font size
 Allow them to create videos in place of some
written assignments (Audioboo, for example)
 Preferential seating in the front of the classroom

8. For Homebound or Frequently
Absent Students
 Use Google Docs to create and share
presentations, tests, notes, and calendars
 Use skype or create Google+ groups for your
class and use Google Hangout
 Create podcasts of lessons

9. To Conclude
 Now more than ever we have an amazing array
of technology at our fingertips
 Assistive technology can be beneficial to all
students, not just those in the most profound
need