2. Information for Educators and Families Individualized Education Plans (IEP) are usually available for students with disabilities or other learning difficulties. Families should know that they play a vital part in the formation of these educational plans for students, including specific academic goals for the student, as indicated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004). Please refer to the following website for more information: http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/learning/iep.html
3. Students with Learning Disabilities Students who need help with readingmay use the following assistive technologies to help them learn: Audiobooks Optical character recognition (OCR) – a tool that scans text and then reads the text using the same tool Paper-based computer pen – the tool reads for the student whatever they write using this special pen and paper Computers that are able to read text that is typed Tape recorders that can be used to play back recorded text at a later time
4. Students with Learning Disabilities Students who need help with writing may use the following assistive technologies to help them learn: Computers that students can program words as abbreviations to make word processing easier and the final product more accurate in spelling and grammar Using different learning methods such as graphic organizers helps to organize a student’s thoughts before they begin writing Programs that proofread typed text including those that cater towards students with specific learning disabilities like dyslexia Software that students use to convert speech into typed text Software that predicts the word that students are trying to think of if the student has trouble with grammar and spelling
5. Students with Hearing Impairments Personal FM hearing systems can be used by the students to listen to the instructor using a microphone Communication devices used between two specific people Technology that helps to amplify sound with telephones Telephones that type text that can be read Computers with speech recognition technology to record verbal communications to text
6. Conclusion The use of assistive technologies and approaches will help to create an environment that is inclusive, and will allow students who learn differently to work together.
7. Resources “Individual Education Programs (IEPs)” Retrieved October 10, 2011 from http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/learning/iep.html. Stanberry, K. & Raskind, Marshall H. Assistive technology tools: Reading. Retrieved October 11, 2011 http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/assistive-technology/948-reading-tools.gs. Stanberry, K. & Raskind, Marshall H. Assistive technology tools: Writing. Retrieved October 11, 2011 http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/assistive-technology/960-writing-tools.gs. “Other Hearing Assistive Technology Systems Solutions.” Retrieved October 11, 2011 http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Other-Hearing-Assistive-Technology-Systems-Solutions/. “FM Systems.” Retrieved October 11, 2011 http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/FM-Systems/. “One-to-One Communicators.” Retrieved October 11, 2011. http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/One-to-One-Communicators/.
