Assistive technology (AT) helps people with disabilities perform tasks they were previously unable or had difficulty performing. AT includes devices and processes. When a child is struggling to learn or use tools for learning, AT should be incorporated into their educational process. Determining a child's AT needs involves creating an Individualized Education Plan with parents, teachers, and professionals. Locating AT resources involves searching websites that describe tools for visual, auditory, and mild disabilities as well as developmental stages. It is important to reevaluate a student's learning regularly to ensure the best learning experience.

1. Tools for Learning Using AT in the classroom

2. What is Assistive Techonology (AT) Assistive technology is any device or process that helps a person with disabilities perform tasks that they were previously unable to perform, or had difficulty performing Assistive devices are those tools that help people, while assistive services are what helps people locate those tools and learn to use them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistive_technology

3. When to use AT Whenever a child is struggling in learning material or mastering tools for learning, AT needs to become a part of the child’s educational process. When deciding to use AT, it is important to use the least restrictive environment possible. This means keeping the child with his/her peers and using the same curriculum as much as possible http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Least_Restrictive_Environment

4. Determining a child’s AT needs Students with more severe disabilities will need to have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) – a collaborative plan created by the child’s parents, teachers, and other professionals (such as a physical therapist). Once the IEP has been created, you may start to look for AT that will fit in with the IEP and your classroom resources. http://www.ldonline.org/article/8088 http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/learning/iep.html

5. How to locate AT resources Some types of AT are easily found and implemented, such as allowing a child with ADHD to use noise-dampening earphones during quiet reading time. Many times though, a student’s needs will force you to be creative and search out help. The following slides outline some websites that may be of use in discovering different ATs.

6. Adapting to a Child’s Play Stage http://letsplay.buffalo.edu/toys/how-we-grow/how-we-grow.htm This site describes activities that can be used in a child’s current developmental stage to help him/her get to the next stage. The activities are meant to engage the student on his/her level while promoting thoughtful learning and expanding the skills being mastered.

7. Students will Visual Disabilities http://www.edutopia.org/technology-visually-impaired-video This video highlights some tools used by the school to assist students will varying visual disability. An electronic “reader” is used that can read text on a computer screen out loud to a student. A software program translates text to braille and is then printed out using a special printer. Images can be turned tactile using a special machine that “raises” ink so the image can be felt on the paper.

8. Students with Auditory Disabilities http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/treatment/assist_tech.htm This site lists a number of listening devices ranging from simple hearing aids to microphones that can be tuned to a frequency picked up by a hearing aid. Specialized products for children are listed, as well as resources for learning to use them and finding people that can help.

9. Students with Mild Disabilities http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-1/assistive.htm This website lists low-technology strategies to improve learning outcomes and attention in students with mild disabilities. Organization, multimedia tools, and tips on effective note-taking are listed as Assistive Technologies.

10. Other Resources There are many websites devoted to helping families cope with disabilities and find ways to overcome them. Here are a few: http://www.fctd.info/resources http://www.gpat.org/resources.aspx?PageReq=GPATImp http://www.synapseadaptive.com/edmark/prod/tw/default.htm http://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-enabling-dreams-video

11. Overcoming learning disabilities is a dynamic process, one that may change with a child’s developmental stage, influence from peers, new technologies, or progression of a disease. It is important to reevaluate the student’s learning outcome regularly to make sure that the student has the best chance possible for a positive and rewarding learning experience.