 Implementing technology into the classroom to help your students is very important, but designing and implementing assistive technology into the classroom to help students with disabilities is vital to their overall learning and development.  To help me understand the importance of having this help, I interviewed Ms. Saho a first year AT specialist teacher/special education teacher from View Park Prep Elementary school. Ms. Saho teaches and works with students with mild to severe disabilities. In this interview she will be answering question about a kindergarten student in her class.

1. (Myself): What choice of technology do you use in your classroom? (Ms. Saho): At this present time I use the Smart board more often than any other device, but I also allow the students to use the i-pad. 2. (Myself): How is this technology implemented into your classroom? (Ms. Saho): Portions of the lessons are presented on the smart board. This allows students with different learning modalities to benefit from my direct instruction. 3. (Myself): When it comes to funding, did you receive any grants? Where did the funds come from? How were funds allocated?) (Ms.Saho): My classroom was already equipped with the Smart board, but we had to petition for the i-pads and with the help of donors and funds from the school we were able to purchase them for the entire school. We did not need a grant to purchase them. 4. (Myself) : What is the population served in your classroom? (Ms. Saho): In my classroom I have 29 students, but I also work with the entire school. 5.(Myself): Who is impacted? (Is there a universal impact or does it affect one student?) (Ms. Saho): I have a student with severe impaired vision, he benefits from the use of a smart board because images are enlarged and shown in color and he is also able to come up to the board move and maneuver manipulative to help with his understanding. 6. (Myself): How do you incorporate this into the curriculum? (Ms. Saho): I incorporate the use of the smart board mostly in math because the MyMath curriculum provides the same lessons online. First I teach them the content, allowing them to come up and take turns using the manipulative, then I turn to the pages that they will be working on and I follow along while they are doing their classwork. Making them stop to read directions together as whole class. 7. (Myself): How is training offered for the device(s)? (Ms. Saho): The IT support staff helped me set it up but he didn’t know how to use it. I had to take classes to make sure I was able to use the device and help the students. There is no specific training for the Smart board, I just needed to sit in on a class that gave us information on it and how to use it to get the best results. I am still learning about it as I continue to use it. 8. (Myself): How are the technology devices maintained? (What happens if one breaks?) (Ms. Saho): The IT support staff will come and fix it. 9. (Myself): Review likes and dislikes. (Ms. Saho): I like the smart board, it is simple and very easy to use. My students love it because it makes classwork and also direct instruction feel like a game, they get so excited explaining to students how they came up with answers using manipulative. It’s great. I just hate that I have to configure it every time I use it, which stops my teaching flow. 10. (Myself): Do they have any way to track whether it is beneficial to student learning? If so, how do they track this information? If not, why do they not have any way to track whether it is beneficial to student learning and how could they track this information? (Ms. Saho): I can track my students learning, based on comparing how well they score and correctly complete their math work. It was such a big task, trying to stop and read the directions to my students (Kindergarteners who are developing their reading skills) and them not being able to see where I was and where to point to or know what page I’m on. Now they can do all of that in one go. In other smart board lessons and games you are able to take score or ask students questions and document. That is the only way that I know how to track student learning.

 After interviewing Ms. Saho I fully understand how important using assistive technology and technology is in the classroom. In the interview Ms. Saho shared very valuable information regarding the use, importance, impact, incorporation, disability of student, training for technology, and maintaining the device. Ms.Saho uses the technology for all of her students, but it best serves her student with severe vision impairments. Implementing this device has helped the student, because the device is large enough to see and the images on the screen can be enlarged and used in color to help the student also. The student can also come to the board and move images and manipulative around to help him with his understanding.

 In order to help the students in the classroom get the best use and understanding from the smart board, Ms. Saho had to take a class to learn how to use the smart board and how to best serve her students with it. Being a first year AT specialist and a special education teacher Ms. Saho has to know and understand each child’s ability and disability to help implement the best technology to help her students. As an AT specialist she has to be knowledgeable of all assistive technology so that when a child needs more help she will be able to know and recommend devices that will best help that student. In this kindergarten class that she teaches when she is not working with other students the best device she feels best helps the students with vision impairments is the smart board.

 The smart board can be used with any lesson. In the interview Ms. Saho says she likes using it for Math, because the MyMath curriculum that they use comes with lesson online. This technology device allows the students to be engaged in the learning and they feel like they are playing games when instruction time is going on. The student with vision impairments is able to engage in the learning because he is able to see what is going on and he is able to be hands on with the smart board to get further engagement and understanding.

 During the interview Ms. Saho stated that there was no need to get a grant to help provide assistive technology and technology to the school. The help came from donations from alumni students, other donors, and from funds the school had. This says that the school was behind using and getting technology for the students. They felt the need was important enough to make sure the school could help supply the needed technology. I am sure that the school understands the importance of making sure all students will have access to what they need to succeed in the class, especially with all the changes in school policies with the No Child Left Behind Act being implemented in schools all across America. It is the schools and the teachers responsibility to make sure that every child in the school and classroom with a disability have what they need to help them learn, get understanding, and be able to continue to engage with other students. Technology is a valuable assets that all schools need to help their students, especially if there are students with disabilities in the school.

 In Ms. Saho’s class she has a student with severe vision impairments, but in the school there are students with other disabilities. When Ms. Saho goes to help the other students she has students that she recommends assistive technology for. Some of the students have hearing impairments, problems gripping and holding objects, and students with problems with their communication. They have several assistive technology device available for the students to use like the i- pads with headphones ( the headphones are also used for computer use), white boards, keyboards, grip holders, and voice activated software. There are other devices that Ms. Saho said she would like the school to provide like, talking calculators, head pointing devices, individual smart boards, and more large print books.

 Being a teacher you have many responsibilities, but the main responsibility you have is to make sure you are doing all you can to help every students in your class learn, develop (mentally, physically, emotionally, cognitively, socially), gain understanding of lessons being taught, and become independent learners. A teacher has to be educated and trained In all aspects pertaining to the classroom and helping students learn. A teacher must do everything they can to ensure that the students are engaged in lessons that will help them gain understanding and knowledge. A teacher must make sure that they are designing and implementing lessons that will allow the students to have success in the learning that is going on in the classroom. This means implementing lessons, technology, assistive technology, and all other aides that will help the students learn.

 In order for a teacher to implement assistive technology into the classsroom the IEP has to recommend that this happens. According to Understood Editors ( ), “If your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires your child’s IEP team to determine whether AT is needed for your child to receive a “free and appropriate public education.”IDEA also says the school district is responsible for choosing and purchasing the technology. The school must train its staff and your child to use it” (par. 5). It is important to implement these devices into the classroom, but it is vital to the overall learning and development of the student when the teacher understands what the student needs and how to choose the right device for each students individual needs.Individualized Education ProgramIndividuals with Disabilities Education Actfree and appropriate public education

 Implementing assistive technology into the classroom can help bring confidence in a student and help them feel better about engaging in classsroom discussions, group activities, communicating, and doing all required work. Assistive technology does not take the place of an effective teacher, but it does help make teaching more effective and easier for the student when assistive technology is implemented. As teachers our goal should be to make sure that every student in our classroom becomes well educated and become independent learners; this can happen for all students especially students with disabilities if assistive technology is implemented into the classroom.

 Choosing the right assistive technology devices are imperative to students with disabilities learning, growing, and developing into confident and eager adults. Assistive technology tools are geared at helping students with disabilities gain strength in their abilities and become more independent. A teacher must not just allow the student to be on their own they have to make sure they are observing the students while using the devices to see if the devices are working and helping the student gain understanding and knowledge of the lessons giving. The devices have to help each student at their own level and understanding.

 This is the kind of teacher I will strive to be, that will respect each student in my class no matter their ability. I will make sure I am staying educated on all new policies and requirements that will help my students succeed in the classroom. I will make sure I am designing and implementing lesson and technology that will help all students gain understanding and knowledge. As a teacher I am responsible for helping my students learn to the best of their ability and beyond if able. I have to help each one on their level and help them reach goals that are attainable for them.

 Assistive technology is beneficial for all student, but especially for those student who have been diagnosed with disabilities and need extra help. The technology has to be implemented into the curriculum in a way that all students will benefit from the lesson and learn from the lesson. As a teacher you have keep track of what the students are doing at all times, that could mean giving assessments, observing, and getting and receiving feedback. We have to remember that students with disabilities are not incapable of learning they just need extra help and they learn differently.